In the lead-up to two critical World Cup qualifiers, the U.S. men’s national soccer team will begin workouts Monday in northern New Jersey with a group familiar with one another and with Coach Bruce Arena.
All 26 players have served under Arena at one point or another since his appointment last winter. Eighteen were on the Gold Cup championship squad last month. Eighteen gained playing time during the previous qualifiers in June.
In other words, aside from a few minor surprises, Arena was quite predictable in selecting a tried-and-true group.
“Everyone here is experienced inside the group,” Arena said Sunday in remarks distributed by the U.