Captain Brian DunsethÆs ôultimate sacrificeö opened the door for Danny Califf, who was the AmericansÆ best defender in Australia.
Danny Califf arrived in Australia expecting to cheer on his teammates, ready to step in should injury or suspension sideline one of the U.S. teamÆs starting central defenders.
Instead, he was the key man in the AmericansÆ defense, disrupting opponentsÆ attacks, beating taller, more experienced forwards in the air, even scoring the critical first goal in a victory over Kuwait that enabled the Yanks to advance from the group stage for the first time in Olympic history.
Califf, one of the best defenders in the competition, got his chance when U.S. captain Brian Dunseth, his groin injury not fully healed, pulled himself from the U.S. lineup the day before the opener against the Czech Republic. As Califf shined, earning widespread praise and interest from foreign clubs, Dunseth retreated to the role Califf expected to play.
ôIÆm just extremely lucky to have the opportunity to come in and play,ö said Califf, an Orange, Calif., native who was rewarded for a sensational rookie season with the Los Angeles Galaxy by being selected the teamÆs top defender. ôBrian made the ultimate sacrifice in telling [U.S. coach] Clive [Charles] that he couldnÆt play. I obviously was the one that benefited from that. IÆve just tried to grab the opportunity with both hands and hold on as hard as I could.ö
Goalie Brad Friedel, based in England the last three seasons, admitted he knew little of Califf beforehand.
ôWhat IÆm amazed at is how well heÆs conducted himself off the field dealing with it,ö said Friedel. ôHe was told the day before [the opener], æHey, youÆre starting.Æ HeÆs played well, heÆs kept his spot, and heÆs done well every game.ö
ItÆs been noticed.
Arsenal has expressed an interest, and Bruce Arena ù who likely will give Califf a national-team call-up when the right situation presents itself ù said heÆd have chosen the University of Maryland star had he possessed the first pick in last FebruaryÆs MLS draft.
Dunseth would ædieÆ for brothers
DunsethÆs Olympic dream started fading when he pulled his groin after an MLS game in August. HeÆd hoped to recuperate fully before the AmericansÆ opener, but when he hadnÆt, he told Charles the truth.
ôHe could have lied to my face,ö Charles said. ôBut he didnÆt.ö
Dunseth was the U-23 teamÆs captain since it was first assembled by Charles more than two years ago. HeÆd never do anything, he says, to jeopardize his team.
ôI thought I might be able to fight my way through it,ö says Dunseth, ôand I pretty much did, but it got to the situation where I was having trouble turning and getting on with forwards. I didnÆt want to put the team in a situation where I get hurt and break down and have a goal scored, or 20 minutes into a game we need to use a substitution. I didnÆt want to hurt the team at all.ö
It was one of the most difficult decisions Dunseth has ever had to make, and the easiest. He was close to being ready, saying he could have played in the second game.
ôDannyÆs played unbelievable ù Chad [McCarty] and Danny have both played solid, theyÆve been a joy to watch,ö Dunseth said. ôIÆm so proud of both of them.ö
Charles says DunsethÆs decision to put the team first demonstrated why he named him captain in the first place.
ôI wonÆt lie,ö Dunseth says. ôItÆs been hard, but at the same time, these are my brothers, these are my boys. IÆve spent five years with most of them [dating to preparations for the 1997 U-20 world championship]. IÆd die for them.ö
MLS commitment: four more years
Although his inexperience showed in the 3-1 loss to Spain, which exposed him on all three goals, CaliffÆs play sparked interest from European clubs.
He wonÆt be moving overseas, though, unless somebody makes MLS an offer it canÆt refuse. Califf left Maryland after his sophomore year to sign a Project-40 contract, and heÆs got another four years on his commitment to the league.
ôEngland would be the greatest place ever to play,ö he says when told of comments by the Arsenal scout at the Olympics. ôI watch the English Premier League all the time, and it would be a dream come true to play there. But right now, I have a great thing, I have a contract with MLS, I love being in L.A., I love being at home, and I canÆt really argue with that.ö
MLS wonÆt make him a rich man, he concedes. He makes, he admits, ôcloseö to the MLS minimum wage, $24,000. He and his wife, Erin ù his high school sweetheart whom he wed in June ù were able to move out on their own only because ôshe makes more money than I doö as an assistant to 1984 Olympics chief Peter Ueberroth.
Friedel says Califf could play in the Premier League.
ôWithout a doubt,ö he says. ôThereÆs a lot of players on this team who can play in Europe in top leagues. ItÆs a shame they might not get the opportunity because they donÆt have the European Community passport, that they might not be able to get a work permit. Someone might want to take a Czech player over an American player solely because theyÆre American. But IÆll tell you, thereÆs not too many players we have here who canÆt play over there.ö
by Soccer America senior editor Scott French