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'Our finest moment' Year earns U.S. a place among sport's big boysPosted: Sunday December 29, 2002 6:03 PM
NEW YORK (AP) -- It was the best year for U.S. soccer since 1994, when the World Cup came to America. Or since 1989, when the United States qualified for its first World Cup in 40 years. Or since 1950, when the U.S. team upset England 1-0 in the World Cup. Whatever the choice, it was a year that redefined the quality of American soccer, one that put the United States alongside the world's big boys and gave U.S. players even grander dreams as they think ahead to the 2006 tournament in Germany. "The goal for the 2006 World Cup is to win it," Landon Donovan said. "If you don't set your goals to win it, then you're selling yourself short." Led by Donovan, a 20-year-old forward who became a star, and Brad Friedel, who stopped not one but two penalty kicks, the Americans advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals, their best showing since the first edition of soccer's premier tournament in 1930, when they made it to the semifinals. Even during the 1-0 loss to Germany that eliminated them, the Americans outplayed their opponent for much of the night. "This was our finest moment, certainly in modern history," former U.S. Soccer Federation president Alan Rothenberg said. Coming off a last-place finish at the 1998 tournament in France, the Americans were drawn into a tough group that included highly regarded Portugal and co-host South Korea. The United States, which earlier in the year won the North and Central American and Caribbean championship for the first time since 1991, opened the World Cup with a shocking 3-2 victory over the Portuguese, and sweated out a 1-1 tie with South Korea. While they finished the round with a dismal 3-1 loss to Poland, then advanced because the South Koreans beat Portugal in a game played simultaneously. Then came a game for the ages, a 2-0 second-round victory over Mexico, which had dominated the United States until recent years. U.S. coach Bruce Arena moved U.S. captain Claudio Reyna from the center of the field to the wing. Reyna responded with his best game ever. Helped by a new generation that seemed unburdened by the losing tradition, the Americans played with vigor and won converts back home, who turned on their sets in the middle of the night. Donovan scored two goals and fellow 20-year-old DaMarcus Beasley supplied the speed. Clint Mathis, 24, was out of shape following knee surgery, but showed his brilliance with a goal against South Korea, trapping the ball with his right foot and striking it in with his left. Reyna, 28, became the first American to be selected for a World Cup All-Star team. Brian McBride, 30, scored twice. Friedel, picked by Arena over 1998 starter Kasey Keller, joined the ranks of the world's top goalkeepers. And both Friedel, 31, and Keller, 32, could be back for the 2006 tournament. Arena has agreed to another four-year contract that will make him U.S. coach for the longest period ever. Slowly, American soccer players are gaining respect. "We've earned a little bit more, but not enough. That's fine," he said. "We have to keep moving forward and try to get better. The one way you shut everyone up is you win. ... You've got to step on the field and just beat them. Period. Bottom line." And more young players are on the way, such as Bobby Convey, Santino Quaranta, Alecko Eskandarian and Freddy Adu. While the men were in the spotlight this year, the U.S. women's team qualified for the women's World Cup next September, where the Americans will defend the title they won for the second time in 1999 at the Rose Bowl. Mia Hamm returned from a long injury layoff and scored the overtime goal that won the first CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup, then won her second straight FIFA Player of the Year award and got engaged to Boston Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra. Her Washington Freedom lost to the Carolina Courage 3-2 in the WUSA final. The Los Angeles Galaxy won their first title in the seven seasons of Major League Soccer, beating the Columbus Crew 1-0 in overtime on a goal by Carlos Ruiz, who led the league with 24 goals during the regular season. Four days later, the Crew beat the Galaxy 1-0 in the U.S. Open Cup final on a goal by Freddy Garcia. Outside the United States, Brazil won its record fifth World Cup, beating Germany 2-0 in the final at Yokohama, Japan, on a pair of goals by Ronaldo. The Brazilian forward returned from two knee operations to score eight goals in the tournament, the most since Gerd Muller's 10 in 1970. With 12 career World Cup goals, the 25-year-old Ronaldo tied Pele for third most, one behind Just Fontaine and two back of Muller. Ronaldo transferred from Internazionale of Milan to Real Madrid after the tournament and went on to win his third FIFA World Player of the Year award, his first since 1997. He also won the European Player of the Year award for the second time. German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn won the Golden Ball as MVP of the World Cup, but made a costly mistake that led to Ronaldo's first goal in the final. South Korea, which had never advanced beyond the first round, was a big story at the World Cup, advancing to the semifinals and creating millions of fans, who wore red shirts and marched in the streets in celebration. The biggest controversies at the tournament involved Ireland's Roy Keane, who feuded with his coach and was sent home, and criticism over officials' calls that helped eliminate Italy and Spain. On the eve of the tournament, FIFA president Sepp Blatter was re-elected to a second four-year term as head of soccer's governing body, then fired FIFA general secretary Michel Zen-Ruffinen, who had accused him of financial impropriety. Real Madrid won its third European Champions Cup title in five years, its ninth overall, beating Germany's Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 in the final. In South America, Paraguay's Olimpia won its third Liberators' Cup by beating Brazil's Sao Caetano 4-2 on penalty kicks following a 2-2 aggregate in the home-and-home final. Real Madrid beat Olimpia in the Intercontinental Cup. |
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