LANDOVER, Md. - They're playing a rival they've lost to once in six years, a rival that sweated to get here and struggled to stay here. And yet, the US women's soccer team knows that if they don't lace up and get after Germany from the first tick of the clock in tonight's World Cup quarterfinal at Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, they could be watching Sunday's semis on television.
''We've beaten them and beaten them, but it's not like we go out there and sashay around them,'' said keeper Briana Scurry. ''This isn't a team where you can rely on past performance.''
Though the Americans are 8-3-1 against the Germans, the Frauen-Mannschaft has won or drawn two of the last four meetings. ''This is the equivalent of a final,'' said US coach Tony DiCicco. ''Both teams are good enough to be in the final if the brackets had fallen differently.''
The Germans were runners-up to Norway last time and placed third in 1991, but they've been pedestrian here so far. They drew with the Italians, who've already gone home. And after leading Brazil in added time, the Germans failed to clear a loose ball in the area, gave up the tying goal, and failed to win their group.
''So we face the US team earlier than we wanted,'' said coach Christina Theune-Meyer. ''And I think earlier than they wanted, too.''
The Yanks wouldn't have minded getting the fast-and-loose Brazilians tonight instead of the Germans, who present the same sort of challenge their nemesis Norwegians do. They're disciplined. They're physical. They're solid in the back, strong in the midfield, and worrisome up front. ''They're an outstanding team,'' said DiCicco, ''with a lot of personalities all over the field.''
Even without captain Martina Voss, who tore her hamstring against the Brazilians, the Germans have multiple weapons - keeper Silke Rottenberg, defenders Steffi Jones and Doris Fitschen, midfielders Sandra Smisek and Bettina Wiegmann, and strikers Inka Grings and Birgit Prinz. ''We are ready to play to the limit,'' said Theune-Meyer.
They'll be playing a US squad that has lost one match on home soil in three years, has outscored its opponents, 13-1, in three Cup matches, and is riding a tsunami of star-spangled euphoria. ''The US is on a wave of success right now and they are highly motivated in their home country,'' conceded Voss. ''But first they have to play 90 minutes against us.''
This will be no goalfest giggler and the Yanks acknowledge that. ''We've got to come ready from the first whistle and earn everything we can,'' said forward Tiffeny Milbrett. ''A full, tough, 90-minute game.''
The US hasn't had, or needed, one of those yet. The Danes didn't threaten them after the first few minutes. The Nigerians were six goals - and 6 feet - under by halftime. The Koreans just went into the bunker and tried to save face. The Germans won't do that.
''They're a very good attacking soccer team,'' said DiCicco. ''We've got to anticipate that the Germans will come at us at the start of the game. We've got to play an upbeat, aggressive defense to control them.''
DiCicco wasn't saying what formation he'd use - he was leaning toward a 3-5-2 to provide depth and flexibility in the midfield. But there was no doubt that he'd have his first team back on the field tonight after giving some of his players a breather against the Koreans. That means Michelle Akers and Julie Foudy in the midfield, Kate Sobrero at defender, and Milbrett at forward.
This is go-on-or-go-home time and if the Yanks can't at least get to their Independence Day semifinal with tonight's Brazil-Nigeria victor, David Letterman will dump them in his out basket and America will click off the Cup faster than you can say summer rerun.
''We've got to bring it to the field,'' said Scurry. ''Otherwise, we'll be bringing it home.''
