BY SCOTT FRENCH in Buenos Aires On paper, it’s a game the United States can’t lose, but Wolfgang Suhnholz knows better than that. When the U.S. under-20 squad takes on Egypt on Wednesday in its second-round clash at the World Youth Championship, the odds will have no bearing on what occurs. The consensus is that the Egyptians, who finished second to host Argentina in Group A, are the weakest of the 16 remaining teams. “That is probably what they think,” Suhnholz said. “But I think they’re wrong.” “On any given day,” added forward Conor Casey, “any team can win.” Suhnholz will have to rely on a squad at less than full strength. Winger-forward DaMarcus Beasley is doubtful with a hip-pointer and winger Bobby Convey is questionable with a groin injury. They are two of the Americans’ most important players, two of their game-deciders, but the coach isn’t going to throw them onto the field unless they are healthy. “My philosophy,” Suhnholz said, “is if someone is not at full strength, you can’t play him. I’m not out to get Bobby hurt — I don’t care World Cup or no World Cup. I have a responsibility toward the player and toward his club and to our team as well. … “Anthony [Garcia, the trainer] is a magician — he’s going to try to do everything possible. But you have to live a little bit with reality.” Beasley and Convey sat out Tuesday’s training session at Velez Sarsfield — in the shadow of Estadio Jose Amalfitani, where Wednesday’s doubleheader (with Argentina-China as the second game) will be played — and neither promised he would be ready. Beasley, who has two of the Americans’ five goals, indicated he didn’t expect to be ready. Said Convey: “I’ve got to wait to tomorrow to see.” “I have a lot of confidence in all 18 players,” said Suhnholz. “If Bobby’s not going to play, or if Beasley’s not going to play, we’re going to miss something because they;re good players for us. On the other hand, then we play with other players. “It’s going to be fine.” Suhnholz said he hadn’t decided who, or how, the Americans were going to play, only that it was important to counter the Egyptians’ midfield speed and try to take advantage of space on the flanks. Beasley, who started at forward in the first-round games against Chile and Ukraine, had been expected to move back to the left wing; Brad Davis, who started on Saturday against Ukraine, is likely to take one wing. Kyle Martino, a starter in the first two matches, is ready to take the other. Suhnholz has several decisions to make. He’s gone with 3-6-1 and 4-4-2 formations but may switch to a 4-5-1, the alignment the Americans used during qualifying. Edson Buddle suffered a quad contusion in training on Monday and may not be able to start up top. Conor Casey, who started in the opener against China, has recovered from stomach flu and may step in. Landon Donovan, who has taken an organizational role — rather than a playmaking role — in midfield, is expected to be more of an offensive force during the knockout phase of the U-20 championships. Two defensive midfielders would provide him the support needed to do so, and Brian Carroll’s and Kelly Gray’s speed give them the upper hand over Kenny Arena, who was outstanding in the draw with Ukraine and is the best of the three in the air. “The situation with Kenny,” Suhnholz said, “is, is he quick enough for [Egypt] in the middle? Because it looks like they’re not as threatening in the air.” Suhnholz was pleased with his back line’s play against Ukraine, particularly left back Ricky Lewis, who has started two games in place of Philip Salyer, one of several players who has suffered from stomach flu the past week or so. “I think Salyer would probably fit in better [against Egypt],” the coach said, “but after the performance Ricky had, you can’t pull him out.” He also must decide whether to leave Gray, a last-minute replacement for ailing Alexander Yi against Ukraine, in central defense. “If you ask me what I’m going to do,” he said, “I have to say: I don’t know.” The Yanks swear they won’t overlook the Egyptians, who were throttled, 7-1, by Argentina, but earned a second-round berth with a scoreless draw against Jamaica and a 2-1 surprise over disappointing Finland. “It’s do or die,” Yi said. “If we lose, we go home, and if we win, they go home. I think [we’re going to face] a totally different team than what faced Argentina. I don’t by any means think it’s going to be 7-1. I think it’s going to be a tough game.” Suhnholz said the “only way” to explain the Egyptians’ result against Argentina was that they tend to get down if they fall behind early. After El Yamany fired Egypt ahead in the fifth minute, the Argentines scored three times in the next 15 minutes and had a 4-1 advantage — with a Javier Saviola hat trick — by halftime. “Egypt is a lot like Latin teams, very emotional,” Suhnholz said. “Latin teams are just more … professional about it. They get through it a little bit easier. Without hurting anybody’s feelings, I think the Egyptians are more like kids [in their emotional response].” Egypt will be missing its best defender, Hussein Amin, who picked up his second yellow card of the tournament in Saturday’s victory over the Finns. Wing-back Abou El Mago is dangerous, and forwards Gamal Hamza and Mohamed El Yamany can cause damage if given support. Hamza is one of four Zamalek players on the roster — only Al Ahly, with six, has more — and El Yamany plays for Standard Liege in Belgium. The winner travels to Rosario for a July 1 semifinal against Angola or the Netherlands, who meet Thursday at Newell’s Old Boys’ El Coloso del Parque. Suhnholz, asked his thoughts on that game, said it hadn’t crossed his mind. “I want to get through this one first before I think about that one,” he said. “I think we can beat either, but if we don’t [beat Egypt], we don’t have to worry about either one.” PROJECTED LINEUPS United States: D.J. Countess (UCLA); Oguchi Onyewu (Clemson), Alexander Yi (UCLA), Nelson Akwari (UCLA), Ricky Lewis (Clemson); Brian Carroll (Wake Forest), Kelly Gray (Portland), Bobby Convey (D.C. United), Landon Donovan (San Jose Earthquakes), Brad Davis (Saint Louis); Conor Casey (Borussia Dortmund, Germany). Egypt: Mohamed Sobhi (Ismailia); Abou El Magd (Al Ahly), Mahmoud Mahmoud (Zamalek), Mohamed El Atrawy (El Mahlah); Mohamed Shawky (Al Masry), Wael Reyad (Al Ahly), Reda Shehata (Al Ahly), Hossam Ghali (Al Ahly), Ahmed Abou Moslem (Al Ahly); Mohamed El Yamany (Standard Liege, Belgium), Gamal Hamza (Zamalek).