Posted on 06/04/2006 12:02:58 PM PDT by freedom44
HAMBURG, Germany – American soccer players finally are larger than life.
A 70 1/2 -foot billboard in New York this spring showed Eddie Johnson, Landon Donovan and DaMarcus Beasley, proclaiming in huge yellow letters: “THE WORLD NO LONGER WANTS TO PLAY US.” In May, a new sign was put up with American players and the inscription: “BEWARE,” an ad that also overlooked San Francisco’s Union Square.
Faster, fearless and filled with desire to earn respect, the U.S. team is confident it will advance from a difficult first-round World Cup group that includes the Czech Republic, Italy and Ghana.
“Beas and I always have this confidence,” Donovan said. “We’re pretty fearless when we play. I think we both really believe that when we’re playing, we’re better than the other people on the other team, and we’re going to beat the other team.”
Four years ago, Donovan and Beasley, a Fort Wayne native, were brash 20-year-olds who ignited the United States to a surprising run to the quarterfinals, when the Americans lost 1-0 to Germany. They’re back along with veterans Claudio Reyna, Kasey Keller, Brian McBride and Eddie Pope, mixed in with talented newcomers such as Oguchi Onyewu, Eddie Johnson, Bobby Convey and Clint Dempsey.
This time, a whole lot more people will be watching in the United States, where games are on in the middle of the day, not the middle of the night. Expectations have soared – boys replica jerseys were sold out at the Niketown store in New York more than a month before the tournament.
“The success of the team at the last World Cup has given people more hope, optimism,” new U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati said. “I think we’ll have more fans that are cheering for the U.S. at these games, having traveled from the U.S. ... than we’ve had essentially combined in the history of the World Cup, leaving aside 1994.”
After qualifying for the first time in 40 years, the Americans were routed 5-1 by Czechoslovakia in their 1990 opener, looking like the post-college all-star team that they were. Then they lost 1-0 to Italy and 2-1 to Austria, and headed home knowing they had a lot to learn.
Four years later, when the tournament was played in the United States for the first time, the Americans were knocked out with a 1-0 defeat against Brazil in the second round.
In 1998, the United States went 0-3 and finished last in the 32-nation field. Bruce Arena took over from Steve Sampson as coach after that debacle and he’s still in charge, the longest-tenured coach at the tournament. His team enters ranked fifth in the world by FIFA, trailing only defending champion Brazil, the Czechs, the Netherlands and Mexico. But rankings in soccer mean as much as they do in a park pickup game.
“We’ve played about I guess 60 games since the last World Cup, and that’s no indication of where you are on the world stage,” Arena said last weekend.
“The only indication is a World Cup. So we’re really going to find out where we are in the World Cup. That’s the only way you can analyze any country in the world. The true test comes June 12, 17 and 22.”
Twelve of this year’s players are holdovers from the 2002 roster, and the squad is evenly split between players based in the United States and Europe, with 11 from Major League Soccer and the rest from clubs in England (seven), Germany (three), Belgium (one) and the Netherlands (one).
Just like four years ago, the goal is to get to the second round. And if the United States advances, there’s a good chance the Americans would face Brazil in the second round.
“Would I bet that nine times out of 10 we’re going to beat Brazil? Probably not,” Donovan said. “Could we beat Brazil? Absolutely. So you have to be a little bit realistic, but we want to put ourselves in that situation. And if we’re in that situation, I would still be confident.”
Arena’s defense appears set with Keller in goal, Eddie Lewis at left back, the 6-foot-4 Onyewu and Pope in the center and Steve Cherundolo at right back. Reyna, trying to overcome a strained right hamstring, is the top choice at defensive midfield, where he is the playmaker.
Beasley could be shifted across the midfield to the right flank against the Czechs, creating a spot on the left that could be filled by Convey or John O’Brien.
Donovan, returning to Germany after two unhappy stays with Bayer Leverkusen, could be an attacking midfielder or paired at forward with Brian McBride. If Donovan is in the midfield, Johnson or Josh Wolff could start with McBride up front.
