In second round, Americans can joke

Updated: Saturday June 15, 2002 05:47 a.m. ET

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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- Bruce Arena was quite the jokester Saturday.

"I spent the morning shopping for the Korean team and coaching staff," the U.S. coach said.

He could afford to chuckle. Even though the United States played poorly in a 3-1 loss to Poland on Friday night, the Americans still advanced to a second-round matchup with Mexico when South Korea upset Portugal 1-0, enabling the United States to finish second in its group. (Confident Mexicans look forward to meeting U.S.)

The Americans gave up a goal on the Poles' third-minute corner kick and another in the fifth minute, and never got back in the game. Arena preferred to concentrate on positives, such as Landon Donovan's first World Cup goal and Brad Friedel's incredible stop of a penalty kick for the second straight game. U.S. opponents have failed to convert four straight PKs, a streak that goes back to 1990.

"We're on a roll right now with penalty kicks," Arena said. "We'd rather give teams a penalty kick than a corner kick at this point."

On the more serious side, the Americans began to look ahead to Monday's game against Mexico, the team they know best. They've played the Mexicans, traditionally the strongest team in the North and Central American and Caribbean, more than any other opponent, going 10-28-8. The United States was 0-21-3 against the Mexicans from 1937 through 1980, but since 1991 the Americans have gone 8-6-5, including 8-3-4 in games not played in Mexico City. (U.S. vs. Mexico Series History.)

"A long time ago, they used to be pretty arrogant," Friedel said. "Recently, they have had more respect."

He remembers the first time he played in Mexico City, during an Olympic qualifier in 1992. Despite the hostile crowd, the Americans won 2-1.

"They were burning U.S. flags all over the place," Friedel said. "After we beat them, they applauded us. The Mexican team had to stand in the middle of the field, and they pelted them."

"Futbol" is a passion in Mexico, a source of pride. The United States may have more economic power, but the Mexicans had more soccer power, reaching the World Cup quarterfinals in 1970 and 1986 _ both times as the host.

There are 110,000 to 115,000 fans who fill Azteca Stadium with chants of "O-le! O-le!" with each connected pass, and opponents often are intimated.

Because of the large Mexican-American population in California, Arizona and Texas, the Mexicans often have the backing of the crowd wherever they play the United States.

"Regardless of whether we play in Azteca or the United States, it seems like we're playing away," Arena said.

Mexico nearly went 3-0 in the first round, beating Croatia 1-0 and Ecuador 2-1 before giving up a late goal in a 1-1 tie with Italy. The Mexicans, a team in turmoil during World Cup qualifying, are playing with confidence, led by forwards Jared Borgetti (two goals) and Cuauhtemoc Blanco (one goal) and midfielder Gerardo Torrado (one goal).

"We've worked hard on the mental aspect of the game," said coach Javier Aguirre, hired last June 21, when the Mexicans were 1-3-1 in the final round of qualifying. "This was always a team with a lot of technical skill, but it lacked confidence."

Mexico finished qualifying with a 4-0-1 run, and is playing its best soccer in a while. The United States, meanwhile, looked awful against Poland.

In the second round for the first time since they were the host in 1994, the Americans will have to change their defense. Central defender Jeff Agoos, who played a role in four of the six goals the Americans have allowed, is doubtful because of a strained right calf. Left bank Frankie Hejduk is suspended after getting two yellow cards during the first round.

Carlos Llamosa, Pablo Mastroeni and Gregg Berhalter are the candidates to replace Agoos, and David Regis is the leading contender to replace Hejduk against Mexico.

"We've had a little bit of a wakeup call," Friedel said, "and maybe they'll be feeling very good about themselves. This can be a good thing for us."

But the Americans can't fall behind quickly. They showed against the Poles that they struggle playing catchup.

"It was a bit scary after the first one," Donovan said. "After the second, it was devastating."

Notes: U.S. players have earned bonuses of $122,826 each for advancing to the second round, plus $2,500 for each appearance. The base of the bonus would increase to $188,043 if the Americans advance to the quarterfinals, which would be their best showing since 1930. ... While the Americans have been called for five penalty kicks in 13 games since returning to the World Cup in 1990, they haven't been awarded any.