AMERICANS HOPING TO SURVIVE FIRST-ROUND FLURRY PUT IN `GROUP OF DEATH' U.S. LOOKS TO RECAPTURE MAGIC FROM 2002 WORLD CUP RUN.

Byline: SCOTT FRENCH Staff Writer

HAMBURG, Germany - The World Cup draw wasn't kind to the United States, saddling the undervalued Yanks with a nearly impossible task: maneuver through a difficult group containing an established power pegged as a title contender, a rising team from Eastern Europe and a tough outsider ready to spring a surprise or two.

2006? Try four years ago.

The Americans were given little chance to reach the knockout phase at the 2002World Cup in Asia, but they stunned fancied Portugal in the opener, dominated archrival Mexico in the second round, and came so close -- within a hand-ball call, perhaps -- to beating Germany and advancing to the final four.

The task is far tougher this time, but the U.S. is considerably stronger and remarkably confident, possessing talent all over the field -- especially up the spine, from goalkeeper Kasey Keller through captain Claudio Reyna and talismanic attacker Landon Donovan to inspirational striker Brian McBride -- and character imbued by its on-his-way-to- legendary coach Bruce Arena.

Few think the U.S. can pull off another surprise, not with Italy, Czech Republic and African power Ghana standing between it and the round of 16, but the Americans don't buy into that logic.

``I try not to analyze too much,'' said Donovan, who at 24 has evolved into a versatile and superbly gifted creator and leader. ``It's about performing in three games. Either you perform, or you don't. You can talk about it all you want -- talk about getting a point in this game, three in this game, a point in this game, and we'll advance -- but either you bring it, or you don't for three games, and that's (all that matters).''

The Americans will begin their quest Monday in Gelsenkirchen with a Group E opener against the Czechs, considered in some circles Europe's most talented team. Games June 17 against Italy in Kaiserslautern and June 22 against Ghana in Nuremberg follow, with Brazil likely awaiting in the second round should the U.S. finish second in the group.

The Yanks were second four years ago, but three-time winner Italy is superior to the Portuguese and the Czechs are much stronger than Poland was. World Cup debutants Ghana might not measure up to the South Koreans, who reached the semifinals as co-hosts, but its history in African competition is unrivaled.

``In some ways, it's like comparing apples to oranges,'' said Arena, who took charge following the 1998 debacle in France, where the U.S. finished 32nd among 32 teams, and transformed the U.S. into a burgeoning world power. ``Again the challenge is a pretty great one, with our opponents. On paper, I like this team better than the team in 2002, but you don't win games on paper, you win them on the field.

``The way this team will be judged is the way we play in the World Cup.

``It's really that simple."

The Americans' leaders, Keller, Reyna, Donovan, McBride and defender Eddie Pope, have gained four years of valuable experience. Donovan, winger DaMarcus Beasley and newcomers Bobby Convey, Oguchi Onyewu and Clint Dempsey are just hitting their primes. As a team, the U.S. is better than the sum of its parts, and much credit for that goes to Arena, who won titles at the University of Virginia and with D.C. United and is expert at team-building, both in terms of personnel and chemistry.

``He just gets it,'' Donovan says. ``He understands everything about soccer ... everything that needs to go into it. He's thinking so far ahead about things that it just makes your job so much easier."

Arena inspires confidence, and they head into the World Cup believing they can beat anyone they come up against.

``Four years ago, it was fight and find a way to get a result -- that's always been the American mentality in big tournaments,'' Donovan said. ``But he's demanded we play more, that we open up and play. ... We're good enough players to deal with it, and I think it's going to help (in) Germany.

``We believe in ourselves. At the end of the 2002 World Cup, we were good. We were very good. Against Germany, we were very, very good. We were not just competitive and athletic and fit. We were a good, good team. ... We just need to be confident in what we do. Because we're good enough.''

Arena says his ``immediate standard'' is to reach the second round, although he cautions that the U.S. could play extremely well and still not finish first or second in what appears to be the second-toughest first-round group.

``That will be our focus,'' he said. ``Once we're out of group play, we can reevaluate the inventory and start from there. ... But we're stepping on the field (Monday) with the thought we're going to hang around Germany for awhile.''

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CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1) Goalkeeper Kasey Keller of Team USA attempts a save during a team training session last week in Hamburg, Germany.

Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images

(2) United States captain Claudio Reyna practices during World Cup training camp.

Sara D. Davis/AFP/Getty Images

Box:

U.S. WORLD CUP ROSTER

-Scott French