Talk football with Americans these days and the names Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Roger Goodell are front and center. Next month, though, many Americans just might have Tim Howard, Landon Donovan and Bob Bradley on the tips of their tongues.
The United States is in good position to get out of the first round of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, paired with England, Algeria and Slovenia. Should the Americans advance, it would be the latest highlight for a nation where soccer isn't quite mainstream, but is getting there. Some other big moments for the U.S.:
---
-U.S. team makes semifinals in first World Cup, 1930. The Americans travel to Uruguay - a shorter trip than the European soccer powers, with Italy, Germany, England and Spain among those not on hand. A pair of 3-0 victories, over Belgium and Paraguay, carry the Americans into the final four, where they are routed by Argentina, 6-1. Still, it's a better performance than any non-South American team.
-USA 1, England 0. Yes, it actually did happen, in 1950, even if many newspapers in the UK thought the score was transposed when it came over the wires. In the Englishmen's first trip to the tournament, the United States was an opening-round breather for them, a romp on their way to greater glory. Then keeper Frank Bourghi and Haitian immigrant Joe Gaetjens got in the way. Gaetjens' diving header gave the Americans the lead, and Bourghi made several spectacular saves as England piled on the pressure. When the final whistle sounded, fans in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, carried Bourghi and Gaetjens off the field.
Alas for the Americans, it was their only special moment - for another 40 years.
-Americans return to World Cup, 1990. The highlight came long before the U.S. team landed in Italy. In fact, there wasn't much to remember about Italia '90 itself, with three losses by a combined 8-2. But just qualifying was the big deal, the first trip to the tournament in 40 years, secured on Paul Caligiuri's goal against Trinidad and Tobago. It's still considered something of a turning point for U.S. soccer.
-United States hosts World Cup, 1994. Not only did the Americans advance to the second round, then perform well in a 1-0 loss to eventual champion Brazil on July 4, but they staged a rousingly successful tournament. A surplus of $50 million was applied to the sport in the United States following the event.
-Mighty Portugal falls, 3-2, 2002. Concerns about landing in a group with highly ranked Portugal, co-host South Korea and Poland quickly were erased. The U.S. team strikes early, takes a 3-0 lead on the Portuguese and holds on for the victory. John O'Brien's goal gets the Americans started, then Landon Donovan's shot deflects into the net and Brian McBride also connects. The win and a tie with the South Koreans lifts the United States into the second round.
-Dominating the big rival, 2002. Mexico once owned CONCACAF soccer, but not after the second-round World Cup meeting with the Americans. Goals by McBride and Donovan and solid goalkeeping by Brad Friedel lead to a convincing 2-0 victory that stamps the United States as the region's best. In the quarterfinals, the Americans outplay Germany for much of the match, but fall 1-0.
