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American Morning

Fans Gather for Late Night at Bar to Watch Soccer

Aired June 05, 2002 - 07:41   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Team USA has made its first appearance in the 2002 World Cup. It happened about three hours ago, and that game started with a bang. The U.S. has stunned the favored Portugal in a 3-2 upset, and fans who wanted to catch the match live had to set the alarm very earlier, not even possibly go to bed at all.

Richard Roth at a pub in New York City that either opened a whole -- early, Richard, or in fact, it may have stayed up very late. I'm not quite sure, but you have been talking to fans there -- good morning again to you, Richard.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. This bar didn't close. Usually it's no big deal, a lot of guys sitting around, standing around watching a big sporting event in a bar (ph). Well, what's good about this is that it was 4:00 or 5:00 this morning. It went all night here.

The U.S. opened the World Cup tournament against the favored Portugal here, and they lined up at 5:00 in the morning outside the bar here on New York's East Side to get in here. Usually people are stumbling out of a bar en masse perhaps at that hour with the last call. The last call never really came here except the call "game on." Here inside the bar, everyone went crazy when the U.S. scored three first-half goals.

Inside the bar here, it's still Germany and Ireland are still playing at 0-0 the first half. We have with us some people who were watching (ph) the U.S.-Portugal match. And, Jamie (ph), what did you think of the U.S. win?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was a great win, probably the biggest win we have ever had.

ROTH: Why come to a place like this when you can sit on your couch at the early morning hours and enjoy the game?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As you can see, the atmosphere is much better. The crowd gets into it. It's a lot of fun.

ROTH: OK. Another man here rooting especially for Germany. Christian (ph), why did you come to a place like this to watch the game?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is no other place to come. This is great. It's just the atmosphere, the people here, 100 percent soccer.

ROTH: You know a lot of about soccer. How surprising was the United States win over Portugal?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it was very surprising. At the same time, though, it was very good, because I think the U.S. was under- matched.

ROTH: All right. Thank you very much, Jamie (ph) and Christian (ph), just two of the many soccer fans here as Germany plays Ireland, it's scoreless. It's the veritable United Nations here inside the bar in New York -- Bill, back to you.

HEMMER: Richard, did you sleep?

ROTH: Yes, I slept. I didn't sleep here.

HEMMER: I assume that. Thank you, Richard -- Richard Roth in New York City -- a great win this morning.

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