AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Dennis Conner's team is upset that it was selected by OneWorld as its opponent in the next round of the America's Cup challenger series, meaning only one of the two U.S. boats can advance.

San Francisco's Oracle and Switzerland's Alinghi already are in the semifinals, which start Dec. 9. OneWorld, as the highest-ranking boat that failed to clinch advancement in the quarterfinals, had the right to select its opponent in the loser's bracket.

OneWorld elected Friday to sail USA-67, the yacht it sailed to an unbeaten record in the first round, against Conner's Stars & Stripes. Italy's Prada and Sweden's Victory will compete in the other best-of-seven series.

"Our team has taken it as a chance to get a little mad,'' Stars & Stripes skipper Ken Read said. "These guys think we're the worst of the group so let's go out there and prove them wrong. Quite frankly we think we have the ability to do that.''

OneWorld discarded USA-65, which it used in the quarterfinals. Prada also made a surprise decision, opting to sail ITA-74 against Victory. The Italian syndicate has used ITA-74 throughout the challenger round-robin series, but fitted a new bow to the boat this week for the second time since racing began Oct. 1.

OneWorld lost to Oracle 4-0 in the quarterfinals.

"The results in the quarterfinals ... are just a mark in the sand that has been very well analyzed, very well reviewed and looked at and learned from,'' OneWorld skipper Peter Gilmour said.