U.S.A. men’s Olympic preview
Can `college all-stars,’ with a sprinkling of veterans, reach the second round?
U.S. Olympic history? Colorful and unsuccessful.
In its first attempt, in 1924, Boston Daily Globe columnist George Matthew Collins coached the team. He had used a pseudonym as a player so his worrying wife wouldn’t know he was risking re-injury to a previously broken leg. As coach, he trained the U.S. on the deck of the S.S. America during the 10-day trip to Paris, where the Americans exited after its second game.
Nine more U.S. teams played in the Olympic Games — none reached the second round.
In 1928, the U.S. trailed 4-0 in the first half against Argentina. It lost one man to an injury — no substitutions back then — and goalkeeper Al Cooper took a shot to the head that erased his first-half memories. He didn’t know it was the second half as the Argentines scored seven more.
Already eliminated before its final game in 1972, the U.S. fielded its second string against West Germany. In his autobiography, goalkeeper Shep Messing claimed he made 63 saves in the 7-0 loss.
In 1984, the U.S. Soccer Federation’s late decision to field pros meant cuts two hours before roster deadlines for amateur players — including Tab Ramos and Paul Caligiuri — who had spent as long as 18 months in training. The U.S. pros didn’t come through — and afterward they played their last outdoor season in the NASL, which folded that year.
Caligiuri played in the 1988 Games, but only after surviving a crash in the car that was taking him to the U.S. camp; it rolled after the Korean driver fell asleep. The U.S. tied Argentina 1-1, then was hit by food poisoning that sidelined several stars. It was eliminated by the Soviet Union, eventual gold medalist in that nation’s last Olympics.
1992? Soccer got nationwide headlines when coach Lothar Osiander benched Steve Snow — the best U.S. goalscorer ever at the youth level — and their war of words after a loss to Italy entertained the nation. Snow scored in the next two games, but the U.S. went home.
Certainly by American standards, Osiander’s stint as coach, which also included 1988, was acceptable. But not to federation head Alan Rothenberg.
Unacceptable results cost coaches their jobs
Osiander’s 1992 team graduated seven players to the 1994 World Cup team, and more than half are now active in MLS. But Rothenberg, whose involvement in 1984 Olympic soccer tournament was the genesis to his career as soccer czar, was bitterly disappointed at the 1992 first-round exit. He made Osiander persona non grata.
Timo Liekoski was given a year with the Olympic team before getting the sack last October.
Liekoski was the victim of an change in federation policy; it hardly had history of reacting swiftly after poor results.
Liekoski’s team flopped at the Pan American Games in March 1995 — three losses, no goals scored — and he finished ninth at the lowly University Games. He met the axe days before he was to move into the team’s full-time training camp.
Bruce Arena, the federation outsider who shot from the hip when he criticized the system, became an insider. The fact he won five NCAA championships at Virginia– an unprecedented four straight in the 1990s — with players in a similar age group (under-23) as those required for the Olympic tournament made him the obvious replacement for Liekoski.
But things got complicated when he also took the job as head coach of the MLS’s D.C. United.
When Liekoski was hired, he too had double-duty; U.S. Soccer had also made him responsible for coaching and player development. At the time, Arena told Soccer America, “I feel he has been given too many hats. No man can do all that … Timo needs to focus on the Olympic team and I’m surprised he has so many duties.”
Arena’s ability to wear two hats without dropping one in the gutter was made possible by assistant Glenn Myernick, who handled the team when Arena and dual assistant Bob Bradley were with United, and an accommodating federation, which moved the U.S. team to the capital alongside Arena’s pros.
D.C. United recovered from a slow start and the Olympic has gotten results.
Did D.C. United’s early tribulations inhibit Arena’s work with the Olympians?
“Not at all,” Arena said. “You’re dealing with two different teams and two different issues on how you develop each team.”
But the strength of U.S. first-round opponents — Argentina, Tunisia and Portugal — should keep smart money away from a U.S. second-round appearance.
“We got a heck of a challenge,” Arena said. “Our draw is a difficult one.
“Our goal is clearly to get into the second round. The other goal is to be competitive and play good soccer. I think it’s important that we play well … not that we wouldn’t just take results either, I might add.”
