There are all kinds of tools that soccer coaches use to gain insight into what lies behind the eyes of their players. Before a once-every-4-years type tournament like the World Cup, the importance of utilizing all of those tools to their fullest becomes crystal clear as you glance around the headlines.

DaMarcus Beasley was fined $1,800 and given 6 months probation over an incident involving driving after having 5 glasses of champagne at a bar in the Netherlands (U.S. international Beasley fined $1,800) . Was that the result of a youthful indiscretion following a boisterous celebration, possibly PSVs imminent title? Or is this the tip of the iceberg of another typical out-of-control, spoiled pop-star athlete personality? He certainly has the skills to merit the attitude of such a personality, but we as spectator's can't sit down, look Beasley in the eyes and him what happened.

Even were I to entertain the notion that as a nominal member of the press I can talk to a publicist or agent or some other kind of flack to setup an interview to ask him some questions, I wouldn't be guaranteed that there weren't some stipulations putting that question in particular off-limits, or even if it wasn't that Beasley would, or could, speak honestly and directly about what happened enough to help me satisfy my need for the insight that will help me know what to expect from him come June 12.

Tools that Coach Bruce Arena has to assess include such direct personal access to Beasley, to say nothing of officials at his club and even with the embassy to see what technically is going on. Beasley doesn't appear to be a shrinking violet either, so there are probably more than a few of his teammates on the National team and PSV who could attest to what's behind closed doors.

We can only read articles of fines paid thousands of miles away, while watching as many games or highlight shows as we can find on tv (for those not privileged enough to see any in person), then worry about what it all means for our chances in Germany.

Is there really a problem with some of the second-tier members of our defense being able to finish out a game with a 1-goal lead as Kyle McCarthy sees? (Closing Time) Evidence from Columbus's last-gasp goal vs. LA (Crew cuts down L.A.) and out of Salt Lake City (Bounces Don't Go RSL's Way) is probably more damaging to Chris Albright's chances than Eddie Pope's, but they both could make it so it's worth entertaining the thoughts anyhow. I know that defense doesn't just come down to one person, but Albright was personally singled out on the Crew game-winner, and Pope is the heart of the RSL defense so he should own a larger portion of the blame than say, a wing back.

What about the Revolution's distinct lack of scoring prowess to start 2006? (Revs Lacking Scoring Punch) Four members of that so-far mis-firing offense have a legitimate shot at going to Germany, and 1 or 2 of them are fighting for starting spots. Combine that with Donovan's slow start out with Galaxy, O'Brien's limited time so far with Chivas, and Reyna's lengthy sideline stints this year has to give pause to even the most optimistic among us.

Brian Ching has scored 5 goals to keep himself firmly on the bubble, but 4 of them were in the first week. That means that though his solid play the last couple of weeks including an assist against RSL have kept him in contention, he still needs another real breakout performance to keep Josh Wolff at home in Kansas City.

Speaking of the Wizards, neither Wolff, nor newly-signed Eddie Johnson came away with much to show from their weekend encounter with FC Dallas. KC Star: (Wizards’ unbeaten streak ends in Dallas) , Dallas Morning News: (FC Dallas reserve scores 94th-minute winner)

A couple more interesting things I saw this weekend:

• an interview with Coach Arena to promote the "Send-Off Tour" in May (Arena: U.S. Team Ready To Compete In World Cup) . To paraphrase, while we probably aren't quite ready to win the Cup, if we get out of the first round anything can happen. I would complete that thought with "like win the Cup." It probably wouldn't do Arena any good to go on the record in public as having said such a thing, but I fully expect that he is saying something very similar to the players in private (or at least I hope he is).
• Andrew Dixon, III is getting ready for all the soccer haters out there. (The World Cup Cometh: Beware The Soccer Haters)