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American Morning

U.S. Advances to Next Round in World Cup

Aired June 14, 2002 - 10:31   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, the fine nuances of World Cup soccer come to play yet again. So the U.S. loses today 3-1 to Poland. You would think that would knock them out. Many team members though the same thing, and yet, just moments later, they found out that South Korea won over Portugal. There will not be a test on that, but we can tell you that means the U.S. will indeed advance to the second round. First time that happened since 1994.

For reaction and explanation to exactly what is happening at the World Cup in South Korea, we're going to be joined by reporter Ethan Zohn. He is joining us by phone, and I understand he's with the family members of the U.S. team.

Ethan, hello.

ETHAN ZOHN, FMR. SOCCER PLAYER: Hello, how are you doing?

KAGAN: I'm doing great. Last time we talked we had major breaking news. We will try to keep together so we can have more of a conversation. Let's talk about today's game, U.S. against Poland. U.S. loses 3-1. What's the key in that game?

ZOHN: I mean, the key was, you know, we came out a little bit flat. I'm so psyched to be here. I'm so psyched that Philip Electronics sent me here, and the atmosphere before the game was unbelievable. People were jumping up and down, yelling and screaming, flags waving, and then we got in there and things changed a little bit. It was a little stressful, but you know, only matters is the (ph) result, and we're in the second round, and that's all that matters.

KAGAN: But the U.S. didn't know that. The game ends, didn't the U.S. team pretty much think that was it, time to come home?

ZOHN: Well, you know, I'm sure they had people calling in, finding out the score of the South Korea match during the game. But if South Korea had lost or tied, then the USA wouldn't have gone through. But since they won, the USA went through. And as I was leaving, I just thanked every South Korean person I saw.

KAGAN: You love South Korea.

ZOHN: I love South Korea?

KAGAN: Only second place to the U.S. A lot of people don't follow World Cup here, won't understand how that works. So just explain quickly, how does it work that the fact that fact that South Korea won was a good thing, and why it propelled the U.S. into the second round?

ZOHN: Well, it all works on a point system. and you got three points per win, one point for a tie and zero points for a loss. And the way it works out, it's a pretty difficult, like, mathematical equation, but it ended up where we're tied with points, and the fact that South Korea won, put Portugal less points than us, then put us in second place and South Korea in first place.

KAGAN: So let's look ahead, U.S. versus Mexico. What does the U.S. need to improve upon in that next game?

ZOHN: Well, you know, it's a little bit lucky, because we have played Mexico a bunch of times in the past, and we've beaten them every time. So we know how they play. We're used to the way they play, but as the USA, we definitely have to step it up a bit. We definitely have to come out full of energy, and ready, you know, to fight. It's going to be a tough game, because they were looking sharp against Italy. And it's not going to be an easy match, and you know, defensively, we're going to have to get tight; offensively, we're going to have to score some goals. So it's going to be a difficult match for sure.

KAGAN: As I mentioned, you were actually on the bus with family members of the U.S. team, and I understand right next to you is Andy Mathis, Clint Mathis' brother.

ZOHN: He's right here.

KAGAN: Can you hand the phone to him.

ZOHN: I sure will. Hold on one sec.

KAGAN: Andy?

ANDY MATHIS, CLINT MATHIS' BROTHER: Hello.

KAGAN: Andy, hi. It's Daryn Kagan at CNN in Atlanta, Georgia.

MATHIS: Hi, nice to talk you.

KAGAN: Congratulations on the U.S. team moving on.

MATHIS: Thank you very much.

KAGAN: Explain how exciting that moment was not when this game was over versus Poland, because I'm sure that was disappointing, a 3-1 loss for the U.S., but the moment that you get the news that South Korea had won its match, and so in fact, for the first time since 1994, the men's team will advance to the second round. What was that moment like?

MATHIS: Unbelievable. Just to be here to share this moment with my family and to be here with my brother, being on the team, it's unbelievable. The fans are so gracious, no matter what country they're from. So it's a really big moment for the U.S., and even though today's outcome was not that great, the spirits are very high, and there's a proud sense for our country.

KAGAN: And the team does go on. You know, in a lot of the articles about the men's U.S. team and about your brother, they give a lot of credit to his brothers, and I imagine that includes you, for helping turn him into such a good soccer player.

MATHIS: Well, I will take a little bit, because I was rough on him. But I'll tell you, these guys, I don't know, maybe it's a gene thing, that -- something that we're putting in the water now. I don't know. These guys are great. They're at the point where they can really compete with any level in the world, and people are going to start taking notice of the U.S.

KAGAN: Well, hopefully. We've seen the kind of support they can get when the women won the World Cup, the U.S. women won. We wish you well. Congratulations on staying in there, and pass those congratulations on to your brother. That's Andy Mathis, brother Clint Mathis, one of the starters on the U.S. men's team, also talking to Ethan Zohn, traveling with family member of the U.S. team.

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