SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - United States team arrive for World Cup amid tight security

Record ID: 454614

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - United States team arrive for World Cup amid tight security
  • Date: 1st June 2010
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (MAY 31, 2010) (REUTERS) AEROPLANE ARRIVING AEROPLANE TAXIING SECURITY GUARD SECURITY GUARDS IN FRONT OF THE THE AEROPLANE OFFICIALS WAITING USA COACH BOB BRADLEY GETTING OFF THE AEROPLANE CLOSE UP OF BRADLEY BRADLEY WALKING CARRYING BAGS PLAYERS WALKING WIDE VIEW OF PLAYERS WALKING USA OFFICIALS FOLLOWED BY JONATHAN SPECTOR AND LANDON DONOVAN TAKING A PHOTOGRAPH SECURITY (SOUNDBITE) (English) COACH BOB BRADLEY SAYING: "I think the weather here is great for football. It's going to mean that the games are played at a good tempo and we have enough time between now and June 12 to acclimatise so to that end it will be a great World Cup." AIRPORT STAFF AND SECURITY (SOUNDBITE) (English) COACH BOB BRADLEY SAYING: "We certainly know that Slovenia and Algeria are excellent teams and that it will be a tough group but we are looking forward to it." WIDE OF TEAM ARRIVING OGUCHI ONYEWU (ON LEFT) CENTURION, SOUTH AFRICA (MAY 31, 2010) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF UNITED STATES TEAM HOTEL CLOSE OF WALL WITH LETTERING READING "IRENE COUNTRY LODGE" SECURITY GUARDS STANDING NEAR FENCED ENTRANCE CLOSE OF SECURITY GUARDS MORE OF HOTEL EXTERIOR POLICE CAR SOUTH AFRICA AND UNITED STATES FLAGS PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (MAY 31, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF PILDITCH STADIUM DAMAGED SIGN READING "PILDI CH" WITH "T" MISSING
  • Embargoed: 16th June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA2FFY34XRUZGHZDQPTWCORKO60
  • Story Text: The United States soccer team arrived at Johannesburg's main airport on Monday (May 31) before heading off to their team hotel in the town of Centurion, just north of Johannesburg, amid tight security measures.
    The Americans will be hoping they can emulate their success at last year's Confederations Cup in South Africa when they beat hotly favoured Spain before losing out to Brazil in a tight final.
    Coach Bob Bradley is confident that the cool conditions in South Africa will help the tournament be a great success.
    "I think the weather here is great for football," he said. "It's going to mean that the games are played at a good tempo and we have enough time between now and June 12 to acclimatise so to that end it will be a great World Cup."
    The Americans will also be fancying their chances at progressing to the last 16 having been dealt a kind draw. England are the seeded team in their group with Slovenia and Algeria making up the other two places.
    "We certainly know that Slovenia and Algeria are excellent teams and that it will be a tough group but we are looking forward to it," said Bradley.
    The squad will be based at the Irene Country Lodge in Centurion, with their training ground in Pretoria's Pilditch stadium.
    Strict security measures were visibly in force before the team's arrival at their hotel.
    Reports of potential attacks during the tournament have circulated for some weeks, with many seeing the England v USA game as a potential target.
    FIFA and South Africa's security services have sought to reassure worried fans that security will be tough.
    U.S. fans have bought the most World Cup tickets of any of the 31 countries participating in South Africa's World Cup.
    Their opening match will be against England on June 12, before they face Slovenia and Algeria.
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