Sommer sticks up for Arena

After the Americans' disappointing showing in this year's World Cup, the U.S. Soccer Federation finds itself in an unenviable public position.

Team USA head coach Bruce Arena's future might be in jeopardy if he chooses not to step down after finishing with only one tie and two losses during the tournament's first round of group play.

However, former United States goalkeeper and Naples resident Juergen Sommer feels differently about Arena's prospects.

"I would say Bruce did an amazing job considering he didn't have the experience on the team that he had in 2002," Sommer said.

Arena, who chose not to make any significant lineup changes in the United States' final two games after opening on the wrong side of a 3-0 loss to the Czech Republic, took a relaxed attitude toward what seemed to be a sub-par effort from his team.

"Ironically, we played defense very well, we knew we weren't going to be a team who scores a lot of goals," Arena said in a press conference following a 2-1 loss to Ghana on Thursday. "As opposed to Korea, the games we won (in the qualifying round) we got on top early."

Almost immediately after the Ghana debacle, veteran team captain Claudio Reyna retired from international play. Reyna had never been subbed out of a World Cup contest prior to the Ghana game, but an injury in the first half forced him to leave the game.

"It makes sense to stop now," Reyna stated in the press conference announcing his decision. "It's a good time to stop playing at a good level."

While the U.S. faithful may have a legitimate claim that poor officiating played a major role in the final two games, far more concerning is the lack of production from USA poster-boys Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley and Bobby Convey.

"Donovan and Beasley aren't flying in under the radar anymore, other teams know these guys are coming," Sommer said.

In the United States' 1-1 draw with Italy, Pablo Mastroeni was ejected without any caution. Eddie Pope also was given two yellow cards during the match without explanation or warning from the official. The referee, Jorge Larrionda, had been suspended from officiating in his homeland of Uruguay for "irregularities" in his calls prior to the Cup.

"I think FIFA should re-think its officiating setup," Sommer said. "Maybe even embrace technology a little and consider video replay or put more refs on the field."

The only goal scored by the U.S. for the U.S. was not delivered until the Ghana matchup, when Clint Dempsey scored in the 43rd minute. America's only other goal was an own goal scored by Italy.

Speculation not only swirls around the future of Arena, but whether or not the young players U.S. Soccer is banking on can carry the load with the departures of Reyna and likely Brian McBride, Pope, and Kasey Keller.

"We are making progress," Arena said of the state of U.S. soccer. "People who follow the game know that; people outside of the game don't."