[nas] FW: USMNT v Holland details

> From the U.S. Soccer Communications Center:
> 
> U.S. MEN TO FACE PERENNIAL WORLD POWER HOLLAND
> ON FEBRUARY 18 AT AMSTERDAM ARENA LIVE ON ESPN2
> 
> 2004 Road Campaign Kicks Off with First Ever Trip to the Netherlands
> 
> CHICAGO (December 22, 2003) - The United States Men's
> National Team will travel to face fifth-ranked Holland on Feb. 18, 2004
> at the vaunted Amsterdam ArenA in Amsterdam.  Kickoff for the match is
> set for 8:30 p.m. local time (2:30 p.m. ET), and the match will be
> broadcast live on ESPN2.  Fans can also follow the match live online via
> ussoccer.com's MatchTracker, presented by Philips Electronics.
> 
> "We are excited about the challenge of competing against
> one of the finest teams in the world," said U.S. Manager Bruce Arena,
> whose 44-22-16 lifetime record is best amongst U.S. MNT coaches.  "To
> play a team of Holland's caliber can only be valuable as we prepare for
> the beginning of 2006 World Cup qualifying."
> 
> The U.S. and Holland have met just twice in their
> history, both on U.S. soil, with the United States dropping a pair of
> 2-0 losses.  The teams last met in Foxboro, Mass., on May 19, 2002, in
> the USA's third and final match of the Nike "Road to Korea" series.  The
> U.S. departed for their historic quarterfinal run in the 2002 World Cup
> three days later.
> 
> With the Feb. 18 match falling on a FIFA-scheduled
> international fixture date, this will be the fifth time the MNT has
> traveled to Europe during Arena's five-year tenure, with the U.S. still
> in search of their first victory.
> 
> Two-time runners-up in the World Cup (1974 and 1978),
> "The Oranje" have one of the finest footballing traditions in Europe.
> Winners of the 1988 European championships, the Netherlands have
> produced some of the best players in history, including legendary
> midfielder Johan Cruyff.  Now led by former Glasgow Rangers manager Dick
> Advocaat, the Dutch boast an array of world class talent like strikers
> Ruud Van Nistlerooy (Manchester United) and Patrick Kluivert (FC
> Barcelona).  Holland has reached the finals of the 2004 European
> Championship, drawn into Group D along with Germany, the Czech Republic
> and Latvia.
> 
> After posting a 10-4-2 record in 2003, which included a
> third place finish at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the United States will
> embark this year on the road to qualification for the 2006 World Cup in
> Germany.  
> 
> The U.S. begins CONCACAF qualifying June 13, 2004,
> against the winner of the home-and-away series between Grenada and
> Guyana, with their first match scheduled to be played in the United
> States.  With the semifinal round slated to begin Aug. 18, the U.S. will
> play a series of friendlies in preparation throughout the year.
> 
> The U.S. will open the calendar year with a friendly
> against Denmark that will mark their first ever match at The Home Depot
> Center in Carson, Calif. The afternoon match will be broadcast live on
> ESPN at 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT.
> 
> www.ussoccer.com


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