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| Thursday, November 21, 2002 20:58 EST |
Simply the best
By Marc Connolly
[ESPN.com]
With the victory over El Salvador on November 17, the U.S. National Team finished off the year with a 12-6-2 mark. Reaching a dozen wins marks the highest total in the 86-year history of the team.
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Brad Friedel came up big against South Korea and throughout the World Cup. (Reuters) |
Is it a number anyone will remember a year, if not a month, from now? Of course not.
What will be reminisced about for years to come by Yanks Nation are the two thrilling victories in the World Cup, the drama of building to a final 23-man roster, the satisfying but eery buzz about Bruce Arena's boys that seemed to sweep the nation during their magical three-week run in June, the middle-of-the-night wakeup calls and, well, the hair of Clint Mathis.
Hopefully, in recapping the Year That Was for the Nats, the following awards represent some highlights that will remain with you. (Argue away).
Best Player: Landon Donovan.
He was the only player to take part in every game for the National Team this year. Yet, it was his play alone in the Gold Cup and World Cup alone that earns him this award. Go through history and try to find another 20-year-old anywhere around the globe who showed up at a World Cup looking already like a seasoned veteran and was able to shine while playing four different positions (striker, a left midfielder, central midfielder and right midfielder).
Best World Cup Player: Brad Friedel.
Shrek! Saving two PKs in consecutive games was ridiculous. It just doesn't happen. At any level. Outside of Oliver "King" Kahn, there was no one on the planet you wanted in the net this summer. Even the most high and mighty Brit secretly wishes that Friedel could wear three lions on his shirt for Euro 2004.
Best Moment: John O'Brien's goal against Portugal.
Say what you want about what followed in that match as well as against Mexico in the Round of 16 game, but this tally set the tone for everything. It didn't stop traffic in Europe, but if there was ever a time to make calls to wake up your friends in the middle of the night because something truly special was in the making, it was on that fateful morning after his fourth-minute strike. I know I did.
Worst Moment: Chris Armas going down.
The stands at RFK Stadium had long since emptied after the U.S. downed Uruguay 2-0 on a beautiful May afternoon when word came down that the team's defensive midfielder tore his right ACL and would be lost for the Cup. I got the call on the drive back to New York City and sensed doom. If you had told me right then and there that his injury would mean the inclusion of Pablo Mastroeni in the starting lineup, I would have predicted a three-and-out showing in the Far East. Fortunately, Mastro played out of his mind and gave the U.S. midfield an improved new look.
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John O'Brien's early goal against Portugal set the tone for the whole tournament. (Gary M. Prior/Getty Images) |
Best Goal: Mathis' strike against South Korea.
Mathis took a John O'Brien ball from the left side and trapped it with ease with his right foot to perfectly set up a left-footed half-volley. His shot from the top of the 18 ripped into the side netting before the mohawked striker tore into a celebratory run where he blew a kiss. Back home, Jack Edwards's call rang loud and true -- "That's why he's here." Exactly.
Worst Goal/Best Side Volley: Jeff Agoos' own goal against Portugal.
We can laugh about it. Now.
Best Goal Celebration: Anything by Bruce Arena.
C'mon, no back flip, airplane run or mini-dance routine could equal the awkward, yet endearing, David Duval-in-the-Ryder Cup pump-fist moves made by the U.S. skipper throughout the Cup. Maybe it's just me, here. I don't know.
Worst Goal Celebration: Mathis against Jamaica.
The U.S. striker launched into what looked like a cross between Antoine Walker's ridiculous "shake" and Mark Madsen's championship parade dance after he scored against the Reggae Boyz in May in front of his MetroStars fans at the Meadowlands. Some might even say he injured his toe during this monstrosity.
Best Coaching Decision: Sticking with Tony Sanneh.
Gotta give it to Arena with this one. He stuck with the much-maligned right back when it seemed as though no one else in the country agreed with him. Sanneh not only came alive in the three May friendlies to solidify his starting role, but was one of the top three or four players on the U.S. side throughout the World Cup.
