ULSAN, South Korea, June 18 (UPI) -- The United States wil be out for revenge Friday, when it battles three-time champion Germany in the quarterfinals of the World Cup.
The Americans were humiliated in France fours years ago, when they lost their three matches during group play. That included being overpowered in their first game by Germany, 2-0.
The U.S. got off to a dream start in Korea-Japan. John O'Brien and Brian McBride scored on June 5 as the U.S. shocked Group D favorite Portugal, 3-2, and recorded its first World Cup victory in eight years.
The United States won a World Cup elimination match for the first time in its history on Monday. Brian McBride and Landon Donovan tallied as the U.S. advanced with a round-of-16 victory over CONCACAF rival Mexico, 2-0.
McBride and Donovan have picked up two goals apiece in the four American matches.
Josh Wolff and Eddie Lewis, who had not started in the first round, brought fresh legs on to the field and certainly paid dividends, playing important roles in the American goals. Wolff flick the ball back for McBride's early goal. Then, Lewis sent a perfect cross to 20-year-old Landon Donovan for his second of the tournament.
U.S. coach Bruce Arena understands Germany represents a big challenge.
"Their physical presence is one of their greatest qualities. They have ways of scoring goals," he said. "They are all about big strong strikers and getting service into the box. We know their physical qualities are tremendous and we need to try to neutralize them."
Though it is not the powerhouse it used to be, Germany always is dangerous when it comes to the knockout stages of the World Cup. Germany has reached at least the last eight in 14 of the 15 World Cups in which it has participated.
In an otherwise lackluster showing, Oliver Neuville netted the winner with two minutes left as Germany pulled out a 1-0 win over Paraguay in the round of 16.
German striker Miroslav Klose leads the team with five goals, while seven other players also have scored.
Dietmar Hamann, Christian Ziege and Carsten Ramelow will return from suspension, making the German lineup even stronger. Hamann, Ziege, Bierhoff and Jens Jeremies also were members of the squad which beat the U.S. at the 1998 World Cup in France.
The American holdovers include Claudio Reyna, Cobi Jones, Eddie Pope, Earnie Stewart, Frankie Hejduk, David Regis and reserve goalkeeper Kasey Keller.
Keller played against Germany when the sides met in a friendly on March 27 in Rostock. Germany won that match, 4-2, while having 14 players out. Clint Mathis was the best player for the U.S., collecting a goal.
Keller kept the score from getting out of hand at Rostock, but it is unlikely he will get the call ahead of Brad Friedel, who has been perhaps the best goalkeeper in the tournament. Despite conceding six goals, Friedel has saved two peanlties.
These nations have played six times -- all in the past nine years -- with Germany holding a 4-2-0 record and 13-10 goal difference.
