Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 17, 1995 TAG: 9507180142
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: PAYSANDU, URUGUAY LENGTH: Short
The increasing success of the U.S. men's soccer team will make it harder for the Americans to surprise opponents. But considering their recent victories, it hardly matters.
The United States will play Mexico tonight in a quarterfinal of the America Cup, three days after a 3-0 upset of 1993 champion Argentina.
On the heels of the Americans' U.S. Cup '95 championship in June, merely losing by a respectable margin no longer is acceptable.
``We've showed we can live with the best,'' U.S. coach Steve Sampson said Sunday. ``We're no longer afraid of anybody.
``We're on the right track, and the world is realizing that we are now a force to be reckoned with.''
Miguel Mejia Baron, whose Mexican team lost 4-0 to the United States on June 18 in the U.S. Cup, remains confident.
``Of course we are going to win, but not just by talking,'' the coach said. ``We're going to attack, defend, run and use all the weapons we've got.''
The United States, invited to play in the South American championship for the second time, beat an Argentine team that rested nine of its regulars in the first half.
Mexico, runner-up in the last America Cup in 1993, has failed to impress so far in the tournament and scraped through to the second round as one of the top two third-place teams. But Mejia Baron said the best was to come.
``We still haven't shown what we're capable of,'' he said. ``This team is much better than in the last America Cup and has a lot more experience.''
by CNB