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| Germany v USA: international friendly – live! | Germany v USA: international friendly – live! |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 3.38pm ET20:38 | |
| Some half-time pictures: | |
| Götze opens the scoring for Germany … | |
| … but Diskerud levels things up. | |
| 3.32pm ET20:32 | |
| Half-time: Germany 1-1 USA | |
| No stoppage time, and that’s the whistle. Say what you like about the USA, but they don’t half have some resolve. One apiece – Germany should be ahead, and will be kicking themselves for conceding such a slack goal. But it’s been entertaining! | |
| 3.31pm ET20:31 | |
| 44 min: Herrmann’s been great so far, but that was a waste: he tried to beat Guzan at his near post from the right side of the penalty area, but he’d have been better trying to cut it back and look for a teammate. | |
| 3.30pm ET20:30 | |
| 43 min: Fabulous ball from Bradley there, but Germany left a gaping hole at right-back. Diskerud exploited it perfectly. Bradley took a chance in the box – that was a heart-in-mouth moment – and then Zardes at the other end! Went for power as it broke to him in the box, but just too high. | |
| 3.28pm ET20:28 | |
| 41 min: Wow, where did that come from? USA had the ball, and Rudy was way, way up the field, leaving a giant space in the right-back slot. He clipped a lovely ball over for Diskerud, in the inside-left channel, and he kept his head and finished with a kind of scissors-kick as the ball sat up, low past Zieler. Out of nowhere, USA are on terms! | |
| 3.27pm ET20:27 | |
| GOAL! Germany 1-1 USA (Diskerud 41) | |
| Diskerud levels!! | |
| 3.26pm ET20:26 | |
| 41 min: Germany break so quickly. There’s so much pace in the side: one minute they’re in defence, and then they just flood forward at top speed. Really good transitions, you might say. | |
| 3.25pm ET20:25 | |
| 40 min: Ooh, Ozil and Götze nearly combine after the Bayern man shows strength and stickability. Too close to Guzan, and then Chandler is away down the right, firing in a dangerous cross that Zieler does well to hold. | |
| 3.24pm ET20:24 | |
| 39 min: Germany try to play out from the back, but the USA press high, and Johansson has a shot at goal. It’s wide. On commentary, Friedel makes a perceptive point: “Goals change games.” They sure do! | |
| 3.23pm ET20:23 | |
| 38 min: Some lovely, precise passing from Ozil and Gundogan, and Hector is well forward on the left, but Chandler and Zardes double team him and the chance is lost. Germany have looked really good here. But here’s Johnson, and Bradley to strike … but he miscontrols on the edge of the box, and the chance is lost. | |
| 3.22pm ET20:22 | |
| 36 min: Diskerud fouls Herrmann, who was breaking dangerously. That should be a yellow. Herrmann has looked swift, decisive and skilful: he could be a real find. The crowd’s doing a Mexican wave. Behave yourselves, this match is not boring! | |
| 3.20pm ET20:20 | |
| 34 min: Schurrle wants a penalty! He went down under challenge from Chandler, but it was six of one and half a dozen of the other, as my mum would say. | |
| 3.19pm ET20:19 | |
| 32 min: Big chance for Germany! And it was Götze! But that’s a big save by Brad Guzan. Germany broke, and Ozil carried it forward. He was fouled late, but the ball ran through to Götze, on the edge of the box, all alone – he just couldn’t finish. Should have scored! And then Schürrle with a header from Götze’s cross – he just couldn’t get any power on it, and he’s not Duncan Ferguson. Germany moving up the gears! | |
| 3.17pm ET20:17 | |
| 31 min: Schürrle nearly surprises Alvarado down the right, but he can’t quite keep it in bounds, as they say in America. Good defending. USA try to break but Gundogan does some good defensive work, and the chance is lost. | |
| 3.16pm ET20:16 | |
| 30 min: Zieler’s distribution has been really good – he doesn’t just lump it forward like some. Germany have had 68% possession so far. They’re so neat and tidy with the ball – rarely is it given away. The surface looks like a putting green. | |
| 3.15pm ET20:15 | |
| 28 min: Schweinsteiger stops USA breaking with what might charitably called a tactical foul. Uncharitably, it might be called a cynical trip. No card. Brooks, who’s stepped out of the back line on more than one occasion, shovels it to the right, and Johansson tries to make something, but his shot is hopeful, and high. No dramas for Germany. | |
