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June 12, 2006 -- A day which will live in infamy...



Ok, it wasn't the bombing of Pearl Harbor. So let's get the apologies to Franklin Delano Roosevelt and all that lost their life on Dec. 7, 1941 out of the way. (Doubt the wheelchair-bound, 32rd President was a big footie fan anyway.)

However the United State's 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Czech Republic in the first game of the 2006 World Cup from Gelsenkirchen, Germany was an unmitigated disaster for American soccer fans. Vomit-worthy. A disappointment on par with Amanda Beard's recent Playboy spread. Yeesh.

Thanks in no large part to a clever marketing campaign by Nike, expectation levels had never been higher for the USMNT heading into the 2006 World Cup. This was going to be the year they'd make a real breakthrough and some those snobby Europeans what we can do. This was going to be a plucky underdog team that America was going to fall in love with.

The dominoes were in place for something special to happen.

The National Team had come so far from the days of college amateurs being embarrassed at the opening game of Italia 90 by Czechoslovakia 5-1. These were seasoned pros ready to set the world on fire.

Yet, against the Czech Republic the US showed that it was still so far away.

Less than five minutes into that fateful game, thanks to the misshapen, lumpy skull of Jan Koller all those dreams disappeared into the Northwest German ether. (Watch here, if you dare.)

365 days later I can still recall the pain as if it were yesterday.

"Is this it?...It's already over."

That was my immediate reaction as I put my head into my heads, and starred across the Arena Auf Schalke stadium at the bouncing, glowering, red-clad Czech menace. I'd traveled across an ocean, thousands of miles...for this? Going home before we even had a chance?

Too bad the schmuck sitting behind me, an American, was surprised that Kasey Keller was the starting US goalie.

The day began in fine form too. There was partying and revelry between us naive Americanos and the crazies from the Czech Republic...and a certain Turkish Elvis impersonator.

The image at the top of this post was most American's view of the Czech's before the match. They were just a bunch of buffonish, god-less, post-Communist crazies -- albeit harmless ones.

Perhaps the ensuing trek from downtown Gelsenkirchen, which was surprisingly sex-worker free, to the Arena Auf Schalke should have given us some indication of what was in store on the pitch itself.

To begin, our group -- me, Shaqulino, Suppe and Pops Cardillo -- boarded a cramped, and I mean CRAMPED German street tram unit. It had to be around 50 degrees centigrade inside.(I'll throw out two words -- balls and sweat. Draw your own conclusions.)

Unfortunately, this American clown aboard said tram boasted how he had already been to the Arena that morning trying to sell tickets to the Czechs. As he claimed the Czechs offered everything, up to and including their wives. Not a bad offer, but this guy said he wanted their land, their property instead. According to him, it wasn't that far.

An easy walk.

Since we couldn't stand the heat of the tram, we decided to disembark whilst on this bridge. Seemed like a good idea. We could see the Arena, rising in the distance. In retrospect it was more like a mirage as depicted in your classic desert scene. All that was missing were those stupid French Legionnaires hats.

After a long, hot and sweaty (thank the good Lord for Gold Bond Powder), I'm guessing 2-3 mile walk we made it just in time for the National Anthem -- about the last highlight of the day. We barely had time for the in-stadium Budweiser.

As you'll all recall the game was blunder that would have made even General George M. Custer blush.

Not only was the Koller goal bad enough -- I mean, Christ, at that point in time what was the Czech's No. 1 attacking option? Koller's big, stupid, cranium. And what did the US allow within the first five minutes? A header by Koller.

Whatever spirit the US supporters could muster was quickly broken, like Apollo Creed inside the first 20 seconds vs. Drago. This was a Grade-A kick in the ol' junk. It would be the Czech menace's day.

Yeah, Claudio Reyna nearly equalised with a long shot that caromed off the post, but that was the only time the team would trouble Petr Cech. The might have been the American's only shot on goal.

And thanks to a ill-advised/unlucky clearance by Oguchi Oneywu, Tomas Rosicky scored his first of two impressive tallies of the game in the 26th minute. Even though it totally broke the team's already shattered confidence, it was a beautiful goal. To this day I can still sense how in the split second before the goal how the 50,000+ became instantly quiet, then erupted. Time seemed to slow down.

