US midfielder Benny Feilhaber will have little time to celebrate
his game-winning goal in Sunday's 2-1 Gold Cup final victory over
Mexico.
The Hamburg player is one of nine players also in the American
squad for the Copa America, which begins for the US against
Argentina in Maraibo, Venezuela on Thursday.
Feilhaber's 73rd-minute volley was his second goal in a US
shirt. The 22-year-old who first made a name for himself at the
2005 FIFA Youth World Championship.
The Americans opened that tournament with an upset of eventual
champions Argentina, a team featuring Lionel Messi.
Now, after playing in all but one of the US' six games in the
Gold Cup, Feilhaber must prepare for another likely match-up
against the Barcelona winger. The US will also face Paraguay and
Colombia.
"I think mentally we'll definitely (be ready for the Copa
America). I think we're on a high right how. We'll try to get that
out of our system as soon as we get to Venezuela" Feilhaber told
reporters.
"Physically, it's always tough. We played six games in a short
amount of time. But we'll do everything we need to do to get ready
for that game. Argentina has an unbelievable team and it's going to
be a really good test for us."
The US and Mexico are guest teams at the Copa America.
The Americans will be without several regulars including Landon
Donovan, Tim Howard, DaMarcus Beasley and Clint Dempsey. Most of
the US squad is home-based, with 15 of the 22 players plying their
trade in Major League Soccer.
US coach Bob Bradley said he looked forward to facing Alfio
Basile's side in the Copa opener.
"There will be a number of players, Feilhaber being one of them,
who will have the incredibly special opportunity to play against
Argentina on Thursday," Bradley said.
"We made the decision to go to Copa America because of the
history of that tournament and because of the competition. We know
it will be a big challenge, but we are very excited. I'm sure the
next few days are going to go by quickly."
(China Daily via Agencies June 26, 2007)