| 3.12pm ET20:12 | |
| 26 min: Friedel talks about Germny’s “conveyor belt of talent”. I guess they’re the word champions for a reason. They’ve looked to go wide in this match, too – both full-backs seeing plenty of the ball. Then Ozil dinks one over the defender into the box on the right, but Herrmann couldn’t make contact with his shot. | |
| 3.11pm ET20:11 | |
| 24 min: Zieler’s doing as Neuer does, and comes plenty far out of his box to join in the play. Herrmann nearly gets in down the right, but Germany come again, through Götze down the right, but Johnson does well to win the goal kick. | |
| Updated at 3.11pm ET | |
| 3.09pm ET20:09 | |
| 22 min: Gah, that was a late one from Danny Williams. A late, high, crude trip on Gundogan. That looked a sore one, and the USA man is rightly booked. And almost a chance for USA! Agudelo stepped in on Rudiger, and he was this close from dispossessing him on the edge of the box. Germany A-OK, though. | |
| Updated at 3.09pm ET | |
| 3.07pm ET20:07 | |
| 20 min: Schweini finds Schürrle with a lovely round-the-corner poke with his left foot, and the Wolfsburg man is fouled. Then Schweini finds Rudy on the right, but the cross is miles too strong. Schweini dictating the pace of this. He’s brilliant! | |
| 3.05pm ET20:05 | |
| 18 min: Better from the visitors. Zardes advances down the right, but his cross is blocked. They’ve had much more possession these past few minutes, though, USA, and Bradley looks for Zardes over the top against Mustafi. That’s Zieler’s ball. | |
| 3.02pm ET20:02 | 3.02pm ET20:02 |
| 17 min: Herrmann’s looked really lively down the right-hand side. Lots for Fabian Johnson to ponder. | 17 min: Herrmann’s looked really lively down the right-hand side. Lots for Fabian Johnson to ponder. |
| 3.01pm ET20:01 | 3.01pm ET20:01 |
| 15 min: Ooh, it’s all going off! Johnson did so well down the left, cutting it back from the byline, but it just wouldn’t fall for the USA. Then Herrmann responds down the German right. It’s really good stuff so far, is this. | 15 min: Ooh, it’s all going off! Johnson did so well down the left, cutting it back from the byline, but it just wouldn’t fall for the USA. Then Herrmann responds down the German right. It’s really good stuff so far, is this. |
| 3.00pm ET20:00 | 3.00pm ET20:00 |
| 13 min: USA had been growing in confidence, but that was far too easy, and brilliant play from Herrmann, the debutant. He sucked in three players down the German right, snuck into the box, and found Götze, who was wide open on the left, and the Bayern man just slotted it past Guzan. An excellent finish – he had lots to do, but that was lovely: he just caressed it back where it came from. | 13 min: USA had been growing in confidence, but that was far too easy, and brilliant play from Herrmann, the debutant. He sucked in three players down the German right, snuck into the box, and found Götze, who was wide open on the left, and the Bayern man just slotted it past Guzan. An excellent finish – he had lots to do, but that was lovely: he just caressed it back where it came from. |
| 2.58pm ET19:58 | 2.58pm ET19:58 |
| GOAL! Germany 1-0 USA (Götze 12) | GOAL! Germany 1-0 USA (Götze 12) |
| Oh boy. | Oh boy. |
| 2.58pm ET19:58 | 2.58pm ET19:58 |
| 11 min: Peter Oh wants clarification: | 11 min: Peter Oh wants clarification: |
| By “Klinsi is singing the national anthem” I hope you mean the Star-Spangled Banner! U-S-A! | By “Klinsi is singing the national anthem” I hope you mean the Star-Spangled Banner! U-S-A! |
| He sang both, actually! Whether he was tuneful, like me, or tone deaf, like my friend Adam, remains to be seen. | He sang both, actually! Whether he was tuneful, like me, or tone deaf, like my friend Adam, remains to be seen. |
| 2.56pm ET19:56 | 2.56pm ET19:56 |
| 10 min: Oh, that’s so close from Diskerud! Johansson did so well down the left, completely befuddling Hector, and after a clever feint from Bradley it was laid back to Diskerud on the edge of the D. He went for power, but it was narrowly over. Zieler wasn’t saving that! | 10 min: Oh, that’s so close from Diskerud! Johansson did so well down the left, completely befuddling Hector, and after a clever feint from Bradley it was laid back to Diskerud on the edge of the D. He went for power, but it was narrowly over. Zieler wasn’t saving that! |
| 2.55pm ET19:55 | 2.55pm ET19:55 |
