Claudio Reyna took over the No. 10 shirt and the main captaincy of the team at the beginning of the 2002 cycle, holding onto both through 2006.
Though he missed the 3-2 upset of Portugal in the 2002 opener, Reyna played every minute of the next four matches, leading to the team’s memorable quarterfinal run. The central midfielder showed his versatility in the Round of 16 clash with Mexico, with his ability to slot in at right wingback key in Bruce Arena’s decision to switch to a 3-5-2 formation. Reyna was instrumental in Brian McBride’s opening goal that day, when he also became the only USMNT player to captain the side in a World Cup Knockout Round win.
Four years later, Reyna joined Kasey Keller as the first USMNT players to make four World Cup rosters and became the only player to captain the USMNT in two World Cups, wearing the armband for all three matches in Germany. The day after suffering an injury which forced him out of the group finale against Ghana, Reyna was one of three players to announce their international retirement. Father to current USMNT attacker, Gio, Claudio is one of seven players to earn double-digit World Cup appearances, while the seven matches he captained are the most of any American man.
A teammate of Reyna’s in 2002 and 2006, Landon Donovan shined wearing the No. 10 in South Africa. His 47th minute goal against Slovenia sparked the team’s comeback from a 2-0 halftime deficit, but also made him the third American male to score at multiple World Cups.
He was responsible for perhaps the most memorable moment in USMNT lore in the following match, when his stoppage time winner against Algeria kept the USA from a group-stage exit, instead pushing the team to its first top of the group finish since 1930. In the Knockout Round against Ghana, Donovan became the only USMNT player to score in three-consecutive World Cup matches, and also the first to score from the penalty spot, with his 62nd minute equalizer pushing the match to extra time.
1990: Peter Vermes – 3 GP / 270 MINS
1994: Roy Wegerle – 4 GP / 103 MINS
1998: Tab Ramos – 2 GP/ 78 MINS
2002: Claudio Reyna – 4 GP / 360 MINS
2006: Claudio Reyna – 3 GP / 220 MINS
2010: Landon Donovan – 4 GP / 390 MINS / 3 GOALS
2014: Mix Diskerud - DNP
USMNT #11 – BRENDEN AARONSON
After making his USMNT debut that February, Eric Wynalda (pictured below) began a string of three consecutive FIFA World Cups as the team’s No. 11 at Italia ‘90. The San Diego State product turned 21 the day before the tournament opener, and showed his frustration with the team’s 3-0 deficit when he shoved Czecholslovakia’s Lubomir Moravcik from behind. Swiss referee Kurt Röthlisberger showed Wynalda a straight red card in the 52nd minute, forcing the USA down to 10 men and him out of the next match against Italy.
We're continuing our countdown of the top moments in FIFA World Cup history 🙌
Up next, No. 100: @USMNT forward Eric Wynalda's 1994 free kick vs Switzerland 🇺🇸🚀 (Sponsored by @qatarairways #QatarAirways) pic.twitter.com/tE4rZnGZ4B
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 12, 2022
Wynalda returned in the group finale against Austria, but would make amends in the tournament opener on home soil four years later. After Switzerland’s Georges Bregy opened the scoring via a 39th minute free kick, Wynalda returned the favor to equalize just before halftime, rocketing a 25-yard free kick into the top left corner to energize the 73,000+ in attendance at the Pontiac Silverdome.
"To be honest, I was almost in disbelief," he said of the goal that gave the USA its first World Cup point in 44 years. "I did not know how to react after it went in...It was the greatest goal of my life."
Wynalda appeared in all four matches at World Cup ’94, and played twice more in France ’98, where his start in the tournament opener against Germany made him the first USMNT player to appear in three World Cups.
"though" - Google News
November 14, 2022 at 10:02PM
https://ift.tt/LJDjaSx
World Cup Numbers: Exploring USMNT Tournament History Though the Digits Players Wore on the Biggest Stage - U.S. Soccer
"though" - Google News
https://ift.tt/hDuSZm3
https://ift.tt/BntcxQe
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "World Cup Numbers: Exploring USMNT Tournament History Though the Digits Players Wore on the Biggest Stage - U.S. Soccer"
Post a Comment