Jones hopes to beat the best

Striker Cobi Jones insists it is not enough for the United States to just play the best teams in the world - now they want to beat them.

It could hardly be said that the USA are weighed down under the expectation of people back home, soccer rates fairly low on the American sporting hierarchy.

And even though TV news channel CNN has been giving daily bulletins on the tournament, the progression of Team USA into the second round was even relegated on the agenda to behind South Korea’s victory over Portugal the same day.

But Jones, America’s most capped player, believes the time has come to raise expectations, starting with Mexico in the second round tomorrow.

‘‘I played in the second phase back in ’94, it was good to face Brazil then but we lost,’’ he said.

‘‘I have had enough of that, we want to play good teams and win. You want to go to the next level and beat them, whoever it is.’’

The former Coventry player, now a veteran at 31 and with close on 160 internationals behind him, is playing in his third World Cup finals.

And before he makes a decision on whether to bow out at international level, he has a chance to help the US get further in the tournament than at any time in the last 72 years.

Back in 1930, when only 13 teams entered, they reached the semi-finals before being blasted out 6-1 by Argentina.

But coach Bruce Arena believes the Mexicans will be a tough proposition as they both look to book a last eight tie with Germany.

‘‘Traditionally games between ourselves and Mexico are very tight, with few goals. I don’t expect this one to be any different,’’ he said.

‘‘We have done marvellously well to get this far and the chance of playing Germany in the last eight is a real incentive for my team.’’

The States, however, will be without suspended full-back Frankie Hejduk and the injured defender Jeff Agoos, which gives Arena plenty of problems with his defence ahead of the clash in Jeonju.