The United States will take on Korea Republic in the opening Group D match of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Montreal, Canada, on Saturday.

The US have been hit by injury setback and forward Johann Smith, who plays club football for Bolton Wanderers, has already made a trip back home with a hip injury while Hamburger SV striker Preston Zimmerman has come in as his replacement.

However, the Stars and Stripes skipper Freddy Adu, who plays for MLS side Real Salt Lake, remains their key player. The speedy attacker, who has trained at Manchester United and been praised by their boss Sir Alex Ferguson, is in his third U-20 World Cup. And along with Heerenveen midfielder Michael Bradley, the duo are expected to set the pace for Thomas Rongen’s side.

Rongen meanwhile claims his side are not the favourites. "We must be realistic and not see ourselves as the favourites.

“We don't figure among the top five, six or even seven teams in the world, not yet. Even so, I've got a talented, experienced team with real chemistry," he said.

Korea Republic would not be short of trick or two and depend on Suwon striker Ha Tae-Kyun to get them goals.

"We have a lot of good players in the squad, good energy and if we play our game there is no reason why we can't spring a surprise or two," claimed Tae-Kyun.

Their head to head record shows that in 1993 finals, they played out a 2-2 draw, whereas in 2003 the Stars and Stripes won 2-0.

USA Squad For FIFA Under-20 World Cup Finals 2007, Canada:

Chris Seitz (Real Salt Lake), Brian Perk (UCLA), Steve Sandbo (SMU), Tim Ward (Columbus Crew), Bryan Arguez (DC United), Amaechi Igwe (New England Revolution), Nathan Sturgis (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (SC Herenveen), Danny Szetela (Columbus Crew), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), Johann Smith (Bolton Wanderers), Dax McCarty (FC Dallas), Freddy Adu (Captain) (Real Salt Lake), Josmer Altidore (Red Bull New York), Ofori Sarkodie (Indiana University ), Anthony Wallace (FC Dallas), Sal Zizzo (UCLA), Julian Valentin (Wake Forest), Gabriel Ferrari (Sampdoria), Tony Beltran (UCLA), Andre Akpan (Harvard).

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