European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 17, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 36 the stars and stripes sports Friday june 17,1994heat s on . In indoor opener by Jere Longman the new York times. The world cup runs feverishly for a month but the United states is cramming Alt of its aspirations into the first 90 minutes. ,. A. The Hopes of advancing to the second round the future of a professional soccer league in this country the galvanizing of Public interest May rest almost entirely on the outcome of the american opener against Switzerland on saturday at the Pontiac Silver dome. Quot How can you overstate it Quot said Hank Steinb Richcr executive director of the . Soccer federation. A Victory and organizers May a catch lightning in a bottle Quot said Alan chairman of the world cup Usa �?T94. The americans then would need Only a tic against Colombia or Romania to Advance from group play into the round of 16, when the tournament becomes single elimination. A draw in the opening match would not be entirely discouraging. A defeat would threaten the United states with Ignominy. No Host country has Ever failed to Advance beyond the first round. A a we la be collectively heartbroken if we done to get through Quot Steinbrucher said. Getting to the second round of course is not exactly As lofty As the goals of Brazil and Germany who each want to win a fourth world cup title. Two thirds of the 24 finalists will Advance. And the americans will have some advantages. First they re playing at Home. And unlike their last exhibition at the Rose bowl against Mexico where approximately 90,000 of the 91,123 in attendance were cheering for the visitors the americans will actually play their opener in front of a Friendly if polite crowd. A i Hope our 60,000 fans arc louder than 20,000 Swiss with cowbells a Steinb Richcr said. Second the Silver dome outside of Detroit lacks air conditioning. The americans believe that the Swiss May Wilt in the Sticky humid conditions inside the stadium which in the summer is a huge steam Bath a i Hope the temperature is 300 degrees and the humidity is 2,000 percent Quot said . Coach Bora Milutinovic the serb known As the Miracle worker. He guided Mexico the Host team to the quarterfinals in 1986, led Costa Rica to the second round in 1990 and is now trying to work his magic with the americans. Undeniably this is a More skilled team than the Callow Bunch of College kids who walked into a 5-1 ambush by Czechoslovakia in their opener at the 1990 world cup then played seared against Italy in Rome and bowed out against Austria finishing a dismal 23rd among 24 teams. Midfielders Tab Ramos and John Harkes and Forward Eric Wynalda a All holdovers from 1990 a have gained seasoning in european leagues. The United states in a practice common in All countries has also smartly signed players who Are sometimes called a passport americans a ones whose talents Are significant even if their tics to this country arc marginal. Midfielder Roy Wegerle is a South african who married an american woman. Striker Ernie Stewart and defender midfielder Thomas Dooley Are foreign born sons of american servicemen. The three of them account for much of americans offensive Potency and defensive Security. Milutinovic scrapped the Long Ball approach of Bob Gansler the coach m 1990, and instituted a latin style of Possession and Ball control. And he took the americans on a three year magical mystery tour playing 87 International matches in preparation for the world cup. Along the Way there were impressive victories Over England and Ireland a tie with Italy and an encouraging 4-3 defeat at the hands of Germany. A the first time around we were looking a lot like tourists a Ramos said of the 1990 world cup. A a it a not that Way he added a before Bora we used to run after everyone else. Now other teams have to run after us a Little we Mem a a Goat cd Alex Lalas left and goalie Tony Meola arc counted on to add some punch to the . Defense. Apr Liq Down to basics with team Usa by Grahame l. Jones the los Angeles times Mission Viejo Calif. A capsule look at the . National soccer team which opens first round play. Against Switzerland tomorrow at the Silver dome in Pontiac Mich Coachi known As the Miracle worker Bora Milutinovic coached Mexico to the quarterfinals in 1986 and Costa Rica to the second round in 1990. Style latin a lateral passing control Possession game roster goalkeepers a Tony Meola Juergen Sommer Brad Friedel. Defenders a Mike Lapper Mike Burns Cle Kooiman Marcelo Balboa Paul Caligiuri Fernando Clavijo Alexi Lalas. Midfielders a Thomas Dooley John Harkes Hugo Perez Tab Ramos Cobi Jones Joe Max Moore Mike Sorber Claudio Reyna. Forwards a Ernie Stewart Roy Wegerle Eric Wynalda Frank Kropas. Key players Meola Dooley Wynalda. Strengths not Many. The team is individually skilled but collectively weak. Wynalda Ernie Stewart and Cobi Jones have excellent Speed. There is creative ability from Tab Ramos and Claudio Reyna. Dooley reads the game Well. Meola when in form can be an above average goalkeeper. Weaknesses the players make mistakes when pressured passes go astray the Ball is booted rather aimlessly. There is a general Lack of cohesion. De fens can be turned on either flank. Midfield is forced to spend More time helping the defense than creating chances for the forwards world cup history four previous appear ances 1930, 34,50, 90. Record of 3-7-0. Best finish was third place in 1930. Outlook Victory Over Switzerland in the opening match is virtually imperative. The crowd will be behind the team in the first world cup match to be played indoors and the Swiss might be caught by Surprise. Realistically though it is difficult to see the . Team doing any better than in 1990, when it lost All three matches by a combined eight goals to two. Predicted first round finish fourth. Still this is a team where the questions far outnumber the answers. The starters against Switzerland will be playing for the first time this year As a full unit. Harkes did not return until just Over two weeks ago from his season in the English league. It should be noted though that the full squad of americans has demonstrated an ability to jell quickly on past occasions. But other issues remain unsolved. Will the americans use four defenders or five will Dooley or Marcelo Balboa sweep will Harkes play in Midfield or at right Back who will Start at striker the Fleet Stew Art or Frank Klopacs who has delivered seven goals in the last nine games the attack has lacked a finishing touch but with Wynalda and Wegerle in the starting lineup it would Likely Correct the tendency toward first half listlessness. The defense too often has been porous but Dooley calmly restored communication and cohesiveness As the sweeper against Mexico a in one game we can beat any team in the world a Milutinovic said. For the future of american soccer that one game had better be against relish their Day at Beach this time Mission Viejo Calif. A preparing for this world cup Competition is a pleasure for the americans considering their recent history. Players Are staying at the Dana Point resort a luxury hotel just 15 minutes from training Camp. Its not like four years ago when they stayed at the italian olympic Center in Sirrenia which was like a prison for White Collar criminals. A walking around or going to practice you a see All these Guys with machine guns a midfielder Tab Ramos remembered last saturday As the United states practice one week before its world cup opener against Switzerland. A that whole thing was players were isolated from their families and girlfriends who stayed at a hotel about a mile away. Players weren to allowed to have guests in Camp. But the guards were sometimes persuaded to ignore coach Bob Gansler a instructions a equipment usually worked a defender Paul Caligiuri remembered saturday. Mission Viejo in Many ways is similar to Sirrenia. The training Camp is near the Beach and its about a one hour drive from the site where the United states will play two first round games. Then it was the Ligurian sea and studio comunale in Florence. Now its the Pacific Ocean and the Rose bowl in Pasadena. A in Sirrenia it did no to feel like we were at the world cup a Caligiuri said. A we were looking for signs or anything. We were sort of out in the after finding out the training Cam staff served Only Jelly and Rolls for break fast four years ago the . Dec Gaioi imported a Cook from the nearby military base at Camp Darby and h made pancakes and muffins. But no matter How the players tried to it live Normal lives it Wasny to Home. A they need their esp Quot for wan Peter Vermes said of his teammates Thor a they need their can news a
