Friedel - takes a break during training (Allsport)
USA UNDERDOGS READY FOR GERMANS
By Paul Walker, PA Sport, Ulsan
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With their star-spangled banner flying in the face of world opinion, the
United States team plan to hound the Germans out of the World Cup.
As the underdogs in this quarter-final clash, nobody gives Bruce Arena's team
a chance of reaching their first semi-final since 1930.
Except for the all-American heroes themselves. The talk is of pride, honour
and blood-soaked effort, and you can bet your life they will go down fighting!
Fulham's wantaway midfielder Eddie Lewis, who is hoping to hold his place
after a fine display against Mexico in Earnie Stewart's absence, promised the
Germans a night they will not enjoy.
He said: "We have far exceeded our expectations. The pressure is very heavily
on Germany and that's to our advantage.
"We will continue to defend and counter-attack, that's what has got us here,
and we'll have to pressure and hound them all over the field.
"Nobody likes being put under pressure in possession and that's what we have
to do to give us any chance."
And he added: "Germany are all special players, Michael Ballack in midfield,
Bernd Schneider on the right is outstanding, and they've got a fine goalkeeper
in Oliver Kahn and a striker who is top scorer here, Miroslav Klose.
"We know the problems but when you get to this stage, every player is world
class. We must show we are too.
"The Germans, however they get to the finals and however they play, they
always seem to go the distance. That's why they are so strong and why they've
won the trophy three times. So for us to break them down will be by far the
biggest test that our country has ever encountered."
Lewis added: "They only need half a chance, they will score and never let you
back. We have to be as careful as ever, and if we can get the first goal we can
make a fight of it.
"We will try to get after them and put them under pressure, nobody likes to
be pressured and we will try to make use of when they lose possession and we can
hit them on counter attacks.
"They have much more experience of this stage of tournaments than us, they've
shown that over the years.
"But we have surprised a few people along the way and we will try to continue
that."
Goalkeeper Brad Friedel summed up the American mood, and what is bound to be a
display of defiance against all the odds: "We have always had heart, Americans
are born with it. Sometimes in the past other things have let us down, but we
never lack heart. That's never something you can say is lacking in an American
player."
Defender Pablo Mastroeni said: "We know we can score, and then we will have
to defend better than at anytime in the tournament.
"They are very physical and good in the air, but we believe we can win, we
don't have the best players in the world but we do have a lot of heart."
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