Arena - worried by Polish threat (Allsport)

Click here to place your World Cup bets!
Click here for USA team section
Click here for teams index
Click here for latest World Cup headlines
Click here for World Cup photo gallery
Click here for World Cup Bettingzone

United States coach Bruce Arena fears a World Cup backlash from already-eliminated Poland in their final group match on Friday.

The USA go into the match in Daejeon knowing that a win or a draw over Group D's bottom side will guarantee them a spot in the second round.

The Poles have struggled to do themselves justice in the Far East and are already out of the competition having lost their opening two matches to co-hosts Korea, and Portugal, conceding six goals in the pocess while scoring none.

But Arena is well aware that the Poles , who were the first European team to qualify for the World Cup bar holders France, will be anxious to finish on a winning note to restore some much-needed pride.

"They certainly haven't played as well as they are capable of playing in the first two games, and that scares me," said Arena.

"Maybe they'll show up tomorrow and play their best game. That is how we are preparing our team. We are going to expect Poland to step on the field and play their best game, so we know we have to be ready to play in order to be successful.

"Poland has a good team. We saw their run in Europe and it was an outstanding one. As I said yesterday they have a very dangerous striker in [Emmanuel] Olisadabe, and solid midfield play, and one of the best goalkeepers in the world in [Jerzy] Dudek."

Captain Claudio Reyna echoed his coach's sentiments, admitting the US have a great deal of respect for the Poles.

"Any team that qualifies from Europe is one that you have to respect. It is the hardest region to qualify from, so they were in a tough group, I think with Ukraine and Norway, and they won their group. So that says enough," said the Sunderland midfielder.

"You have to go into the game with the same type of mindset as we did the first two games."

Korea currently lead Group D on goal difference from the USA with four points from two games. Portugal, who face Korea in Incheon, are third with three points.