Poland has no chance of advancing to the second round, but U.S. defender Eddie Pope expects the Poles to come out fiercely against the USA on Friday (7:30 am ET/ESPN & Univision).
Eddie Pope, U.S. defender
On whether his team is uncomfortable with the tag of ''favorite'' in the match against Poland on Friday: ''I don't know if you'd say we're the favorite. We're certainly not going to look at the game that way. We're looking at it like it's going to be a dogfight. They haven't done so well in the first two games, so they're probably going to bring a good team and a good game against us. ''No game in this stage is easy once you get to the World Cup, so it's going to be a battle for both teams and I don't think you can pick anyone as a favorite, especially since the way games have gone in this World Cup.'' On the fan reaction back home in the United States to the team's success, and the communication they have had with friends and families in the United States: ''I've heard [about] people gathering at difficult times in the morning, at establishments in the middle of the night, just to support us. It's helped that we've done a decent job so far. … This will help further soccer in the U.S., and we appreciate the support, and we know that it definitely trickles down, and that's what we need in our country.'' On whether it is important to come out early and get an early goal to put Poland on their heels a bit: ''Yeah, that sounds great. Definitely, that is what we need to do. Obviously getting early goals makes it easy for everyone, from defenders all the way up. Getting the early goal would be a great thing. That and just managing the game, and hopefully if that happens, managing the game, and knowing where we are at end of the half, doing well at end of halves, beginning of halves, at the end of the game.'' On whether the thought that the team needs only a tie sticks in the back of your mind — or if you play the game outright to win: ''Yeah, I think we better win the game outright. I think it's dangerous to try and play for a tie. That's certainly something that I don't think most of the guys feel comfortable with. I think that if we go out and play hard and do the things we've done in the past, and do the right things, we have an opportunity to win, and I think that's the most important thing.'' On the how the team is preparing for Poland: ''Their forwards are very good, and one forward in particular is extremely fast, and that is something we will have to deal with. And maybe when we have the ball, we can stop them from pressuring us. That is all about keeping position and making good choices while you are moving the ball and passing the ball, and that is certainly something we will have to focus on. ''But there is not a big transition there, this is just a new opponent and we are learning what their strengths and weaknesses are, and that is what we are doing across these couple of days.''
