POPE AVAILABLE ACCORDING TO ARENA Rich Fidler - Tuesday, June 13, 2006
US defender Eddie Pope's injured hand should not affect his status for the remaining two World Cup matches, according to head coach Bruce Arena.
"I don't think it's anything that could keep him from playing," the United States skipper told the media contingent in Hamburg.
The press conference held a day after the devastating defeat at the hands of the Czech Republic, the world's second ranked team, helped clarify a possible injury to one of his starting defenders.
The 32-year old Pope is playing in his third World Cup and his coach for the past eight years expects the veteran to be ready, though he does remain cautious in his assessment.
"I think it's the right thing to do, to take X-rays," said Arena. "They call them precautionary just to make sure"
"Again I could be wrong, but I've been told it's nothing to be concerned with."
Update - US media director Jim Moorhouse told YA on Wednesday that Pope's X-rays were negative and that the defender will be ready for Saturday's date with Italy in Kaiserslautern.
Currently visting YA: 326 
