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CNN Live Today

Interview with Brian McBride

Aired June 21, 2002 - 10:12   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A lot of Americans came down with a serious case of soccer fever today as the United States went toe to toe with powerhouse Germany.

For the Germans, the 1-nil victory was hard fought. For the U.S., a heartbreaker after surviving to the quarterfinals. On the phone right now -- do we have Brian McBride?

BRIAN MCBRIDE, PLAYER, U.S. NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM: Yes. I'm here, Carol. How are you?

COSTELLO: Yes. You are a forward with the U.S. team, and tell me how heartbreaking it is, this morning, for you.

MCBRIDE: It's disappointing. That's for sure. Especially, you know, we went out today pretty prepared. We actually played one of our better games. The Germans beat us on a free kick, and we were unable to get a goal to equalize.

COSTELLO: It seemed as if you guys had a lot of opportunities that you just missed.

MCBRIDE: Yes, there were a few opportunities. Their goalie actually was quite sharp in the beginning of the game. I think, near the end, we pushed a lot of people forward, and, you know, we were unfortunate to actually get that goal that actually put us into some extra time. But, you know, the guys here are really proud of each other, and it has been a great World Cup for us.

COSTELLO: Well, I bet. We're seeing a picture of you now. Seems like you have wonderful team mates. It seemed like it was a very physical game. Was it?

MCBRIDE: It was. You know, we knew that going in, though. They're a very physical team, actually, a team that's very good at serving balls in the box. You know, and we knew that they were going to be good in the end. The thing was, we wanted to get at them on the ground, and try and use some pace.

And, you know, part of our game plan worked. It just, unfortunately, it didn't -- we weren't able to get one in the back of the net.

COSTELLO: You know, in watching the game, it seemed like the Germans were playing kind of dirty. Were they?

MCBRIDE: Not really. I think, you know, anytime you're in the game, you're going to have some pretty hard contact falls, and, you know, whether or not there are a few ones that you wouldn't expect. I really didn't see that. But, we knew going in it was going to be physical.

COSTELLO: Got you. Let me ask you this. Do you think there will be a new enthusiasm here in the United States for the game of soccer because you guys did so very well in the World Cup?

MCBRIDE: Well, you know, we haven't really given much thought to that just because we've been trying to focus on the job at hand, but we really appreciate the way that support (ph) has been coming, we have been able to hear quite a bit. Lately, at least. We'll see, we'll see.

COSTELLO: Would it surprise you if I told you that there were several cities across the United States that had huge gatherings to watch you guys? I mean, thousands of people showed up at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. They had the big screen going. I mean, does that surprise you that there was so much interest in this here in the United States?

MCBRIDE: That's awesome. You know, I -- probably a little bit. I think we know we have a core group of fans, and, you know, those are pretty diehard fans. But I think -- during this trip that we've been on with the World Cup, we've been able to garner a few more, and we hope that continues. But the excitement in stadiums around the country was great to hear.

COSTELLO: Yes. Well, congratulations to you because you guys did a terrific job, and we were all proud of you.

MCBRIDE. Well, we appreciate it.

COSTELLO: OK. Brian McBride, a forward for Team USA talking to us live by phone from South Korea.

Well, Britain, whose team was also eliminated earlier, were watching the U.S.-Germany match with keen interest.

CNN's Richard Quest joins us live from London with the view from over there. And I think that you English were on our side, Richard.

RICHARD QUEST, CNN LONDON CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I think there's no question about that. Let's face it, anybody who is playing Germany, they are always going to get the home team from England on their side. That's the only -- the team, I think, that the English love to hate most of all is the Germans.

So there was an enormous amount of disappointment that Team USA did not actually manage to do the deal. And, of course, earlier in the day, we had crashed out against Brazil. We had a slightly more sympathetic hearing in the sense that Brazil was a very hard team to beat and so, overall, England did well to keep up their end, as we say in London.

Now, before we go too much further, let's get the reaction of one or two fans who were actually here at the sports cafe. Good morning, Jill (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello.

QUEST: And with her is Ryan (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello.

QUEST: OK, you two. What did you make of the match?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I thought it was a great match. I think the U.S. played very well, and Germany is a very good team. So they did the best they could.

QUEST: But you are American. You don't understand soccer.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I really don't. But, still, I'm happy they got this far. I think maybe they can go farther in 2006.

QUEST: Do you understand it, Ryan?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, we understand it. But you know, I mean, it was a sad day today, you know. First England, you know, and then now the U.S., but we'll have to look ahead four more years and hope (ph) the best.

QUEST: Four more years. What -- thank you very much. What is interesting about this is two things that are interesting. First of all, this bar cleared out very fast within moments of that game being over. And I mean within moments. Second of all, and perhaps, Carol, this is the most interesting thing of all. You ready for this little fact?

COSTELLO: I'm ready.

QUEST: Those two are CNN -- those two are CNN producers who came to watch the match, and they were just about the only sober ones that we were able to find afterwards. Now, which of those achievements do you find most interesting?

COSTELLO: I find it interesting that the CNN employees were sober -- just kidding. Oh, Richard.

QUEST: It was a good day for soccer. No question about it.

COSTELLO: OK. Well, who's up for play now? It's Brazil and the winner between Senegal and Turkey. Is that correct?

QUEST: Correct. So the winner of - so Brazil will play the winner of Senegal and Turkey. That's tomorrow. That's going to be a really, really strong match because Senegal, one of the underdogs, they knocked out France -- they beat France in the first game in the whole tournament. Enormous excitement that this African nation, never has a African nation really got as far. So huge, huge interest. Certainly not to the semi-finals. There's a lot of support for Senegal.

And, then of course, we've got Spain and South Korea. And the winner of that game will play Germany in the other semifinal. Again, another marvelous match. Spain, South Korea, an underdog of South Korea. Can Spain do it? Can South Korea do it? The Spanish, of course, are the favorites. I would say, at the end of the day, when all is said and done, sorry -- I would say look for Brazil in the final, and either Spain or Germany.

COSTELLO: OK. We'll hold you to that. Thank you. Richard Quest reporting live from us from London.

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