US men's soccer team hold first practise session ahead of tournament

(1 Jun 2010) Pretoria 1. Wide of training ground, players practicing 2. Mid of players training 3. Mid of US national team coach Bob Bradley 4. Various of players training 5. Wide of police helicopter flying overhead Irene Farm 6. Mid of police dog barking 7. Close of police dog, tilt up to officer 8. SOUNDBITE (English) Bob Bradley, coach of US men's soccer team: "I think we have a tough group. Of course so much attention has been put on the first match against England, it's a tremendous opportunity for us. The spotlight on that game is huge, it already has generated amazing interest in the United States." 9. Wide of news conference 10. SOUNDBITE (English) Carlos Bocanegra, captain of US men's soccer team: "We're excited. I mean this is what the World Cup brings. The best competition and we get to challenge ourselves against the best in the world, so, that's what it's all about down here. The same feeling, we need to concentrate on the group stages first, and after that we'll worry about going as far as we can." Pretoria 11. Various of players training 12. Wide exterior of Pilditch stadium 13. Mid of stadium entrance, police officer 14. Wide of USA team bus 15. Mid of USA team bus with sign on side, reading: "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Victory!" STORYLINE: The US men's soccer team held their first practice session in South Africa on Wednesday after landing in the country the day before. The team is staying at Irene Farm, a rural location between Johannesburg and Pretoria. However their training sessions were being held at Pretoria's Pilditch stadium. At a press conference at Irene Farm, national coach Bob Bradley said that there had already been a lot of interest in their first game against England. Team captain Carlos Bocanegra said the players were excited to be in South Africa and participating in the World Cup. There was some visible security surrounding the team, both at their hotel and at the training ground. Police sniffer dogs and armed officers stood watch, while a helicopter hovered overhead as the team bus drove from Irene Farm to Pilditch. Reporters were searched by plain-clothes secret service agents before being allowed into the practice ground. The country has a familiar feel for most of the US squad, who enjoyed an impressive showing in the Confederations Cup in South Africa last year. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...