COLUMBUS U.S. hopes Reyna's return will liven up stagnant offense

The Americans take on Paraguay today in the final tune-up for the Gold Cup.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- U.S. National Team coach Bruce Arena says the return of Claudio Reyna should help the Americans liven up their stagnant offense.
"Reyna gives us better passing from the midfield and the ability to hold the ball," Arena said Saturday. "His experience, his technical ability and also his leadership make our team much more dangerous."
The Americans take on Paraguay today at Columbus Crew Stadium in their final tuneup match before the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Long awaited return
Reyna, team captain and the only U.S. player to be named to the World Cup first team, is expected to play for the first time since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on Oct. 26.
"I feel great. I am fit again finally and I have pretty much been given the green light to train with the team and to play," Reyna said Saturday. "I am really, really excited to get some minutes on Sunday."
Reyna has made 92 appearances for the national team, the most of anyone on the Gold Cup roster. His ability to keep possession of the ball at midfield allows the Americans to better control the tempo of the game and helps creates space for players going forward.
Reyna's skills at midfield will be important today against Paraguay, an extremely organized team that likes to keep a lot of players back on defense and counterattack when the opportunity arises.
"It is going to be an excellent game," Arena said. "They are an experienced team that traditionally qualifies for the World Cup out of a very tough group."
Arena was disappointed with his team's lack of offense during its first-round exit in last month's FIFA Confederations Cup in France. The U.S. team went 0-2-1 in the tournament, with losses to World Cup semifinalist Turkey, World Cup champion Brazil and a tie with African champion Cameroon. Their only goal was in a 2-1 loss to Turkey.
Arena said despite the outcome, the Confederations Cup was good experience for his young players.
"We had a chance to evaluate our players in a good competition," Arena said. "We got to look at a young pool of players and this game Sunday and the Gold Cup are going to be more valuable experiences for them."
Unlike the Confederations Cup, where many teams rested several of their star players, the Gold Cup -- which is the championship of soccer's North and Central American and Caribbean region -- is more significant.
Third-most important
Arena calls the Gold Cup the third-most important competition behind the World Cup and its qualifying tournament.
"The value of the Gold Cup is that it is our federation, our zone," he said. "So we would like to stay on top of the other countries in our region. To do that you have to win the Gold Cup.
"It is also a good indication of how the team is doing," he said. "But our objective is simply to qualify for the next World Cup."
The U.S. team opens Gold Cup play July 12 against El Salvador at Foxboro, Mass., and completes group play two days later against Martinique. The 12-nation tournament, which also will be played in Miami and Mexico City, includes invitees Brazil and Colombia.
The U.S. team won the 2002 Gold Cup, which was played in Miami and Pasadena, Calif., at the beginning of the year before the World Cup. The American's beat Costa Rica 2-0 for the title in the Rose Bowl.
This year's Gold Cup is important to the players because bragging rights are on line.
"Oh, yeah, it's big," said defender Frankie Hejduk. "We're the defending champs. Every tournament you win you want a chance to defend it."