Sport

O'Sullivan tells Eagles to focus on World Cup

UNITED STATES head coach Eddie O’Sullivan is hoping his players can use this summer’s Churchill Cup as a dry run for next year…

Fri May 21 2010 - 01:00

UNITED STATES head coach Eddie O’Sullivan is hoping his players can use this summer’s Churchill Cup as a dry run for next year’s World Cup.

O’Sullivan has named a 29-man squad for next month’s tournament which will see regulars Canada and England Saxons joined by France A, Russia and Uruguay in pool-play in Colorado, followed by the final in the New York area on June 19th.

The Eagles will be missing 10 players through injury, but those who will report for duty on May 30th have been told to keep the 2011 World Cup in focus.

The Eagles open their Pool C campaign in New Zealand on September 11th, 2011, against Ireland, and will also face Australia, Italy and the Russians.

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“The Churchill Cup is very important on many fronts,” O’Sullivan said.

“It exposes the players to a tournament format that is very similar to the model that will operate next year in New Zealand.”

O’Sullivan took charge of the Eagles in March 2009 and guided them to RWC qualification with a play-off victory over Uruguay last November.

The USA begin their Churchill Cup campaign in Glendale, Colorado, on June 5th against Russia, then play England Saxons on June 13th before moving to the east coast for a triple-header of finals on June 19th at Red Bull Arena, the new home of Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls in Harrison, New Jersey.

USA EAGLES(squad for Churchill Cup): Forwards:C Biller (San Francisco Golden Gate), P Danahy (Life University), JJ Gaganio (Cape Town University), M Hawkins (Belmont Shore), B Howard (Old Puget Sound Beach), N Johnson (Denver Barbarians), D LaPrevotte (San Francisco Golden Gate), S Lavalla (Dublin University), M Moeakiola (Sporting Club Albi), L Peters (Gentlemen of Aspen), S Pittman (Bayside), J Sprague (New York Athletic Club), L Stanfill (Canberra Royals), P Thiel (Life University), J Van der Giessen (Sporting Club Albi). Backs:N Edwards (New York Athletic Club), P Emerick (Parma), T Enosa (Belmont Shore), C Hawley (California), N Malifa (Belmont Shore), T Ngwenya (Biarritz Olympique), M Petri (New York Athletic Club), P Tuilevuka (Provo Steelers), V Rouse (Te Kawau), J Sifa (Midleton), A Suniula (Chicago Griffins), K Swiryn (Old Puget Sound Beach), T Usasz (Nottingham), C Wyles (Saracens).