SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - U.S. captain captain Carlos Bocanegra says he is near full fitness

Record ID: 453031

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - U.S. captain captain Carlos Bocanegra says he is near full fitness
  • Date: 2nd June 2010
  • Summary: IRENE, NEAR PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 1, 2010) (REUTERS) TRAINING GROUND WITH UNITED STATES TEAM TRAINING CARLOS BOCANEGRA TRAINING COACH BOB BRADLEY WIDE SHOT OF TRAINING SESSION PLAYERS IN STADIUM MEMBER OF COACHING STAFF STRETCHING PLAYERS LEG CLINT DEMPSEY TRAINING OGUCHI ONYEWU PRACTICE MATCH WIDE SHOT OF PRESS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) CARLOS BOCANEGRA, U.S. CAPTAIN, SAYING: "I feel good, it was nice to get the 75 minutes under my belt, they've done a good job the trainers and the coaches with my programme, kind of easing me into it and not just throwing me out there full blast. Out there I held up well and I'm not far now, I just need to, myself, work on sharpening up the last five percent or so. I feel good." PRESS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) BOB BRADLEY, U.S. COACH, SAYING: "I think we have a tough group. Of course so much attention has been put on the first match against England and it's a tremendous opportunity for us, the spotlight on that game is huge, it has already generated tremendous interest in the United States, but at the same time we've watched Slovenia and Algeria so much, we've seen the way that they played to qualify for the World Cup. We've continued to follow them since, we understand that each opponent is talented and now you look forward to going match by match and understanding what it takes to advance." END OF PRESS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 17th June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA2MUKMESU9BHAHIP7LCHCC623Z
  • Story Text: United States captain Carlos Bocanegra put himself close to full fitness on Tuesday (June 1) after hernia problems and said the team's defence needed to improve before the World Cup.
    Defender Bocanegra underwent surgery about a month ago but is expected to lead the side in their opening Group C match against England on June 12.
    The month-long World Cup kicks off in South Africa on June 11.
    "I feel good, it was nice to get 75 minutes under my belt (against Turkey in a friendly on Saturday)," he told reporters near their tournament base camp at Irene, between Pretoria and Johannesburg.
    "I'm not far now, I just need to, myself, work on sharpening up the last five percent or so. I feel good."
    The 31-year-old, who plays for French first division side Stade Rennes, said there was room for improvement in defence.
    Coach Bob Bradley said the first match against England -- who the U.S. beat 1-0 in 1950 for their biggest World Cup upset -- was a key game but the team's management was also keeping a close eye on the form of their other group opponents, Slovenia and Algeria.
    "I think we have a tough group. Of course so much attention has been put on the first match against England," Bradley said.
    "It's a tremendous opportunity for us, the spotlight on that game is huge, it has already generated tremendous interest in the United States.
    "We've watched Slovenia and Algeria so much, we've seen the way that they played to qualify for the World Cup. We've continued to follow them since, we understand that each opponent is talented and now you look forward to going match by match and understanding what it takes to advance."
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register