SAN JOSE — Long before they reported to U.S. training camp this week, every player was familiar, to varying degrees, with Bruce Arena. They knew of his MLS coaching triumphs and of his previous gig in charge of the national team, marked by a World Cup quarterfinal run almost 15 years ago.
Many had played against his Los Angeles Galaxy teams. Few had ever played for him.
So in accepting the job in November, Arena made a point of connecting with the prime figures in the player pool. Time was short. The United States had begun the final round of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup with two defeats under his predecessor, Jurgen Klinsmann, and would have to resume this month without the benefit of a full-scale camp.