| 9 min: Brad Friedel says the atmosphere in Cologne is “really friendly”. And apparently the food at the RheinEnergieStadion is to die for. Diskerud dispossesses Ozil, and USA can build from the back. They’ve been under pressure so far. | 9 min: Brad Friedel says the atmosphere in Cologne is “really friendly”. And apparently the food at the RheinEnergieStadion is to die for. Diskerud dispossesses Ozil, and USA can build from the back. They’ve been under pressure so far. |
| 2.54pm ET19:54 | 2.54pm ET19:54 |
| 7 min: Chance for Ozil! It was laid back in the area, and the Arsenal man hit it sweetly, but straight at Guzan. USA offside again – Germany really pressing high. | 7 min: Chance for Ozil! It was laid back in the area, and the Arsenal man hit it sweetly, but straight at Guzan. USA offside again – Germany really pressing high. |
| 2.53pm ET19:53 | 2.53pm ET19:53 |
| 5 min: It’s not quite panic stations yet for USA, but Germany have really pressed high up the field, and the visitors haven’t been able to get hold of the ball yet. | 5 min: It’s not quite panic stations yet for USA, but Germany have really pressed high up the field, and the visitors haven’t been able to get hold of the ball yet. |
| Dominique Dethlefs is in Berlin, and she’s helpful!: | Dominique Dethlefs is in Berlin, and she’s helpful!: |
| Hi Tim, “(…) not least to make everyone feel a little bit better about the national elf.” | Hi Tim, “(…) not least to make everyone feel a little bit better about the national elf.” |
| You can call them officially Die Mannschaft now. It’s the new word and design mark: | You can call them officially Die Mannschaft now. It’s the new word and design mark: |
| So, I do hope Germany will win, though Neuer, Müller & Co. aren’t playing. Well, maybe the new ones will surprise us. | So, I do hope Germany will win, though Neuer, Müller & Co. aren’t playing. Well, maybe the new ones will surprise us. |
| Greetings from Berlin! | Greetings from Berlin! |
| Updated at 2.54pm ET | Updated at 2.54pm ET |
| 2.51pm ET19:51 | 2.51pm ET19:51 |
| 4 min: Another corner, as Hector ran in behind. Götze takes with an inswinger, and the USA got lucky! Rudiger missed it, and it fell to Schweinsteiger, but he couldn’t sort his feet out! He was unmarked six yards out, and he missed it completely. Great early opportunity. | 4 min: Another corner, as Hector ran in behind. Götze takes with an inswinger, and the USA got lucky! Rudiger missed it, and it fell to Schweinsteiger, but he couldn’t sort his feet out! He was unmarked six yards out, and he missed it completely. Great early opportunity. |
| 2.50pm ET19:50 | 2.50pm ET19:50 |
| 3 min: Germany look to get in again down the left – Hector and Schürrle have combined well twice so far. Such easy passing from Germany, too – the surface looks immaculate, and they’ve really punched their balls into feet so far. Hosts on top. | 3 min: Germany look to get in again down the left – Hector and Schürrle have combined well twice so far. Such easy passing from Germany, too – the surface looks immaculate, and they’ve really punched their balls into feet so far. Hosts on top. |
| 2.48pm ET19:48 | 2.48pm ET19:48 |
| 1 min: Germany kick off, and they’re quickly into their rhythm. Lovely change of pace from Gundogan, and it’s an early corner for the hosts – but Rudiger’s header is well wide. | 1 min: Germany kick off, and they’re quickly into their rhythm. Lovely change of pace from Gundogan, and it’s an early corner for the hosts – but Rudiger’s header is well wide. |
| 2.45pm ET19:45 | 2.45pm ET19:45 |
| Brad Friedel on commentary says: “I was really excited by what I saw against the Netherlands. Why not go for it? Why not try to attack them?” | Brad Friedel on commentary says: “I was really excited by what I saw against the Netherlands. Why not go for it? Why not try to attack them?” |
| Quite right. Let’s have a right go, etc etc. | Quite right. Let’s have a right go, etc etc. |
| Updated at 2.46pm ET | Updated at 2.46pm ET |
| 2.44pm ET19:44 | 2.44pm ET19:44 |
| Jürgen and Jogi: players, coaches, friends. | Jürgen and Jogi: players, coaches, friends. |
| 2.42pm ET19:42 | 2.42pm ET19:42 |
| Kick-off is minutes away. Klinsi’s singing the national anthem! | Kick-off is minutes away. Klinsi’s singing the national anthem! |
| 2.41pm ET19:41 | 2.41pm ET19:41 |
