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U.S. opens World Cup preparation vs. Sweden Saturday
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Four years after the United States broke onto the world soccer scene by advancing to the second round of the World Cup, this team will have a different look, coach Steve Sampson said.The cautious approach of former coach Bora Milutinovic will give way to a more open, offensively oriented tack.
"I'm not questioning his tactics at the time because he achieved the goal that we all sought, that was get to the second round," Sampson said in preparing the United States for an exhibition game against Sweden on Saturday. "But I think now is the time when we need to show the rest of the world that we're a team that wants to create goal-scoring opportunities. For me, the only way to do that is to play much more direct."
The goal-scoring emphasis has been greeted warmly by fans and even more by players, many of whome played in Europe where the style is commonplace.
"I think the difference playing under Bora and playing under the coach right now is a million miles apart," forward Roy Wegerle said. "We're playing a more direct game and it favors a lot of the players on our team.
"We have a better opportunity right now with this team to score more goals than we did in '94 and hopefully that will be the case in the upcoming months and certainly in the World Cup," Wegerle said.
Sampson said goalkeeper Brad Friedel will start Saturday. Tony Meola, the 1994 World Cup goalie, will most likely be the backup. Friedel was recalled from Liverpool of England's Premier League on Tuesday. Meola hasn't played in an international match since a 1-0 loss to Brazil in the second round of the '94 World Cp.
Also this week, midfielder Brian Maisonneuve was dropped from the roster after spraining his right foot during practice Friday. Forward Joe-Max Moore rejoined the team following six weeks with Emelec in Ecuador.
Sampson's primary concern now is fitness.
"The one thing we must have going into France is a team that is as physically fit if not more fit than our opposition," Sampson said. "That would allow us to play our style of soccer and I feel its the only way we will be successful."
The United States' first-round World Cup opponents are Germany (June 15), Iran (June 21) and Yugoslavia (June 25).
Two of the four teams advance into the second round.
The United States last year secured its third consecutive World Cup berth following a 40-year absence by finishing second behind Mexico in its qualifying region.
NEXT ROUNDS: Round of 16 || Quarter-finals || Semi-finals
GROUP A: Brazil, Morocco, Norway, Scotland
GROUP B: Austria, Cameroon, Chile, Italy
GROUP C: Denmark, France, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
GROUP D: Bulgaria, Nigeria, Paraguay, Spain
GROUP E: Belgium, Holland, Mexico, South Korea
GROUP F: Germany, Iran, United States, Yugoslavia
GROUP G: Colombia, England, Romania, Tunisia
GROUP H: Argentina, Croatia, Jamaica, Japan
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