\”I had gone through two years of grueling training and was very disappointed,\” the 34-year-old defender for the San Jose Earthquakes said in a phone interview. \”But I think more has been made of this incident than it should.\”

Agoos did make the World Cup team in 1998, when the United States was eliminated in the first round, but didn\’t get to play. However, he made the roster again this year and hopes to be in the starting lineup when the United States plays is first match, against Portugal, on June 5 in Suwon, South Korea. Japan and Korea are jointly hosting the 2002 World Cup.

The World Cup pits the globe\’s top soccer nations against each other every four years, and, in popular interest, is considered the world\’s greatest single sporting event.