U.S. team arrives in Germany for Cup

~ Enhanced security greets American players, who begin play on June 12.

HAMBURG, Germany -- Only a few minutes after the team arrived, it was easy to pick out the United States at the World Cup.

The Americans got enhanced special security at Hamburg Airport early Friday, and their team bus -- unlike the other 31 -- didn't have the national flag on its rear.

A few hours later, coach Bruce Arena was asked whether he felt his team was a terrorist target. He was questioned on his policy of allowing families to spend time with players during the tournament at the team hotel, rather than have the squad sequestered in an isolated location, as many World Cup coaches choose to do.

"We were told we were stupid and crazy and ignorant in Korea, as well, with the families, so we'll just accept that as being dumb Americans," Arena said.

U.S. players touched down shortly after 6 a.m. following a 7-hour, 15-minute charter flight from Newark Liberty International Airport on an all-business class plane with 48 seats. They were greeted by a choir dressed in soccer jerseys, singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" and "We Are The Champions."

Police with automatic weapons and security vehicles surrounded the bus on the tarmac. But it was a more reserved show of force than four years ago at Incheon International Airport, where players came out of customs following a 14 1/2-hour flight from New York and were surrounded by about 500 police who formed a corridor, SWAT team commandos mixed in, automatic weapons slung from their shoulders and hands on pistols.

"When security is handled properly, you don't notice it," Arena said. "The German authorities are so efficient and so competent in what they do, it isn't as obvious to our team."

Players, many carrying cameras and taking pictures and video, had a 75-foot walk on a red carpet to the team bus, which went directly to the downtown hotel.

Arena, captain Claudio Reyna and defender Steve Cherundolo appeared at a news conference five hours later. They discussed the team's first-round games against the Czech Republic (June 12), Italy (June 17) and Ghana (June 22), and talked about raised expectations following their quarterfinal finish four years ago.

Cherundolo, who plays for the German team Hannover 96, deftly answered questions in English and German. He said the nation already is transfixed by the tournament, which opens June 9.

"It's the topic in all of the street bars and cafes," he said. "There is really nothing else to talk about at the moment, except for the World Cup, and that's what's going to be so special."

The city, known formally as the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, was called "Hammaburg" when it was founded in 810 by Charlemagne -- which would be good moniker for a one-named Brazilian player. The Beatles got started here in the early 1960s, playing clubs in the red-light district -- the Reeperbahn.

"It has everything you could want and maybe too much," Arena said. "We understand that, and we have to have the right discipline inside our team to deal with the, hopefully, many days in Hamburg."