U.S. rues missed chances vs. Germany

Updated: Friday June 21, 2002 11:47 a.m. ET

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ULSAN, South Korea (Reuters) -- The United States team thought refereeing decisions went against them in their 1-0 World Cup quarterfinal defeat by Germany on Friday, but it was their failure to convert chances that cost them the match.

Several calls appeared to go the Germans' way, but they did not make a crucial difference, U.S. coach Bruce Arena said after the American team's elimination ended their best World Cup showing since 1930.

"The difference in this game was they finished one of their opportunities and we didn't finish ours," Arena added.

Defender Gregg Berhalter came closest to scoring for the U.S. in a goalmouth incident in the second half which he thought involved a handball by a German defender.

"I thought it was a handball, but I don't know," Berhalter told reporters.

"It came back in the rebound and I tried to hit that in. I think that I just got a little bit unlucky," he added.

Defender Tony Sanneh thought the referee could not see the incident clearly from his angle.

"I don't want to sound like a sore loser," he said. "We had some chances to score, myself included," Sanneh said. "My hats off to them. They made the plays and we didn't."

Berhalter added: "Our goal was to get respect and we're in the last eight and in the second round and the quarterfinals we gave up one goal."

Team captain Claudio Reyna told reporters: "We're happy with what we did, reaching the quarterfinals, and I think we made a lot of people proud of the country today."

Forward Clint Mathis, brought on as a late substitute to revive the U.S. attack, said the Americans' showing in the World Cup would raise the profile of his countrymen who complain about not getting much playing time with their European clubs.

"Some of the younger ones who are over there and don't play, I think they'll go back to their country and the club team and be really proud, because they should be playing," said Mathis.

Sanneh said the regrets about the missed chances would fade while the good memories of the tournament, including wins over Portugal and Mexico, would live on.

"We're disappointed now, but three months from now we're gonna say we had a wonderful ride," Sanneh said.

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