USA fear Essien threat

USA coach Bruce Arena believes his players will have to stop Michael Essien if they are to progress in Germany.

The two nations lock horns on Thursday, knowing victory is vital for their hopes of progress.

Victory may not be enough for the States, as the outcome of the game between Italy and Czech Republic could decide their fate, but Arena knows his side must stop Chelsea powerhouse Essien if they are to stand a chance of progressing.

"Essien is one of the top players in this tournament. He not only organised their attack, he played well on defence," Arena said after watching the midfielder control the game against Czech Republic.

"He's a player who is brilliant. We can't let him do what he wants for 90 minutes or we're going to lose."

Landon Donovan is a key figure for Arena and he too is aware of the threat Essien carries.

"Essien is dynamic. He is the modern two-way player. He plays tough defence and he scores a lot of goals," Donovan said.

"He's going to hurt you if you're not aware of where he is all the time. So we're going to be aware."