Reyna and Keller are among only seven players in this year’s tournament appearing on a World Cup roster for a fourth time. Reyna is an even rarer species, captaining his nation in two World Cups.
“This is special. There’s nothing like this,” Reyna said. “There’s really nobody – not even the best players in the world – can really say they’re prepared for this, because it’s a unique situation, and that’s what makes it something so great.”
Arena usually tries to put the task in perspective, describing the World Cup title as the toughest trophy to win in professional sports. He is combative and sarcastic, an edge that carries over to his players, and he sends them out on the field each game with a patriotic refrain, reminding them to win for the red, white and blue.
“Obviously our stock has risen over years. However we’re still an outsider looking in,” he said. “To continue to earn respect at the international level, it will require that we have successful World Cups.”
And, unlike most players at the tournament, the Americans know they’ll be able to return home, still relatively unknown, no matter what happens over the next month.
Even with increased visibility, they’re still not as well known as their counterparts in the NFL, baseball and the NBA, and unmet expectations from a World Cup fervor probably wouldn’t stick to them in the same way it would haunt the Italians or English.
“Whether we do really well or not so well,” Reyna said, “in a month it will be forgotten for the most part.”
"I'm sure the U.S. vs Ghana match is going to be a thriller..."
Do you even know who Michael Essien is?
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/international?id=9799&league=fifa.world&season=2006&cc=5901
If you are going to come on a World Cup thread and be a hater at least don't be a totally ignorant hater. Ignorant, hateful and obnoxious is no way to go through life son.
I remember a soccer thread a while back where someone pointed out to you the absurdity of your statement. Can't you get some new material?
I've always wondered why they would interrupt a perfectly good 10K by putting a ball in the middle of it.
I mean, pick the ball up! You have opposable thumbs, use them! We have evolved, people. Children kick balls around. Real men hit things with sticks and throw things as far and fast as they can. In short, soccer is a perfectly nice game, but a sport requires upper body strength or a proper finish line.
Anyway, hopefully the Americans beat the Germans and win the World Cup. I just don't think I'll be watching because summer is a very busy time for me and I'll most likely be out in the yard doing stuff. I'd be out there now if it wasn't for all the cold and rain. I guess Global warming has not come to New England yet.
"Do you even know who Michael Essien is? "
I do.
One of the reasons I am realy excied about the USA-Ghana match.
Gosh. What an inspired, insightful comment.
jimbo123 isn't a real person.
That's how every nation in the world has participated in qualifying for the past two years (except for host nation Germany).Out of close to 200 nations, 32 play in the actual World Cup.
At least soccer has a legitimate World Championship. The "World Series" is misnamed as every team but one plays in the USA. Some world!
awwwww
LOL
No.
As long as soccer is still around, I'm still going to make fun of it.
You ever play catcher there pal?
Soccer is very demanding and a great sport but don't think catchers or pitchers aren't out there working.
Try it.
You, sir, are awesome.
What a wussie sport.
I never knew Ghana was a hotbed of anything but AIDS...
125 killed in Ghana soccer crush
http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/africa/05/10/stadium.stampede.02/
If you want to be called one of the best you got to beat the best.
Good teams or not the name of the game is WIN.
GO U.S.A.
Soccer is our only chance to avoid total embarassment on a world sports level. Puerto Rico beat the USA by 21 points in basketball. We were humiliated in the Ryder Cup. We couldn't even make the finals of the World Baseball classic. There are no Americans in Formula 1. Lance has retired.
I doubt there are many Freepers who even know the oldest national competition in the world. Hint: It's between Canada and the USA. Anyone know which sport?
USA's odds are running 100-1.
Ghana's odds are running 250-1.
Remind me about baseball. Do they still play in the rain?
Not only are you ignorant, but you are proud of it.
AIDS has nothing to do with a sports competition. At least try to stay on topic.
125 killed in Ghana soccer crush
People were killed here in Cincinnati at a Who Concert crush. Does that mean a Who concert isn't exciting?
LOL, Italy will win their division handily with the Czech Republic coming in second. The US will not get by the first round this time. They may win against Ghana but will not get past Italy and I doubt the Czechs.
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