| The RheinEnergieStadion looks a magnificent sight! It’s completely full, and flags reading “Die Mannschaft” are being unfurled across the stands. The players are out: USA, sponsored by American sportswear behemoth Nike, in blue, and Germany, sponsored by German sportswear behemoth Adidas, in all white. Classic. | The RheinEnergieStadion looks a magnificent sight! It’s completely full, and flags reading “Die Mannschaft” are being unfurled across the stands. The players are out: USA, sponsored by American sportswear behemoth Nike, in blue, and Germany, sponsored by German sportswear behemoth Adidas, in all white. Classic. |
| 2.39pm ET19:39 | 2.39pm ET19:39 |
| I’m really looking forward to see Germany pass the ball. Bastian Schweinsteiger, fresh from watching his girlfriend Ana Ivanovic at the French Open, is in there alongside Ilkay Gundogan, another smooth mover, and what a lovely sight Ozil is: I know he gets some stick from Arsenal fans, but he’s a real star, no? He makes it look so easy. | I’m really looking forward to see Germany pass the ball. Bastian Schweinsteiger, fresh from watching his girlfriend Ana Ivanovic at the French Open, is in there alongside Ilkay Gundogan, another smooth mover, and what a lovely sight Ozil is: I know he gets some stick from Arsenal fans, but he’s a real star, no? He makes it look so easy. |
| Arne Friedrich on Fox commentary says, in perfect English: “Herrmann is a fantastic player. I’m glad he’s playing. And Schweinsteiger is the heart of the team.” | Arne Friedrich on Fox commentary says, in perfect English: “Herrmann is a fantastic player. I’m glad he’s playing. And Schweinsteiger is the heart of the team.” |
| 2.32pm ET19:32 | 2.32pm ET19:32 |
| Die Mannschaft are raring to go! | Die Mannschaft are raring to go! |
| 20 minutes until kick-off! #DieMannschaft are raring to go. #GERUSA pic.twitter.com/R361KO4ppO | 20 minutes until kick-off! #DieMannschaft are raring to go. #GERUSA pic.twitter.com/R361KO4ppO |
| 2.31pm ET19:31 | 2.31pm ET19:31 |
| Patrick Herrmann makes his debut for Germany. He’s 24 now, so older than Götze, but he scored 16 in 46 for Mönchengladbach last year. Expect him to play with Ozil and Schürrle in a 4-2-3-1. Germany’s defence is pretty inexperienced, though – Rudinger, Hector and Rudy are pretty green, and Ron-Robert Zieler too. | Patrick Herrmann makes his debut for Germany. He’s 24 now, so older than Götze, but he scored 16 in 46 for Mönchengladbach last year. Expect him to play with Ozil and Schürrle in a 4-2-3-1. Germany’s defence is pretty inexperienced, though – Rudinger, Hector and Rudy are pretty green, and Ron-Robert Zieler too. |
| 2.23pm ET19:23 | 2.23pm ET19:23 |
| Check out these highlights from USA’s 4-3 victory over Holland. The Dutch defending! | Check out these highlights from USA’s 4-3 victory over Holland. The Dutch defending! |
| 2.20pm ET19:20 | 2.20pm ET19:20 |
| Germany hold the No 1 ranking in men’s and women’s football. They’re hoping to become the first country to hold the men’s and women’s World Cups at the same time. What a magnificent soccer nation. | Germany hold the No 1 ranking in men’s and women’s football. They’re hoping to become the first country to hold the men’s and women’s World Cups at the same time. What a magnificent soccer nation. |
| 2.18pm ET19:18 | 2.18pm ET19:18 |
| Aside from Klinsmann, there’s definitely a German flavour in this USA team. Four of the starting XI – Brooks, Chandler, Williams and Johnson – were born in Germany, and several of Klinsmann’s squad have experience playing there. Here’s Grant Wahl from last year on the influence of Germany on the USA World Cup team: | Aside from Klinsmann, there’s definitely a German flavour in this USA team. Four of the starting XI – Brooks, Chandler, Williams and Johnson – were born in Germany, and several of Klinsmann’s squad have experience playing there. Here’s Grant Wahl from last year on the influence of Germany on the USA World Cup team: |
| The cold war may be over, but its effects are alive and well on Klinsmann’s US World Cup squad, which includes five German-Americans: midfielders Jones, 32, and Julian Green, 19; and defenders Fabian Johnson, 26, Timmy Chandler, 24, and John Brooks, 21. From a demographic perspective, it makes perfect sense that the U.S.’s military influence in Germany would extend to the soccer field. | The cold war may be over, but its effects are alive and well on Klinsmann’s US World Cup squad, which includes five German-Americans: midfielders Jones, 32, and Julian Green, 19; and defenders Fabian Johnson, 26, Timmy Chandler, 24, and John Brooks, 21. From a demographic perspective, it makes perfect sense that the U.S.’s military influence in Germany would extend to the soccer field. |