Only four games against Olympic field
The U.S. did not have the benefit of qualification play — as host, it got an automatic spot — to become accustomed to the pressure of competition. But its preparation was as extensive: more than 30 games against other U-23 national teams, USISL, A-League, MLS and foreign clubs.
Trying to read anything into the results is futile. All games were exhibitions and only four came against Olympic qualifiers: South Korea (0-0), Mexico (2-3), Saudi Arabia (0-0) and Nigeria (0-0).
The U.S. lost just six games in 1996, including its first, a scrimmage with the full U.S. team.
“I think we had a plan from the beginning and we’ve stuck to that plan,” Arena said. “We felt the first three months were important to establish ourselves, develop our good work ethic within our team, develop our confidence, and to really get a really good feel for all of our players and let the players get a feel for our coaching staff as to what was expected.
“The months of April and May were really devoted to moving back east, getting our players continued experienced — a good number of them with Major League Soccer.
“June and July have been devoted to finalizing our roster, to introducing overage players and to preparing for our first-round games.
“It’s been a gradual process that was planned early. The team has gone according to schedule.
“Hopefully we’re moving in the right direction and come July 20 we’re capable of giving Argentina a game, which I think a year ago we couldn’t say that. I think we’ve made tremendous improvement.”
To compare the U.S. against its opponents based on the players’ experience reveals an absurd mismatch.
Argentina, for example, will field a back four that plays in the Italian First Division and its playmaker, Ariel Ortega, is a 22-year-old who played in the 1994 World Cup, 1995 Copa America and just helped River Plate win the Libertadores Cup — South America’s biggest prize for club teams.
Frankie Hejduk, 22, has been the most consistent player during the past six months in U.S. preparation, but has never played in a game that really mattered, outside of an NCAA quarterfinal. Jovan Kirovski’s admirable toil in England was restricted to youth and reserve team play.
Pro experience minimal on U.S. team
You have to look at the three U.S. wild-card players to find any substantial pro experience, outside a few kicks others have had in upstart MLS.
One of the wild-card spots — designed for overage players — went to of-age Claudio Reyna, 23, who was otherwise ineligible due his participation in the last Olympics. Reyna won his starting spot with Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen just last year.
“I can’t believe there are too many better soccer players in our country and he’s [Reyna] certainly a big part of our team,” Arena said.
Very well, but goalkeeper Kasey Keller is the only U.S. player with a long pro history. While Alexi Lalas was dropped by Italian First Division Padova after 18 months, Keller has played in the second tier of English League since 1991. Keller is one of the best keepers at the tournament.
To find more hope you have to dig a bit. At the last Olympics, U.S. collegians met an Italian team in the opener that had young millionaires like Dino Baggio and Demetrio Albertini on the team.
The U.S. lost, but looked the better team in the second half.
As for the prospect of mighty Argentina, the U.S. has had two successes against it — a 1-1 tie at the 1988 Olympics and a 3-0 win at the 1995 Copa America. Paul Caligiuri, the only player who started in both those games, has this advice for the young Americans he’ll be watching July 20:
“The ball never gets tired. And teams like Argentina depend on possession. But U.S. players are superior athletes, and if they cut down Argentina’s possession they can battle Argentina to the breaking point.”
“Superior athletes” may be a stretch, but perhaps the long Argentine season (and Libertadores Cup campaign for the four River Plate players) and dual duty with both Olympic and World Cup qualifying teams will mean a tired Argentina arrives in Birmingham, Ala.
Also, most of the Argentines arrive in the 90-degree, humid U.S. weather from their winter.
Arena has said he has emphasized possession play since he took the team over, but each of the U.S. opponents is long on skill.
Caligiuri again: “Argentina is not so superior in the technical aspect. They have players who are better with some individual skills, but we have skillful players, too.”
U.S. national team coach Steve Sampson has pointed out that skill translates into success at a high level only when players play skillfully quickly.
Imad Baba and Damian Silvera looked like Maradonas against other Americans their age. A.J. Wood could miss a hat-full of chances in college and still hit a hat trick. At the University of North Carolina, Eddie Pope outraced forwards like he was Carl Lewis.
What happens when they clash with seasoned pros — men who were pulling down six-figure salaries while the American players were still going to the library after practice?
Just another question that will be answered during three crucial games in five days in July.
Mike Woitalla is a senior editor of Soccer America.