US forced to bite the bullet over war analogy

AN ANALOGY by US striker Eddie Johnson — comparing the World Cup to war — has been exaggerated, US coach Bruce Arena insisted last night.

Arena said the US team, which is staying at the nearby Ramstein US Air Base, is all-too aware of the differences between sport and warfare, having spent time in the past day with US soldiers who have been fighting in Iraq.

“We’re very aware of the fact that our soldiers are fighting a war,” said Arena.

“It was a little bit twisted, the war analogy. I’m sure our player didn’t mean to make the analogy that this is a war. This is a game.”

Johnson, a 22-year-old in his first World Cup, made the military metaphor on Wednesday and some Azzuri players were upset by the remark, striker Alberto Gilardino saying his team will be trying to win for Italian soldiers.

Arena made it clear he thought the remark was simply an inexperienced World Cup newcomer over-reaching to sum up his level of motivation.

“We have the greatest respect for the Italian soldiers that are fighting in that war and all our allies,” said Arena.

“We’re not saying the game will be like a war. Using the word ‘war’ for a football match, that’s a stupid use of the word.”

Johnson was asked whether he was comparing a sporting event to a war. “Yeah,” he responded. “Whenever you put your jersey on and you look at your crest and the national anthem’s going on, and you’re playing against a different country, it’s like you do or die, it’s survival of the (fittest) over 90 minutes-plus. We’re going to go out there and do whatever we’ve got to do, make tackles, do the things when the referee’s not looking. ... to get three points.”

Gilardino is set to play alongside Serie A top scorer Luca Toni as Lippi is set to make just one change to the team that beat Ghana, with Gianluca Zambrotta having recovered from injury. Zambrotta likely to replace either Fabio Grosso or Cristian Zaccardo at full-back.