Soccer: Portugal's long wait nears end

SUWON - Portugal, one of Europe's most talented sides, are itching to begin their first World Cup campaign for 16 years against the United States tonight.

Supporters at home will accept nothing less than Portugal making the second round, and the players are confident.

"Everybody sets out to win - the France-Senegal game proved that - so we want to win," said playmaker Rui Costa. "Winning three points to start with is very important."

But Portugal, orchestrated by world player-of-the-year Luis Figo, have had plenty of time to reflect on how world champions France came unstuck in their 1-0 loss to Senegal last Friday.

"We know we are favourites, but we have to prove it on the field," said striker Nuno Gomes.

"The US are a good team, they have some very good players based in Europe. To beat them, we will have to work and run more than them."

Coach Antonio Oliveira will probably keep the 4-1-3-2 formation that Portugal used to top their qualifying group, with Joao Pinto and Pauleta up front.

At the back, Nuno Frechaut is likely to step in for Abel Xavier, who has a torn thigh muscle, and midfielder Paulo Sousa is also likely to miss the game with a thigh injury.

Costa is fully fit after an injury-plagued season, as is Figo, who looked jaded last month after a long season with Real Madrid.



US coach Bruce Arena also took heart from Senegal's shock win, and stressed that his side were determined to improve on their showing in the 1998 World Cup, where they lost all three qualifying games and had the worst record of the 32 teams.

Although outsiders, the US side are no longer as tactically naive as they were in the early 1990s.

"It [the France-Senegal match] demonstrates anyone can win, and we are not here to play three games and go home," Arena said. "We believe we will be prepared mentally and physically to win the game."

The Americans' lofty goals might be hampered by injuries to midfielder and captain Claudio Reyna and forward Clint Mathis.

They might use their two youngest players, midfielder DaMarcus Beasley and precocious forward Landon Donovan, both 20 and both of whom appeared at the world under-17 championship in New Zealand three years ago.

Probable teams:-

Portugal: Vitor Baia; Nuno Frechaut, Jorge Costa, Fernando Couto, Rui Jorge, Armando Petit, Sergio Conceicao, Rui Costa, Luis Figo, Joao Pinto, Pauleta.

US: Kasey Keller; Tony Sanneh, Eddie Pope, Jeff Agoos, Frankie Hejduk, Claudio Reyna, Earnie Stewart, John O'Brien, DaMarcus Beasley, Brian McBride, Clint Mathis.

Referee: Byron Moreno (Ecuador)

- AGENCIES

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