U.S. faces Mexico in shakedown match

DENVER, April 2 (UPI) -- Many members of the United States men's soccer team will get their next to last chance Wednesday to convince Coach Bruce Arena that they belong on the World Cup roster.

That's when the largely MLS-based U.S. squad takes on

Mexico at Invesco Stadium in a World Cup preparatory match.

The game is the last chance for bubble players such as Eddie Pope, Ante Razov and Frankie Hejduk.

Arena is slated to announce his World Cup roster following the April 17 match against Ireland.

The U.S. is coming off a sound thrashing by Germany, 4-2, in Rostock, a game that could easily have broken into the double digits for the three-time World Cup champion Germans.

Despite fielding what was the closest thing to a full-strength side, the Americans had to once again rely on goalkeeper Kasey Keller make save after save.

It is a problem for whivh the U.S. has few solutions. Arena hopes Greg Vanney and Pablo Mastroeni will be able to bring some badly needed form and speed to what is a leaky defense.

Hard questions also must be asked about the oft-injured Eddie Pope and the painfully slow Carlos Llamosa. Arena has affection for both players, but they are huge liabilities.

In midfield, DaMarcus Beasley is a lock to make the team after a stellar performance both with club and country. Landon Donovan is in the same category, despite a showing in Rostock where he largely disappeared.

The odd men out probably are Brian Maisonneuve and Brian West. Cobi Jones likely will come off the bench in the Cup, and the remaining question is Richard Mulrooney, who has looked good, but lacks experience.