Thursday, June 06, 2002
Next for U.S. team: South Korea
The Associated Press
SEOUL, South Korea — Bruce Arena awoke Thursday and found more than 100 e-mails offering congratulations. Some of the U.S. coach's players didn't get much sleep, too hyped up after their stunning performance.
They had beaten Portugal, the world's fifth-ranked team, for America's greatest soccer upset since the 1950 win over England. Yet, it already was time to think about Monday's game against South Korea.
“We have to move forward,” Arena said. “We can't live on that day anymore.”
Back home, where it was still Wednesday night, U.S. soccer fans were celebrating the 3-2 victory. Half a world away Thursday, American players weren't sure how much attention the victory gained for a sport that often exists in relative obscurity back home.
“In the past three, four years, it's been nothing but negative press about the team, and a lot of bashing and people saying soccer isn't even a real sport in this country,” defender Jeff Agoos said. “It's nice to prove the people wrong.”
The Americans, who hadn't scored three times in a World Cup game since 1930, took the lead on John O'Brien's fourth-minute goal, scored again when Landon Donovan's cross bounced off the head of a defender into the net, and made it 3-0 in the 36th when Brian McBride connected for a diving header off a crossfield pass from Tony Sanneh.
Then they held on.
While Portugal's prime minister told the team to hang tough, soccer has a different status in the United States. McBride, when prodded, said the team hadn't heard from the White House.
“No presidential call,” he said.
But the American players seemed to sense it was a magical night, one they would remember for a long time.
“I was watching, watching, watching and saying, "Oh my God, it's going in,”' Donovan said of his cross. “And then it went in and I'm thinking: "Is this fate? What's going on here?”'
With the win, the United States and South Korea are both 1-0, with the host nation leading Group D on goal difference following its 2-0 defeat of Poland on Tuesday. The Americans likely will need at least one more point — maybe more — to advance to the second round for the first time since 1994.
On Monday in Daegu, known for its afternoon heat and humidity, the Americans will face a South Korean team that played at a much higher level than usual in its opener — lifted by a loud, emotional crowd. According to Arena, the weather will force changes for both teams.
“The game is not going to be played at a frantic pace despite the fitness of the players,” he said.
The U.S. team may be without Earnie Stewart, who strained his groin Wednesday and did not play the second half. Arena said it was too early to tell if the midfielder would be available. If he's not, the likely replacement is Cobi Jones, who came on for him against Portugal.
U.S. captain Claudio Reyna, who missed the Portugal game because of a strained right quadriceps, hopes to play.
“We'll know in the next few days,” he said.
Clint Mathis, sporting a new Mohawk hairdo, also didn't play against the Portuguese. He has been bothered by inflammation in his left knee, which was operated on in 1995.
Mathis, the feature of many World Cup previews in the United States, said he banged the knee during practice last week.
“My opportunity will come,” he said. “I just have to be patient and be prepared when that opportunity comes.”
Last weekend, Arena criticized Mathis' fitness. Since then, he has praised the attacker.
“Clint has been pretty sharp the last three, four days,” he said. “He's going to have his opportunity.”
Notes: The sister of Arena's wife has two adopted Korean children who came to the United States when they were infants and live in Virginia. Jason is now 14 and Emma is nine. “They better be supporting the U.S. team,” Arena said of his nephew and niece. ... Several U.S. players complained about under-inflated balls in the Portugal game.
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Next for U.S. team: South Korea 
