Arena said the USA team, which is staying at the nearby Ramstein US Air Base, is all-too aware of the differences between sport and warfare, having spent time in the past day with USA soldiers who have been fighting in Iraq.

"We're very aware of the fact that our soldiers are fighting a war," Arena said.

"It was a little bit twisted, the war analogy. I'm sure our player didn't mean to make the analogy that this is a war. This is a game."

Johnson, a 22-year-old in his first World Cup, made the military metaphor on Wednesday and some Azzurri players were upset by the remark, striker Alberto Gilardino saying his team will be trying to win for Italian soldiers on Saturday.

Asked about the AC Milan forward's comment, Arena joked, "We're not going to try to win for the Italian soldiers."

But the 54-year-old coach also made it clear that he thought the remark was simply an inexperienced World Cup newcomer over-reaching to sum up his level of motivation.

"We have the greatest respect for the Italian soldiers that are fighting in that war and all our allies," Arena said.

"We're not saying the game will be like a war. Using the word 'war' for a football match, that's a stupid use of the word."

After talking about a March meeting with USA soldiers when the Americans were here for a friendly with Poland, Johnson compared the 32-team football showdown to a military conflict.

"It's like the World Cup. We're here for a war. We're representing our country. We know they (soldiers) are watching us and counting on us," Johnson said.

"Whenever you put on your jersey and your anthem is on, and you're going against another country, it's like a war.

"It's do or die. We're going to do whatever we can, whatever it takes, whatever we have to when the referee is not looking. It's the biggest sporting event in the world. I don't want to go home early."