WORLD CUP USA ’94 / THE FIRST ROUND : Spotlight : THE SYSTEM: PART II

Louis Perea, a Colombian defender, said the team had seen the United States’ tie with Switzerland, but did not immediately see any real likelihood that the U.S. style--similar to the Romanians in its emphasis on deep defense--would cause the Colombians to make major changes in Wednesday’s game at the Rose Bowl.

“We’ve been in these circumstances before,” Perea said. “We’ve been together too long and we have confidence in our system.”

It could become an unfamiliar situation, however. Colombia has never lost consecutive games in international play.