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A stern reminder about an upcoming U.S. Soccer-related event, whether you plan to check it out live and in person, on the “telly” or that wacky world wide web.

Jan. 16, 2003

A stern reminder about an upcoming U.S. Soccer-related event, whether you plan to check it out live and in person, on the “telly” or that wacky world wide web.

While it’s the off-season for most of the American soccer world, U.S. Soccer and its National Teams have already hit the ground running with a typically busy January all across the board.

The U.S. Women have already began this telling Women’s World Cup year, shaking off the rust in a 0-0 draw against a much-improved Japan team in San Diego on Jan. 12. Next week brings a preview of China 2003 with a series of three games against the other tournament favorites, time to see how they stack up and what they need to improve on with just eight months separating them from the real thing in September.

The U.S. Men’s National Team has a pair of contests against revenge-minded foes before the group splits up for the MLS pre-season. As with the U.S. Women, the U.S. Men have always had Canada’s number, whether it be edging them out for qualification to a world championship (the 2002 World Cup and 2000 Olympics come to mind) or preventing them from a repeat Gold Cup title when McBride and the gang went through on penalty kicks last year. Coming almost a year to date from their semi-final match-up in the 2002 regional tourney, the young Canucks will be looking to get a psychological edge over the young Yanks this Saturday when they meet at 7:30 p.m. ET at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale. [Editor’s Note: The USA-Canada match is available on DirecTV through Setanta Sports for $19.95 or follow it live on ussoccer.com's MatchTracker, presented by Philips Electronics.]

Then comes the big test: Argentina. Coming off a disappointing 2002 World Cup, and with their last meeting ending with a 89^th minute strike from Joe-Max Moore to give the U.S. a 1-0 win, the time is now for the three-time champs to get back to their world dominance, which would explain the reasoning behind a three-game swing through North America in February. Historically snake-bit when playing at the Orange Bowl, the U.S. will be trying to improve on its 2-4-2 record at the storied soccer venue when they take on the Argentines on Saturday, February 8 at 12 p.m. ET live on ESPN2.

Table of Contents
1) Armchair Midfielder (What's to be in 2003)
2) In Threes (w/ MNT goalkeeper Tim Howard)
3) D.J. for a Day (w/ U-20 MNT defender Chad Marshall)
4) Queries and Anecdotes (w/ WNT midfielder Angela Hucles)
5) Mark That Calendar (Back to Bidness…)
6) Superstar!!! (w/ MNT goalkeeper Brad Friedel)
7) FAN Point/Counterpoint (Reviews of "Our Way")
8) "You Don't Know Jack (Marshall)" (2002 WNT Trivia)