- Title: U.S. soccer team trains ahead of historic friendly against Cuba
- Date: 6th October 2016
- Summary: HAVANA, CUBA (OCTOBER 6, 2016) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF U.S. SOCCER PLAYERS DURING TRAINING SCOREBOARD AT STADIUM ANNOUNCING CUBA-U.S. FRIENDLY U.S. MIDFIELDER, CHRISTIAN PULISIC, DURING TRAINING PLAYERS DURING TRAINING U.S. MIDFIELDER, MICHAEL BRADLEY, SPEAKING TO MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. MIDFIELDER, MICHAEL BRADLEY, SAYING: "(Being in Cuba) It's an incredible experience, it's something that not many Americans get to do so we are proud and honoured to be here." MORE OF PLAYERS DURING TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. TEAM COACH, JURGEN KLINSMANN, SAYING: "Sometimes it is not only the football side that is important for developing players and improving things, it's also things off the field. For us it's a big opportunity to show players a very, very different environment, a different country. They are all very, very curious to come here and sometimes you have to combine both, the on the field and the off the field. And so for us it is a real joy to be here and have this experience, for many their first time here in Cuba". VARIOUS OF U.S. GOALKEEPER, WILLIAM YARBROUGH, DURING TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) U.S. GOALKEEPER, WILLIAM YARBROUGH, SAYING: "We need to take the example of the Cuban people, it doesn't matter what is happening in your country, it doesn't matter how much or how little you have. You are happy enjoying life." CUBANS WATCHING TRAINING SESSION GENERAL VIEW OF STADIUM
- Embargoed: 22nd October 2016 00:18
- Keywords: soccer friendly Havana World Cup qualifier training
- Location: HAVANA, CUBA
- City: HAVANA, CUBA
- Country: Cuba
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA00152VC20Z
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The U.S. soccer team trained in Havana on Thursday (October 6) ahead of a historic friendly with Cuba which will pit the two former Cold War foes on Cuban soil for the first time in 69 years.
The match, scheduled for Friday (October 7), is moving ahead despite concerns over Hurricane Matthew, which largely spared Cuba's capital city despite leaving a trail of dead in nearby Haiti.
U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann has brought together 23 players, who play for teams in seven different countries while Cuban coach Idalberto Raul called up 20 players, including Cuban national soccer star Maikel Reyes.
The match is the first friendly on Cuban soil since 1947.
Midfielder Michael Bradley told a news conference in Havana it was a great experience to be in Cuba.
"(Being in Cuba) It's an incredible experience, it's something that not many Americans get to do so we are proud and honoured to be here," he said.
According to U.S. Soccer, the two teams have played against each other 11 times with a record of 9-1-1 in favour of the U.S, but this is only the third time they will meet in Cuba.
The last time the two teams faced each other in Havana was in 2008 when the U.S. won the World Cup qualifier 1-0.
Coach Jurgen Klinsmann has said he will use upcoming friendlies like in Cuba to assess players ahead of choosing squads for the competitive Mexico and Costa Rica matches.
"Sometimes it is not only the football side that is important for developing players and improving things, it's also things off the field. For us it's a big opportunity to show players a very, very different environment, a different country. They are all very, very curious to come here and sometimes you have to combine both, the on the field and the off the field. And so for us it is a real joy to be here and have this experience, for many their first time here in Cuba," said coach Jurgen Klinsmann.
Although the U.S. is the favourite to take out victory, local fans in Cuba are happy with the U.S. presence in Havana.
Goalkeeper William Yarbrough heralded the Cuban attitude of brushing aside politics, diplomacy and the embargo for the match.
"We need to take the example of the Cuban people, it doesn't matter what is happening in your country, it doesn't matter how much or how little you have. You are happy enjoying life," said Yarbrough.
In December 2014, U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced a historic diplomatic opening that ended an estrangement between the two countries that began after the Cuban revolution.
Since rapprochement, the two sides have restored diplomatic ties, increased exchanges, signed commercial deals and the U.S. has loosened trade and travel restrictions.
The U.S. team will play New Zealand on the 11th in Washington, DC. and opens the next stage of World Cup qualifying against rivals Mexico at home in Columbus, Ohio on November 11. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