It's hard to envision a better feeling from a sportsman than Rosicky after he made it 2-0.

Oh maybe when he made it 3-0 in the second half.

Deflated. Dejected. Defeated.

Pick your poison. The sad trek back to the Gelsenkirchen Hbf was all of that, and then some -- even if the station sold soup out of vending machines, as Suppe can attest.

On the trolley back, naturally most American fans commiserated. Where could we go from here? What's next? Will the team even, truly impress on the big stage? Were we back to Square One?

Yeah, Ghana beating the Czech's and the US's inspired performance vs. Italy gave us a lifeline at the Cup...which German ref Marcus Merk quickly yanked out four days later on a dubious penalty call. All-and-all, Germany 2006 won't be recalled too fondly...on the pitch anyway.

Well, it's 12 months later and, unfortunately, for most American fans I don't think we have any answers.

Before we delve any deeper, let's look at who was involved (on the field itself) with the Czech disaster.

Starters

Kasey Keller, GK -- I'm not saying he's washed up or any of the goals in Germany were his fault, but...

Steve Cherundolo, RB -- The two-time World Cup vet hasn't been used since Bob Bradley took over in January. He's still only 29 but it seems his future on the International stage will be up to him. Does he want to continue the grind of flights back-and-forth the Atlantic much longer?

Oguchi Oneywu, CB -- Since his famed 'owning' of Jared Borgetti in Sept. 2005 when the USMNT booked passage to Germany here are his most notable developments. Bad clearance gave way to Rosicky's goal. A unjust call by the ref on a questionable Gooch foul gave way to Ghana's go-ahead penalty kick in a 2-1 defeat in Nurnberg. Finally, a few days ago he drew a pair of silly yellow cards in the Gold Cup vs. Guatemala. Let's not even mention how Newcastle United said, thanks but no thanks for his services after a loan spell from Belgium. Post-World Cup Gooch was seemingly one of the building blocks, long term. Right now, who knows? Stocks did better in October 1987, than the Gooch over the last year.

Eddie Pope, CB -- The good solider of the USMNT retired internationally and is now toiling for winless Real Salt Lake in MLS. In a lot of ways Pope is an underrated pioneer for American soccer. Guys like him deserve one, final send-off in the Red, White and Blue. Too bad it was he, who got posterized on Koller's goal.

Eddie Lewis, LB -- Yikes. Is it really his fault that he was forced into service at left back? He could have said no, I suppose. Still, he was caught waaaaaaaay out of position, allowing Zdeněk Grygera all sorts of space to fire the cross to the head of Koller. Currently toiling for demoted Leeds United in England's League One (Third Division). Doubtful he'll ever play again for the National Team. Maybe someone in MLS will open the wallet.

Landon Donovan, Right-ish midfield -- The whipping boy, post 2006 has been great in 2007. For better or worse, the team's fortunes are inherently tied to his receding hairline.

Claudio Reyna, CM -- For all of Reyna's outstanding service to the National Team, one stat essentially defines him -- while on four World Cup rosters (injured in 1994) Reyna only played in one USMNT victory -- the 2-0 win over Mexico in the 2002 Round of 16. Currently battling the turf of Giants Stadium whilst with the New York Red Bulls.

Pablo Mastreoni, CM -- Breaking up passes from Donovan while in Rapids shirt is one thing. Doing it against the likes of Rosicky and Pavel Nedved was another. Mastreoni's biggest impact in 2006 was his mindless tackle that resulted in a red card vs. Italy in the dying minutes of the first half. Still, Pablo is a good dude and is useful in CONCACAF competitions since he's an ultimate team player.

DaMarcus Beasley, sorta-LM -- If anyone epitomized the USMNT's awful display it was the Beaz, who seemed to pout during the game because of his spat with coach Bruce Arena. Still, Beaz has the talent, skill and savvy to the American's best player for the next few years. Then again, he absolute no-show vs. the Czechs set an awful tone, even if he was pretty spry in the other two games.

Bobby Convey, LM ? -- He wore the No. 15 shirt! Mostly invisible vs. the Czechs and has been sidelined (seemingly) indefinitely after knee surgery. Will have to work hard to reestablish himself in the squad going forward.

