GROUP D / UNITED STATES

*--* World Cup record: Played 17 (4-12-1); goals for: 18; goals against: 38 Best finish: Semifinalist in 1930 1998 showing: Eliminated in the first round Coach: Bruce Arena. Since taking over from Steve Sampson in 1998, Arena has compiled a 31-16-13 record, but he is only 6-11-5 outside the U.S. and 2-5-1 against European opposition. Prepared for the job by winning five NCAA titles at Virginia and two MLS Cups with D.C. United Players to watch: Claudio Reyna, DaMarcus Beasley, Clint Mathis In brief: All too much has been made of the three-losses-and-out shambles of 1998. The fact is, exactly the same thing could happen this time because the U.S. defense cracks under sustained pressure. That said, advancing is not impossible, merely difficult Quick quote: “We aren’t going to Korea to have a vacation.”--Arena Forecast: The battle plan is to hold the fort against Portugal, defeat South Korea and go for broke against Poland. There’s a chance it might work, but don’t bet the house

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