U.S. pulls huge shocker

By Piet Van Leer Sports Central Columnist

The World Cup got off to a flying start when Senegal upset defending champs France 1-0 in the opening game. It was considered the largest upset since Cameroon stunned Argentina 1-0 in 1990.

That all changed when the United States knocked Portugal off their fourth-seeded perch early Wednesday morning with a 3-2 triumph. Not only was this the biggest upset of this World Cup, but also the most significant victory in the history of United States soccer.

Senegal defeating France in the opener is an unbelievable story, and not just because Senegal was ranked 70th, compared to the No. 1 ranking of reigning European and World Champion powerhouse France.

It was also Senegal's first World Cup game ever. In 1990, Senegal didn't even enter the World Cup qualification rounds because the President of Senegal's Soccer Federation forgot to send in the proper registration forms.

In addition to the disparity of soccer legacies between the two nations, they also have a little history non-soccer related. Until 1960, Senegal was a colony under French rule!

What makes the World Cup great isn't just the event itself, but the storylines that can't be duplicated unless you're on the global stage. England and Argentina is an incredible soccer rivalry, and it also doesn't hurt that they had that little tiff over the Falkland Islands.

The Brooklyn Dodgers may have been considered second-class citizens to the New York Yankees in the '40s and '50s, but until 1960, Senegal actually was under French occupation. While Senegal's victory is rife with irony, intrigue, and appeal, it is clearly second in terms of soccer upsets to the United States and their unforeseen victory over Portugal.

Senegal might only have 56 professional players, but the 23 on the national team are pretty good. They all play professionally in France, and their leader, El Hadji Diouf, is the African Player of the Year. Not only that, but MLS (Major League Soccer) star Mamadou Diallo didn't make the Senegal National Team. Six of the USA starting eleven came from the MLS.

The USA team before Wednesday's game was in disarray. Team captain Claudio Reyna was out of the lineup, as well as Clint Mathis, arguably the best and most creative striker the USA has ever produced. Starting defensive midfielder Chris Armas was lost before the World Cup, and he was replaced with Pablo Mastroeni, who didn't play in a single USA qualifying game! And Bruce Arena decided to replace starting defender David Regis with Frankie Hejduk.

Portugal, on the other hand, has FIFA Player of the Year Luis Figo, as well as a roster full of European club stars. They didn't lose a single qualification game in a group that featured the Netherlands and Ireland (two teams the USA lost two in friendlies this year) and were the highest scoring team in European qualifying.

None of that mattered, though, when John O'Brien put the USA up a goal in the fourth-minute off an initial Brian McBride header. Portugal was stunned to be trailing to a team of MLS stars and European reserves.

A bit of luck helped the USA jump out to a two-goal lead when Jorge Costa redirected Nike poster boy Landon Donovan's cross into his own net. While the second was pure luck, the third was pure skill, as if executed straight out of a soccer guide. Flanking defenseman Tony Sanneh took an overlapping pass from Donovan and made a pinpoint cross to Brian McBride who ruptured the net with a spectacular diving header. The first half wasn't over yet, and the USA was up 3-0 on Portugal thanks to their Irish three.

Jack Edwards had it right on the telecast when he said traffic was stopped all over Europe. Granted, it was noon and the most Europeans were in the middle of a long lunch, but they all probably wanted the know the same thing -- who are these clowns that are up three-nil on Rui Costa and Co.?

They know O'Brien, starting midfielder on Dutch champion Ajax, but who was this 120 pound DeMarcus Beasley who was making the Portuguese defenseman look more like Brokaw's Greatest Generation than the Golden Generation? Where did McBride and his heading prowess originate?

I was asking the same question. Other than a meaningless goal against Iran, I had never seen McBride perform in this manner. While Donovan wasn't the spectacle Nike was hoping he would be, he played with the poise of someone you wouldn't expect for their first World Cup game. And the much-maligned defense, while giving up an own goal, exceeded all expectations. Eddie Pope was the anchor, winning every head ball and controlling the back line. Bundesliga league members Sanneh and Hejduk were outstanding wingbacks, better than they had looked all year. Agoos looked shaky at times, but still got the job done.

McBride was the man of the match, and O'Brien showed he is the best USA midfielder, but the biggest surprise of the day was Beasley. He plays with the Chicago Fire in the MLS, and if you have a chance to see him in person, I suggest you do so, because he will be in Europe sooner than later. What he accomplished in his first World Cup game, a few days after turning 20, was astonishing. His speed, foot skill, and determination for all 90 minutes will be something top European clubs look at in the next few weeks and decide they must have.

The USA still has more work to do. In order to advance to the next round, they will probably need at least two more points. It will be important to get at least at point in their next game against host South Korea. Bruce Arena will have some difficult choices ahead of him for the next game.

The USA was lacking a free kick specialist today, which is one of the many attacking roles Clint Mathis fills. Hopefully, he will be healthy and in enough of Arena's good graces to see the pitch in the next game. Earnie Stewart was lifted because of a groin problem in the second half, and preliminary reports on him are not encouraging. Reyna may be called upon, even if not 100 percent fit.

In a New York Times editorial, Andres Martinez quantified a formula for World Cup fanaticism outside the States. "First, add the collective passion in this country (America) for baseball, basketball and football. Then multiply it by four (the Cup happens only every four years), and add the intensity of patriotic fervor unleashed by your average war."

The rest of the world is watching, and USA Soccer has just gained immediate credibility throughout the international community. I can only hope Americans devote a little of the attention to a tournament that can surprise and delight much in the way sports should.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.