The Associated Press United States soccer goalkeeper Brad Friedel is one of five Bruins to make the national team roster.

By Vytas Mazeika

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

vmazeika@media.ucla.edu

Jorge Salcedo, a UCLA men’s soccer assistant coach and former player in the early 1990s, flies out today to watch his fourth World Cup. He will see nine games in 10 days with the aid of his father, who has worked for Fédération Internationale de Football Association since 1984.

This experience has helped make Salcedo somewhat of an expert regarding world-class soccer players, and so his answer is quite surprising when asked what he has to say about former high school and UCLA teammate Eddie Lewis – a member of the 2002 U.S. World Cup team.

“He was king of a clumsy kid with big feet and big ears,” Salcedo said. “And I didn’t think he was going to amount to what he has.”

Then comes the kicker.

“That’s a tribute to Eddie and to what the UCLA soccer program does,” Salcedo added.

Lewis joins a fearless goalie, a flashy veteran, an aggressive striker and a speedy defender as former Bruins in the 2002 World Cup.

Five out of 23 members of the U.S. team hail from UCLA, and though none is guaranteed to start, Lewis, Brad Friedel, Cobi Jones, Joe-Max Moore and Frankie Hejduk all could play a part in possible American success.

Tom Fitzgerald, in his first year as UCLA head coach, knows quite a bit about all the Bruins from time spent coaching in Major League Soccer with the Columbus Crew.

That is where Fitzgerald coached Friedel, who has the lowest career goals against average at UCLA. Friedel is currently in a tight battle with Kasey Keller for the starting goalie position.

“Because I’m biased, I would love to see him be the starter opposed to Kasey Keller,” Fitzgerald said. “He has a lot to offer.”

Among Friedel’s strengths, Fitzgerald notes a strong, direct approach between the pipes and his leadership on the field.

Psychologically speaking, it is tough not to know one’s role and responsibilities during preparation, Fitzgerald said.

But U.S. head coach Bruce Arena might soon decide to go with Friedel almost by default, as Keller recently suffered an elbow injury.

“If one (of them) is less than 100 percent, then yes, he won’t play,” Arena told the Sportsticker news service, Thursday.

Jones, like Friedel and Moore, will make his third consecutive World Cup appearance.

Second in assists all-time at UCLA, Jones’ versatility and the fact he is the all-time U.S. leader in appearances for the national team, with over 150, are his strongest attributes.

Jones can be played either as a forward or on either side as a midfielder, and will likely be plugged into the line-up when an offensive spark is needed late in a game.

“His vast international experience and his speed and pace are what have kept him in the game for so long at that high level,” Salcedo said.

Moore, who plays in the English Premier League with Everton, is an aggressive forward who is dangerous on set pieces and free kicks from 25 to 30 yards out.

An All-American in 1991 and 1992, Moore ranks second all-time on the U.S. list with 24 international goals.

“He’s kind of like the energizer bunny,” Fitzgerald said. “You wind him up, you put him out there and he just works his tail off for 90 minutes.”

Hejduk, who played in the 1998 World Cup, also plays on foreign ground as part of Bayer Leverkusen of the German Bundesliga.

Both Fitzgerald and Salcedo characterize him as a tenacious defender who can add offense to the back four with his bursts down the flank.

“He’s got a lot of speed, which you need at the World Cup level,” Fitzgerald said.

And then there is Lewis, who also has speed but more importantly has the ability to serve some good balls into the box for players like Todd McBride, a current Crew player whom Fitzgerald did not hesitate to mention.

Salcedo couldn’t agree more. “Eddie is a more dangerous attacking player because of his crossing ability,” Salcedo said. “Every one time you have the opportunity to hit a dangerous cross something might come of it.

“And in the World Cup, the chances are few and far between scoring a goal.”

Salcedo should know. He has seen it all before.