| When Jones was born in 1981, more than 248,000 American troops were stationed in Germany (compared to 40,304 at the start of 2014). One can only imagine the soccer heights the US might scale if it had a similar military presence in Brazil, but alas, there were only 222 US troops there in 1981. | When Jones was born in 1981, more than 248,000 American troops were stationed in Germany (compared to 40,304 at the start of 2014). One can only imagine the soccer heights the US might scale if it had a similar military presence in Brazil, but alas, there were only 222 US troops there in 1981. |
| Updated at 2.18pm ET | Updated at 2.18pm ET |
| 2.09pm ET19:09 | 2.09pm ET19:09 |
| Here’s a stat: in 10 Germany-USA meetings, no draws. | Here’s a stat: in 10 Germany-USA meetings, no draws. |
| 3 - This will be the 11th meeting between #USMNT and Germany. USA have won 3 and lost 7 of the previous ten meetings. Revenge. | 3 - This will be the 11th meeting between #USMNT and Germany. USA have won 3 and lost 7 of the previous ten meetings. Revenge. |
| 2.05pm ET19:05 | 2.05pm ET19:05 |
| The lineups are in: | The lineups are in: |
| Germany: Zieler; Rudy, Mustafi, Rüdiger, Hector; Schweinsteiger, Gündogan; Herrmann, Özil, Schürrle; Götze. | Germany: Zieler; Rudy, Mustafi, Rüdiger, Hector; Schweinsteiger, Gündogan; Herrmann, Özil, Schürrle; Götze. |
| USA: Guzan; Chandler, Alvarado, Brooks, Johnson; Williams, Zardes, Diskerud, Bradley; Johannsson, Agudelo. | USA: Guzan; Chandler, Alvarado, Brooks, Johnson; Williams, Zardes, Diskerud, Bradley; Johannsson, Agudelo. |
| So Zieler of Hannover starts in goal for Germany, and Patrick Herrmann of Monchengladbach makes his debut. Götze starts up front. | So Zieler of Hannover starts in goal for Germany, and Patrick Herrmann of Monchengladbach makes his debut. Götze starts up front. |
| For the US, Agudelo and Danny Williams come in – Brek Shea and Kyle Beckermann are outta there. | For the US, Agudelo and Danny Williams come in – Brek Shea and Kyle Beckermann are outta there. |
| Updated at 2.07pm ET | Updated at 2.07pm ET |
| 2.02pm ET19:02 | 2.02pm ET19:02 |
| On the Manuel Neuer tip, here are all of his saves from the World Cup last year. What a hero. | On the Manuel Neuer tip, here are all of his saves from the World Cup last year. What a hero. |
| 2.00pm ET19:00 | 2.00pm ET19:00 |
| That Germany team was so good last year, wasn’t it? Skill and pace and athleticism and passing and vim – and what a goalkeeper! Unfortunately, Neuer is missing, as are Thomas Müller and Toni Kroos. They’re tired after a long season, poor dears. But 13 of the squad won in Brazil last year, and Boateng, Hummels, Khedira, Schweini, Ozil and Götze are all in line to play. | That Germany team was so good last year, wasn’t it? Skill and pace and athleticism and passing and vim – and what a goalkeeper! Unfortunately, Neuer is missing, as are Thomas Müller and Toni Kroos. They’re tired after a long season, poor dears. But 13 of the squad won in Brazil last year, and Boateng, Hummels, Khedira, Schweini, Ozil and Götze are all in line to play. |
| 1.53pm ET18:53 | 1.53pm ET18:53 |
| Hi! Thomas Wolfe famously said you can’t go home again – but Jürgen Klinsmann is doing just that. Klinsi is all-American these days: he lives in Huntington Beach, swims in the ocean, speaks with American-accented English, and is the highly successful coach of a fast-improving USA team. But today the Swabian baker’s son is going back to his roots. | Hi! Thomas Wolfe famously said you can’t go home again – but Jürgen Klinsmann is doing just that. Klinsi is all-American these days: he lives in Huntington Beach, swims in the ocean, speaks with American-accented English, and is the highly successful coach of a fast-improving USA team. But today the Swabian baker’s son is going back to his roots. |
| His side play the world champions in Cologne, in an international friendly to really get the juices flowing. He’s also meeting up with his friend and prodigy Joachim Löw. Klinsmann, remember, coached Germany before passing the baton to his assistant, Löw – and the pupil has outdone the scholar, winning the World Cup for Germany for the first time in 24 years. | His side play the world champions in Cologne, in an international friendly to really get the juices flowing. He’s also meeting up with his friend and prodigy Joachim Löw. Klinsmann, remember, coached Germany before passing the baton to his assistant, Löw – and the pupil has outdone the scholar, winning the World Cup for Germany for the first time in 24 years. |