Brian McBride, CF -- One of America's true noble warriors gave a game performance in the World Cup, throwing his body on the line (see our banner). Has since retired and can probably be replaced with the current stable of forwards. Hopefully.

Subs:

Eddie Johnson, CF -- Continues to be an enigma. (Sorry to keep typing that.)

John O'Brien, Mid. -- Much like Daniel Simpson Day, whereabouts unknown.

Josh Wolff, For. -- No impact in Germany, but probably pretty underrated for his career. Likely won't feature in the future now that he's plying his trade for 2. Bundesliga squad TSV 1860 Munich.

It's interesting to note that only: Donovan, Beasley, Johnson, Oneywu and perhaps Convey if healthy will factor for the National Team going forward. Cherundolo might play here and there, too. And come 2010, who knows.

Coach:

Bruce Arena -- Arena took the brunt of the blame for the lackluster showing in Germany. Yes, I'll finally admit, he did contribute to it. Yet in a lot of ways a perfect storm was brewing against him. It didn't help that he bashed both the US Soccer Federation and MLS on the way out after his justified firing. As good as he was orchestrating the surprise run to the 2002 quarterfinals, he was probably equally as bad in the Germany crashout. Currently with the Red Bulls in MLS.

So, there you have it.

Has the National Team program turned the page from 2006?

Not yet entirely, but it's getting close. There are some subtle signs for excitement. (Admittedly, after much of what I wrote in June 2006, and subsequence months it might seem like a shock.)

Yes the team is only playing in the Gold Cup, but results -- if not the actual -- play have been good. Under Bradley the team has yet to lose (6-0-1 before tonight's game with El Salvador), of course the opponents have not been world beaters. Of course, many American fans have a hard-on for playing the European powers, the only way that's going to happen in a meaningful game is winning the Gold Cup and gaining entry into the Confederations Cup where Italy and the 2008 Euro champ will be waiting.

And it can't be said enough, the USMNT won't have a World Cup game on European soil until the year 2018 at the very earliest.

Until then, the United States are, like it or not, the biggest fish in the smallest pond.

There is no conceivable way to drop the United States into Europe. Our delicious, fast-food culture, maybe. But our soccer team? Nope. We're stuck with Mexico and a bunch of jobbers.

Now I've been mostly negative to suspicious since Bradley took over with the whole botched Jurgen Klinsman thing. (Read the archives for all that.) Still, he's done a good job -- like Bruce Arena -- adding new faces into the National Team mix.

Are his tactics innovative, no? But it's a pretty small sample size. Above all, he's trying to build team bonding and team spirit, which has proven to be a huge factor in all winning teams throughout the course of time.

Is the team playing pretty soccer? No, not really. But the current group is finding its sea legs as a unit. There is that potential, though.

Still, we'll get the best read in the next couple of weeks, post-Gold Cup and post-Copa America. If the team performs against Argentina and maybe Brasil, people like me have to shut up and eat crow.

There are a lot of quality young Americans plying their trade in Europe and MLS that make each National Team camp worth watching. If anything, there is competition for spots. There are young legs to build behind.

Does the National Team have that missing link? The player that will simply pull the team up by the scruff of the neck and refuse to let it lose? That true midfield general? No. (Sorry, can't put the annoiting oils on Benny Feilhaber just yet.)

That's the infuriating thing about caring about the American soccer program. For every positive. For every question answered, there seems to be two or three unknowns on the horizon, itching below the surface. And maybe that's not a bad thing. It keeps you talking.

So, in the final analysis, a year after one of the worst days in American soccer history (No. 1 is losing to Iran at France 1998) have we made progress? Have we put the stinker from Gelsenkirchen behind us? Is there reason for optimism?

Don't stop.

(Sorry, copped out with the ending from the David Chase school of drama.)

________________

World's quickest Gold Cup preview. Tonight's game in Foxborough, Mass., vs. El Salvador carries no weight. It'd be nice to see the Nats thump a team convincingly, 4-0. Even if they don't, it will be hard to read anything into a game that figures to be played at half speed.

Labels: Soccer, USMNT