Tens of thousands of screaming fans, nearly all in red shirts, will be ready to greet the U.S. team. An entire nation will be fixed on the game, with businesses around the nation coming nearly to a halt.
The Americans meet World Cup host South Korea at Daegu on Monday with a chance to advance to the second round.
“The good thing is most of us have played in hostile environments,” American captain Claudio Reyna said Saturday, “so that helps us out.”
“[When we] play in Mexico City in Azteca Stadium in front of 110,000 fans blowing horns, it feels like we’re being swarmed by bumblebees,” forward Brian McBride said. “Although it’s an incredible atmosphere, it’s just a soccer game. So you have to concentrate on playing soccer and tune everything else out.”
Both nations are coming off surprising wins in their openers. The United States, with 20-year-olds Landon Donovan and DaMarcus Beasley among six starters making World Cup debuts, shocked fifth-ranked Portugal 3-2 for its biggest victory since 1950. South Korea upset Poland 2-0 for its first World Cup win in 15 tries.
“The second game is the key if you want to go through,” U.S. goalkeeper Kasey Keller said before the opener. “Even if you get smoked by Portugal, the next game is the key.”
See ya: Slovenia coach Srecko Katanec was ejected early in the second half of Saturday’s loss to South Africa after becoming increasingly frustrated over the game’s developments. He sat in the stands the rest of the way.
“A coach can say some things if it was a foul for us or for the other team,” Katanec said. “I don’t know why he sent me.”
Kudos: German organizers of the next World Cup are impressed by this tournament and admit some achievements will be hard to beat.
“In terms of politeness and hospitality, Asia is unbeatable,” 2006 Organizing Committee chairman Franz Beckenbauer said Saturday.
“The quality of grass is such that you almost don’t want to step on it. Even players seem reluctant to damage it. . . . The conditions are perfect.”
On the other hand: Ecuador coach Hernan Dario Gomez says this World Cup lacks the flavor and intensity of others.
Gomez, trying not to be critical of the Japanese, said the Asian country simply lacks a rabid soccer tradition and is more a “baseball country.”
“The stadiums aren’t filled with hardcore supporters like they were in Italy, France and the United States,” Gomez said. “In Japan it’s a cold atmosphere.”
