Red Letter Days
by Michael Lewis
fense that allowed only four goals In 10
qualifying matches. He eventually was
named United States Soccer Federa
tion Player of the Year.
Midfielder John Harkes, who did
not score a goal, but more importantly
seemed to be in the right place at the
right time all over the field.
And goalkeeper Tony Meola, a
sophomore at the University of Vir
ginia who stepped right into the No. 1
job and recorded four consecutive shut
outs.
So, at the World Cup draw in Decem
ber. having joined an elite, 24-team
club called Italia '90, the U.S. delega
tion, several thousand spectators at
the Palazzo dello Sport in Rome, and a
worldwide television audience esti
mated at 500 million, waited in antici
pation to discover who the U.S. oppo
nents would be.
The Palazzo held quite a cast of char
acters, including opera singer Luciano
Pavarotti, actress Sophia Loren, active
player Ruben Sosa of Uruguay, former
stars Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Bobby
Moore, Daniel Passarella, Bruno Conti
and, of course, the incomparable Pele.
Worldwide attention was focused on
Loren as she selected the very first
team of the draw - the United States.
The U.S. would play in heavily favored
Italy's group. The two additional oppo
nents, were eventually revealed as
Czechoslovakia and Austria.
"First of all, we feel fantastic about
being here," U.S. coach Bob Gansler
said minutes after the draw. "Over 100
countries out there would love to be a
part of this. It's going to be a grand
experience."
That grand experience will begin
Sunday, June 10 against Czechoslo
vakia in Florence. While they do not
have the international reputation of an
Italy, Czechoslovakia should not be
taken lightly. The Eastern European
country finished second in the 1934
and 1962 World Cups and has some
prime veteran players, including de
fender Michal Bilek, midfielder Jozef
Chovanec, the heir to midfielder Ronald
Koeman at PSV Eindhoven (The Neth
erlands) and forward Lubos Kubik,
who should be one of the most popular
players in Florence because he plays
for Florentina.
Italy, theJune 14 opponent in Rome,
admittedly will be a tough adversary
with its usual stingy defense (14-2-1
record, 12 shutouts, 36 goals for, only
eight against in 17 home matches)
behind goalkeeper Walter Zenga and
defender France Baresi, and an oppor-
good for us."
The challenge is to reach the second
round.
"History tells us that in the last
World Cup two teams got into the sec
ond round on three points and two
teams advanced on two points,"
Gansler said. "We're going to have to
set our goals somewhere in that range.
tunistic attack led by forward Gianlucca
Vialli.
The Austrian attack, which will meet
the solid U.S. defense on June 19 in
Florence, revolves around striker Toni
Polster, who is challenging Mexican
star Hugo Sanchez for the scoring lead
in the tough Spanish First Division
and who has collected 13 goals in 32
matches. Heribert Weber, who has
worn the Austrian colors 68 times, an
chors the defense.
"Italy obviously is the favorite,"
Gansler said. 'They are one of the best
soccer nations in the world. It's going
to be a challenge. All these matches are
We always believe in setting realistic
goals."
Can the U.S. reach those goals and
pull off an upset or two? Don't be sur
prised if the Americans add another
red-letter day or two to its burgeoning
list of already amazing achievements.
Just stay tuned in June.
Soccer Week, New York
photo by Phil Stephens
USA National Team 21
