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U.S. Enters World Cup With High Expectations

By: Adam Bielamowicz

In 1990 when the United States qualified for the World Cup for the first time in forty years, they were just happy to be there.  So was the case in 1994 and 1998 as well.  In three World Cups in the 1990s the Americans went 1-8-1 in ten matches.However, after the embarrassment in the 1998 World Cup, when the U.S. went 0-3 and finished dead last in the 32-team tournament, U.S. Soccer decided that it did not just want to be happy to qualify for the World Cup.  The goal was to win the World Cup by 2010.

The U.S. made great strides toward this goal in 2002, going 1-1-1 to get out of its qualifying group, stunning an experienced Mexican team in the round of 16, and coming one controversial call away from advancing to the semifinals of the tournament, as a uncalled handball blocked a U.S. goal in a 1-0 loss to Germany.

Since then, all of the expectations have changed.

Starting today, the U.S. has a legitimate chance to realize their goal four years earlier than planned, as the Americans open up World Cup play Monday with a first round game against the Czech Republic in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.  And this time around the team is not just happy to be there.

They have expectations of winning it all.

“We feel that we have a lot to prove,” team captain Claudio Reyna said upon arriving in Germany.  “That’s something that is nice, to have expectations at a World Cup and not just to come up here and make the numbers and have a good time that we’re here. It’s different. We’re serious about being here and doing well.”

Believe it or not, this year Americans will hear something about their soccer team that they have never heard before.  This team can win the World Cup.

In 1999, after that embarrassing last-place finish, U.S. Soccer decided to spend $1.5 million to train young soccer players.  Four of the players that the training centered on, forward Landon Donovan, who at 23 is already the career assist leader and is the third all-time scorer in international play for the U.S., midfielder DeMarcus Beasley, defender Oguchi Onyewu and midfielder Bobby Convey, led the U.S. U-17 team to a surprising fourth place finish at the World Youth Cup in 1999.

These players have grown up to be successful on the international stage, with Donovan starring in Major League Soccer, Beasley in the Netherlands, Onyewu in Belgium and Convey in England.

The youngsters, along with goalkeeper Kasey Keller and midfielder Reyna, now will try to lead the U.S. through arguably the toughest first round group in the tournament.  The U.S. shares Group E with traditional soccer superpowers Italy and the Czech Republic, as well as Ghana, who many experts say is the best team from the African continent.

Getting out of Group E is a task that almost seems insurmountable, but one that will be overcome, according to U.S. coach Bruce Arena.

“We’re stepping on the field with the thought that we’re going to be hanging around Germany for awhile,” Arena said. “That’s our objective to get out of group play and when we’re in the round of 16 we’ll deal with our next opponent.”

In all truth, the U.S. is probably one or two World Cups away from having a true shot at winning the World Cup.  Youngsters Donovan, Beasley, Onyewu and Convey are all either 22 or 23 years old, and by 2008, 17 year old phenom Freddy Adu will be ready to play on the international stage.

But that does not mean that the U.S. does not expect to win in Germany.  And after a long wait, they are ready to shock the world.

“All this talking, talking for 5-1/2 months,” said Donovan. “Now it’s time to get it on.”

4 replies on “U.S. Enters World Cup With High Expectations”

we crapped the bed Our defense was horrible and Landon Donovan was nowhere to be found.  Eddie Johnson who subbed in in the second half had the best chances.

Hmm Eddie did well, but I’d have to say Claudio Reyna’s shot that hit the post was our best chance of the night.

By the way, we were just completely overmatched against the Czech Republic. I want the U.S. to win, but realistically, they won’t win a game. Hopefully we’ll see one goal though.

Czech mate?

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