TODAY

GROUP F: United States vs. Iran SITE: Lyon

TIME: Noon TV: Chs. 7, 34 RADIO: KWKW (1330, Spanish)

* ABOUT THE UNITED STATES: Team USA has a considerable advantage in height over Iran and could be dangerous on set pieces, but the crucial question is: Will Steve Sampson keep his tall players (Alexi Lalas, Marcelo Balboa) on the bench?

* ABOUT IRAN: Should Iran strike for a quick goal, emotion could sustain the team for the entire 90 minutes as Coach Jalal Talebi then packs in the defense, potentially making this one of the longest, and darkest, days in the history of U.S. soccer.

* OUTLOOK: If the Americans win by a goal--and they should--they should take it, be happy, and start devising a way to score against Yugoslavia.