| But things aren’t going quite so well for Germany since that heady July evening at the Maracaña last July, when Mario Götze collected and twisted and volleyed past Sergio Romero. They’ve stuttered against Ireland and Poland in qualification for Euro 2016, are find themselves in a mild qualifying jam. They’ll be fine, no doubt – they play Gibraltar away on Saturday, and they’ll probably win 9-0 – but they could do with a win here against the USA, not least to make everyone feel a little bit better about the nationalelf. | But things aren’t going quite so well for Germany since that heady July evening at the Maracaña last July, when Mario Götze collected and twisted and volleyed past Sergio Romero. They’ve stuttered against Ireland and Poland in qualification for Euro 2016, are find themselves in a mild qualifying jam. They’ll be fine, no doubt – they play Gibraltar away on Saturday, and they’ll probably win 9-0 – but they could do with a win here against the USA, not least to make everyone feel a little bit better about the nationalelf. |
| Klinsi’s feeling better about his team, probably: they played really well last week to come back from 3-1 down to beat Holland in Amsterdam, showing no little perseverance, desire and skill. That’s no mean feat, even if Holland defended like clots, oafs and galoots, and they’ll provide a stiff test for Germany, especially since the Klinsmann wants to finalise his roster for the Gold Cup, which begins in America next month. Places are up for grabs, and everyone wants in. | Klinsi’s feeling better about his team, probably: they played really well last week to come back from 3-1 down to beat Holland in Amsterdam, showing no little perseverance, desire and skill. That’s no mean feat, even if Holland defended like clots, oafs and galoots, and they’ll provide a stiff test for Germany, especially since the Klinsmann wants to finalise his roster for the Gold Cup, which begins in America next month. Places are up for grabs, and everyone wants in. |
| Kickoff is 7.45pm BST, 2.45pm ET – and we’d love for you to join us. | Kickoff is 7.45pm BST, 2.45pm ET – and we’d love for you to join us. |
| 1.46pm ET18:46 | 1.46pm ET18:46 |
| Tim will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Les Carpenter on the 25th anniversary of the USA team at the 1990 World Cup: | Tim will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Les Carpenter on the 25th anniversary of the USA team at the 1990 World Cup: |
| Long before Major League Soccer, regular World Cups for America and Saturday games on network TV, there was a team that launched modern soccer in the United States. It was a group of unknowns, many of them fresh from college, who had been handed an impossible task: become the first American team in 40 years to go to the World Cup. | Long before Major League Soccer, regular World Cups for America and Saturday games on network TV, there was a team that launched modern soccer in the United States. It was a group of unknowns, many of them fresh from college, who had been handed an impossible task: become the first American team in 40 years to go to the World Cup. |
| For nine months in 1989, the US players battled to seize one of the two Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf), spots in the 1990 World Cup. Eventually, they did, with a miracle goal scored on a tiny island off the coast of Venezuela. Then 25 years ago this week they stepped on an Italian field and launched a movement. | For nine months in 1989, the US players battled to seize one of the two Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf), spots in the 1990 World Cup. Eventually, they did, with a miracle goal scored on a tiny island off the coast of Venezuela. Then 25 years ago this week they stepped on an Italian field and launched a movement. |
| This is the story of America’s soccer pioneers who walked into a world they never could have imagined. | This is the story of America’s soccer pioneers who walked into a world they never could have imagined. |
| Related: An oral history of USA at Italia '90: the World Cup that changed US soccer | Related: An oral history of USA at Italia '90: the World Cup that changed US soccer |