Worst Coaching Decision: Tie. 1. Sticking with Agoos too long. 2. Carrying David Regis on the roster.
How Goose started against Poland after his poor play against Portugal and S. Korea is still a mystery to me. Loyalty has to stop at one point or another. As for Regis, the moment Arena knew that Regis couldn't be counted upon -- no matter how late in the spring it came -- he should have selected another player to travel with the squad. Roster spots are too crucial in the World Cup with injuries and cards. (Think of what would have happened in the back if the U.S. downed Germany and had to play without Mastroeni, Gregg Berhalter and Eddie Pope.)
Most Unsung Player: Brian McBride.
All the U.S. veteran did this year was score 6 goals, trailing only Mathis (7), and lead the team in assists (3). They were timely strikes, as well, as four came in the Gold Cup and the other two were scored in the World Cup - both world-class finishes. As a target man, McBride takes the most knocks, makes the most unselfish runs to clear space on the team and never dies down no matter how much time is left in the match.
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Brian McBride was a big key to the Americans' success in 2002. (Reuters) |
Ok, on to the fun categories.
Best Hair: Donovan's on his Bobblehead doll.
It looks like a bunch of McDonald's french fries. But, hey, it works.
Worst Hair: Mastro's cropped look.
He went from dreads-wearing chill to a private school-ish, Reyna lookalike.
Best American with an English Accent: Friedel.
This could be named the "John Harkes Award" as well. We expect our players in the English league to come home saying things like "Have a go" or "Brilliant!', but Friedel now sounds more English than Tony Blair. Michael Caine is even jealous.
Best Boot Room Moment Of The Year As Told By Jeff Bradley: "January 19, at the Rose Bowl. Time is running out on the U.S. in its Gold Cup match with South Korea. The score is tied, 1-1, and we're well into injury time. Suddenly, the U.S. is on the move. A ball is played over the top to Jeff Cunnningham, who plays a looping one-touch ball to his left, into the stride of a sprinting DaMarcus Beasley. Without hesitation, Beasley nails a left footed volley into the near-side upper 90 and the U.S. has snatched a victory. Before this moment, the thought that Beasley, who would barely turn 20 before the World Cup, would be on the national team roster, seems a longshot. After this amazing goal, he never looks back on his way to a spot in Bruce Arena's starting 11 vs. Portugal."
Best Celebrity Fan: Ethan Zohn.
The "Survivor: Africa" winner also survived Korea, as he was with the team for the entire month of June. His postings on "Ethan Zohn's Zone" on the U.S. Soccer website instantly became popular, as his behind-the-scenes access was second to none and presented everything in a non-pretentious way and from a fan's viewpoint.
Weirdest World Cup Moment By Said Celebrity Fan: "Watching Tony Meola make a fool out of himself by playing drums with this crappy Aussie band in the hotel bar while the rest of the team played pool." (Thanks, EZ.)
Worst Celebrity Fan: Tie. Jim Rome and Frank Deford
We're not trying to take over ESPN, Sunday football or America's Pastime, guys. If you don't care for the sport, fine. Just leave it alone.
Best Christmas Gift You Might Get: The "Our Way" DVD.
This behind-the-scenes chronology of the American team and its World Cup travels is a must-have. I've heard about some of the unique footage straight from the U.S. Soccer staff members, so you'll have to trust me on this. It comes out on Dec. 18.
Best Christmas Gift You Won't Get: "The Giorgio and Eric Show" DVD.
Someone needs to put Chinaglia and Wynalda in a studio together to show highlights with no other format or rules to follow. Just let them flow. It'd be a cross between the "Extra Time", "The Osbournes" and "PTI." You'd watch, admit it.
Marc Connolly covers soccer for ESPN.com. He can be reached at shaketiller10@yahoo.com.
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