The United States’ national soccer team will begin qualifying play for the 2002 World Cup when it travels to face Guatemala on Sunday.

The U.S., Guatemala, Costa Rica and Barbados have been lumped together in a bracket and will be involved in round robin play. They will play each other twice and the top two will advance to the final round of qualifying.

University of Maine women’s soccer coach Scott Atherley, who had been the men’s coach and actually coached both programs a year ago, said he likes the direction of the team under new coach Bruce Arena.

“The program is going forward. Bruce Arena’s mentality and his philosophy are perfect for the American player. His attitude is we’re going to put pressure on you and we’re going to go after you.

“American players are athletic and he intends to use that athleticism,” Atherley added. “We will be assertive and confident. He has chosen players based on those principles and it seems to be working well.”

Atherley said Arena doesn’t seem to think the U.S. is experienced enough to sit back and defend and wait for counterattack opportunities.

And that is just fine with the Maine coach.

“We will be playing to win instead of playing not to lose. That’s perfect for the American game. Americans love that mentality,” said Atherley. “And the thing all of the players seem to have in common is they are very tough and hard-working.”

Atherley doesn’t know Arena personally but has observed that “he is very good at managing players. He understands the modern player. At the same time, he knows what he wants and the way he wants it and doesn’t settle for second-best.”

There are several young (22-under) Americans in Major League Soccer and there are a handful of Americans playing in the top leagues in Europe.

Atherley said the gap is closing between the American players and the European and South Americans.

“We’re really starting to catch up to the rest of the world. The athleticism has always been there but now these kids are as good technically and tactically,” said Atherley.

He said the women’s World Cup triumph and the progress of the men’s team has had a trickle-down effect to our youth leagues.

“We have always had some great moments or a great game here and there but now we’re starting to develop consistency,” said Atherley who has been affiliated with the Maine program either as a player, assistant coach or head coach since 1984.

Wildey lists broadcast musts

What constitutes a good radio broadcast of a sporting event?

“Tell me what I don’t already know; paint me a picture and keep it exciting throughout the game,” answered George Wildey, president of the New England School of Communications in Bangor.

New York Yankee play-by-play man Mel Allen was one of Wildey’s idols during his youth in New York.

“He was and still is at the top of the list,” said Wildey. “He made a game exciting from inning one to inning nine, regardless of the score.

“When you listen to a Red Sox game, you can tell if they’re behind just by listening to [Red Sox play-by-play man] Joe Castiglione’s voice,” said Wildey.

“I remember a game in which the Yankees were beating the St. Louis Browns 12-0. I got home from school and turned it on. It was the ninth inning but it could have been any inning. It was still exciting. Mel Allen never lost sight of the fact that listeners tuned in at all times and he wanted them to keep listening to the game,” said Wildey.

“[The sponsors] pay X amount of dollars and want to get their money’s worth. They hope there are as many listeners late in a game as there were at the start of the game,” said Wildey.

Wildey likes to be kept abreast of things like field conditions and reasons behind lineup changes. He wants statistics but feels some tend to provide too many stats.

“And I don’t care what some guy ate last night,” said Wildey.