Arena Vows To Revise U.S. Lineup

HAMBURG, June 13 -- U.S. national soccer team coach Bruce Arena said Tuesday that he would make changes to the starting lineup for Saturday's World Cup match against Italy, a game his deflated squad almost certainly must win in order to advance in the tournament following a crushing 3-0 loss to the Czech Republic in Monday's opener.

"It's obvious we need to make a couple changes," Arena said. "What they are, I don't know at this time."

Judging from Arena's comments during a lively half-hour news conference at the team's downtown hotel, however, midfielder DaMarcus Beasley does not appear to be in his plans.

Beasley was ineffective against the Czechs -- continuing a disappointing few weeks for the 24-year-old winger -- and was among several players criticized by Arena in the postgame press briefing in Gelsenkirchen.

Later, Beasley responded to the coach's review with both irritation and sarcasm, and said he didn't think he would end up starting against Italy.

On Tuesday, Arena said he hopes Beasley realizes he did not perform well.

"If he's any kind of player and man, he understands it," he said. "If he doesn't, he's not going to be able to help us in Games 2 or 3, either."

Neither Beasley nor any of the other U.S. players were made available for interviews Tuesday. Arena said he had met with the players who appeared in Monday's game as a whole, but had yet to hold individual meetings. Asked if there might be a need to have such a discussion with Beasley, he said, "There might be."

Beasley has consistently played on the left side during his five years with the U.S. team, although he often finds himself on the right for his Dutch club, PSV Eindhoven. The U.S. coaching staff decided to move him to the right for two reasons: to combat the Czechs' powerful left-side attack and to create a starting slot for Bobby Convey, who plays exclusively on the left.

If Beasley does not start against the heavily favored Italians, Clint Dempsey or John O'Brien might end up in the lineup. On Monday, O'Brien entered at halftime and played a defensive midfield role, while Dempsey did not play. Arena could also move right back Steve Cherundolo into midfield.

During Tuesday's news conference, Arena alternately was solemn, defensive, funny, defiant, optimistic, contradictory and humble as he touched on a wide variety of subjects pertaining to the loss: