The opposition may be frightful, the competition intense, the stakes enormous, but the group that will represent the United States in the Olympic men’s soccer competition couldn’t care less. That might be the best manner in which to approach the Sydney Games – no worries, no hassles – considering what the Yanks are up against. And the primary aim of Clive Charles and his crew is this: Let’s have fun. The idea is that a relaxed, potentially overlooked U.S. team – one possessing exceptional chemistry – could turn into Cinderella. Such transformation may be required just to advance from Group C into the quarterfinals – a feat U.S. teams have never accomplished.

No easy foes in first round

The prevailing wisdom counts these Americans out. Cameroon, even at less than full strength, has a golden aura, and the Czechs are thinking medal, too. And the buzz on Kuwait was positive, at least until a 6-0 loss to Japan in early September. It’s a difficult proposition, so why not have a blast? “The game is supposed to be enjoyed,” says Charles, whose easygoing manner and loyalty to his players have played an integral part in building the squad’s unity. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m as competitive as the next person. It’s just every time I see a good team play, if it’s playing well, it looks like it’s enjoying itself. “Why shouldn’t we go out there with that attitude?” “You’ve got to remember,” reminds midfielder Sasha Victorine, “Clive was involved with the last World Cup team, and he went through the problems the last World Cup team faced. He tells us, ‘I promised myself if I ever get into this kind of situation again, I’m going to have fun. I’ll make it where I have fun and the players have fun.’ He said the last World Cup wasn’t fun.” Charles was an assistant to Steve Sampson at France ’98, where a squabbling U.S. squad finished last. He won’t entertain the topic. “That’s over with,” he says. “We shouldn’t even be discussing it.” They can dream, and they do. Charles’ charges’ chief aim is to reach the second round, but they’d love to do more. “I think it would be awesome for us to get to the semifinals, whether we won or lost,” offered winger Joey DiGiamarino. “Just to have the chance to play in a medal game – that would be awesome. Coming home with a medal would be amazing. “You know, if we sneak out of our group, we’re already in the quarters. Just get another win and we’re in a medal game. I think that’s pretty realistic for our team.” Advancing from the group stage may prove tough enough, and history is hardly on the Yanks’ team. No U.S. team has advanced a round, unless you count George Buford’s 1924 Paris Olympians. They won just one game – 1-0 over Estonia – but it took them from the preliminary round to the first round, where Uruguay and a 3-0 loss awaited. It would take another seven appearances in the Games before the Americans posted another win, in 1984 against Costa Rica. They’ve won just twice since, over Kuwait in ’92 and Tunisia in ’96. In each of those three tournaments, the U.S posted a win, a loss and a tie, and failed to advance. This group is the most professionally experienced U.S. team to compete in the Summer Games, for what that’s worth. All but one are pros, four in Europe, and 15 of the 18 have competed in a FIFA world championship event, most at the U-17 or U-20 level.

Overage players add experience

Only five – goalkeeper Brad Friedel and defenders Jeff Agoos and Frankie Hejduk, the overage players, plus midfielders John O’Brien and Ben Olsen – have noteworthy experience with the full national team. Cameroon’s preliminary roster included 10 players from the team that won the African Nations Cup this past winter. “That’s what we expected all along,” said defender Danny Califf of U.S. foes’ credentials. “We’re going to be playing against guys who are on the top clubs of the world, playing for their full national team. It’s definitely a step up, but everything depends on how we react to that. If we can stay solid in the back and finish some of our chances, the games can go either way.” Says Charles: “This team can go as far as it wants to go. I believe the team feels it can go all the way, and that’s what’s important. If that’s what the team believes, I’m right there with them.” Most essential will be the squad’s defensive performance. Charles has an outstanding group of U-23 forwards – Chris Albright, Conor Casey, Landon Donovan and Josh Wolff – some attack-minded midfielders, such as Ben Olsen and John O’Brien, and speed on the flanks, especially when Albright shifts wide. Chances, they figure, will come. Defense is an uncertainty. Charles used all four of his overage selections – his initial three, plus Friedel after Chris Armas pulled out – to bolster things in the back, in part out of necessity. Injury forced out right back Steve Cherundolo in May, leading to Hejduk’s inclusion. Agoos was brought in to cover left back Ramiro Corrales’ defensive deficiencies. Charles has displayed confidence in his central pairing of captain Brian Dunseth and Chad McCarty, even with Dunseth’s struggles at New England. Armas was the key man, meant to pester opposing playmakers and defuse trouble before it challenged the backline. His loss can be covered, but it means a different role for the versatile O’Brien. No. 1 goalkeeper Adin Brown’s absence to injury offers no damage; Friedel’s addition could prove pivotal. So, what is this team truly capable of accomplishing? “No idea,” answers Agoos, who debuted with the U-23s during a July friendly against English First Division club Bolton. “It’s hard to put your finger on something like that until you get into the competition and see where you stand.” The Americans find out Sept. 13, when they face the Czechs in Canberra. They face Cameroon on Sept. 16 in Canberra, then finish up group play Sept. 19 against Kuwait in Melbourne. “I’ve kind of been telling people about the three games,” Albright says. “I think the Czech game is about getting a result. The Cameroon game can kind of go either way, and Kuwait: We should win. … Just from the stereotypes we know about the countries. That’s how I’m looking at it.” Albright was, along with Califf, on the U.S. U-20 team that beat Cameroon at last year’s World Youth Championship in Nigeria. His impression was of a talented but disorganized Lions team already assured of a place in the second round. Dunseth played against a Czech Republic team at the Toulon Festival in France during his time with the U-20s. “They were a big team, very talented,” he says. Kuwait, he says, should be similar to Armenia, whose senior team lost to the U-23s in January. “I’d be satisfied,” Charles says, “if we play very well all three games, and let the results be what they will be. As a coach, the only thing you can ask is to play well. That way, if you lose, you got beat by a better team.” “We’re going there to have fun and try to prove something,” says Califf. “If it doesn’t happen, then we come home and play for our clubs, and it was a great experience.” by Soccer America senior editor Scott French.