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http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/02/en/020731/2/1cak.html
From the introduction of the North American Soccer League (NASL) in the 1970s, the unveiling of legends Pele, Beckenbauer and Cruyff to the staging of the 1994 FIFA World Cup USA™ there have been may false dawns in the history of US soccer. But while glitz and razzmatazz have never been wanting, substance significantly has. That is until now. In Korea/Japan, Bruce Arena's young guns rode in from the wild west and blazed a trail of glory to reach the quarter-finals.
From the opening three-goal assault on Victor Baia's Portuguese goal to their bombardment of Oliver Kahn's German net, the Americans played with a dash and panache few matched in the tournament. Since finishing 32 out of 32 four years previously, their rise in technical ability as much as final standing has been simply awesome.
Biggest soccer audience
But the final word in a land of plenty is whether success on the field has been reflected by popularity off it. Early indications appear good with the United States-Germany quarter-final attracting 3.8 million homes on ESPN - the biggest soccer audience ever on the network despite its 7:30 a.m. eastern time start. The USA-Mexico Round of 16 match also pulled in record figures of 4.2m viewers on the nation's biggest Spanish-language broadcaster, Univision Network. Now players virtually unheard of before their trip to the East have become American sporting idols overnight.
"The goal has always been to get a broader audience, and I think we accomplished that," said star striker Landon Donovan, making an appearance on Late Night with David Letterman as part of a talk-show circuit. "Everything's just crazy right now but the question to be answered next is: are they going to stay with us?"
For years, commentators have been scratching their heads wondering why soccer, the country's most participated sport, does not attract greater viewing figures than the 200,000 households that tune in to ESPN's coverage of Major League Soccer. But while ratings have been less than impressive, the FIFA World Cup has amply demonstrated that the plethora of highly talented youngsters spawned by the seven-year-old league has been huge.
Captain America
The sights of Donovan nutmegging established campaigners with a Zidane-like grace, DaMarcus Beasley tricking his way past wily defenders and captain America Claudio Reyna brushing off opponents to orchestrate attacks are ones the US public has never been familiar with.
The hope now is that the performances of Bruce Arena's boys in the East will at long last create the springboard for the game in the world's richest nation to take off. But success may come at a price for the MLS as a swarm of European clubs buzz around the league's up and coming talents. Not a day goes by without striker Clint Mathis linked with a money-spinning move while the still 20-year-old Donovan has been ordered back to Bayer Leverkusen following his loan spell at San Jose Earthquakes.
However many of the players are willing to sacrifice big bucks to drive the wave of success back home. Donovan, typifying the mindset of his colleagues after an emotional welcome home from the tournament, has been the first to openly declare his commitment to the MLS.
New Chapter
"I don't want to go back and sit on the bench for five years," he says of the German club that signed him at 16. "My experience was pretty bad in Germany and sometimes I think no matter where I go, it's going to be the same way. I love my life in San Jose."
As in Korea/Japan many of the stars that sparkled in the lands of the morning calm and rising sun, are expected to follow his lead. And with a virtual assembly line of young players coming through the MLS, the outlook has never looked so bright for US soccer. With the implications for the world game equally as huge, the first finals of the 21st century could well have written a new chapter in FIFA's football book. |
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