美國隊教練阿雷納在首場比賽失利之後，與意大利的比賽正是證

　　明美國實力的好機會。他説，“我們所做的就是輸了一場比賽，問題在

　　于我們怎樣回應。”他説自己不會過度反應而批評球隊，並表示與達馬

　　庫斯比斯利的分歧也已經平息。阿雷納説，“我們在第一場比賽中學

　　到了很多，意大利是支強隊，但是我們沒有理由在接下來的兩場比賽中

　　不取得好成績。”

　　鏈結：http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=afp-

　　fblwc2006gpeusa&prov=afp&type=lgns

　　原文：Arena expects improved US effort against Italy

　　by Jim Slater

　　June 15, 2006

　　HAMBURG (AFP) - Playing mighty Italy after a disappointing

　　World Cup defeat is just the sort of challenge needed for the

　　United States to prove the team's character, US coach Bruce

　　Arena said.

　　"This is the moment to shine, to step up and show what you're

　　about," Arena said. "I think they are ready to give a good

　　effort."

　　Giving no hints of the lineup changes he plans for Saturday's

　　match, Arena said he expects players to answer their wake-up

　　call and play better Saturday than they did in a 3-0 loss

　　Monday to the Czech Republic in a Group E opener.

　　"All we did is lose a game. The challenge in any sport is how

　　you respond," Arena said. "Naturally there is over-reaction in

　　the short term. If there is any kind of quality in the team,

　　you bounce back."

　　Arena said he did not over-react in criticizing the team after

　　the loss and declared that differences with midfielder

　　DaMarcus Beasley have been overblown.

　　"DaMarcus hasn't been a problem with anything. There are no

　　issues with DaMarcus. There's no problem with DaMarcus," Arena

　　said.

　　After the loss, Arena said, "We got nothing out of Beasley",

　　who responded that he had no idea what Arena wanted and

　　doubted he would start against Italy if Arena felt that way.

　　"Remarks from DaMarcus and me should probably not have been

　　stated," Arena said. "The final product doesn't look like what

　　it really is."

　　The reality facing the Americans is harsh. A loss to Italy at

　　Kaiserslautern and a Czech victory Saturday over Ghana would

　　end US hopes of advancing, a disappointing fate for a 2002

　　quarter-finalist squad.

　　"Why would there be any reason we should feel we can't get out

　　of the group?" US defender Oguchi Onyewu said.

　　"We learned a lesson in the first game. Italy is going to be a

　　good team but there's no reason we can't get good results in

　　the next two games."

　　Fiorentina striker Luca Toni and AC Milan forward Alberto

　　Gilardino are Italy's top threats, supported by some of best

　　set-up men in the sport.

　　"The guys we're most concerned about are their two strikers,

　　who are probably among the best tandem of strikers in the

　　World Cup," Arena said.

　　"Both are tremendous finishers. Gilardino is a lethal finisher

　　inside the box and he is in position all the time."

　　Arena was also impressed with 22-year-old Roma midfielder

　　Daniele De Rossi in Italy's 2-0 opening victory over Ghana.

　　"I thought De Rossi was very good. He has got a great future,"

　　Arena said. They have an excellent midfield. If they sit back,

　　you need to be patient, pick your chances, not get caught on

　　the break.

　　"They are going to be selective on how they attack you."

　　Getting off to a strong start, or at the very least avoiding a

　　major blunder early, will be vital for US chances to win their

　　first European World Cup match against a European side after

　　seven losses.

　　"When you play against world-class players, they don't make

　　mistakes and punish you for every mistake," US midfielder

　　Bobby Convey said.

　　"We have to start well. When you don't it takes away the

　　urgency of the team. When the other team scores it's a shock."

　　The US team will stay at Ramstein Air Base, the largest US

　　military base outside the United States. No slight was

　　intended to Cup hotels or security measures but safety and

　　comfort will be easier to provide on the base.

　　"The FIFA hotels were a little out of range and security was a

　　concern," Arena said. "I feel a lot safer with all those

　　bombers there."

　　Updated on Thursday, Jun 15, 2006 9:33 am EDT

　　作者-李雪，二外英語系

責編：盧爽