WORLD CUP ’90 : Some Americans Would Rather Remember Alamo

FLORENCE, Italy —  The U.S soccer team returned Friday to the city of Michelangelo’s David, which is special to Florentines because, for centuries, their ancestors perceived themselves as giant-killers in wars among Italy’s city states.

The United States killed no giant Thursday night at Rome’s Olympic Stadium, but did give him a scare in a 1-0 World Cup loss to Italy.

While the Italian press reacted, on the morning after, as if their Blues had disgraced the country--”disappointment” was the word used most often in headlines--the U.S. players were little short of euphoric.

“I think we came out of there as winners,” U.S. Coach Bob Gansler said. “Winners don’t always come out with the W in the won-lost column.”

After his team’s 5-1 loss to Czechoslovakia in last Sunday’s opening game at Florence’s Communale Stadium, Gansler’s job security was a subject of speculation in the Italian press.

Although the U.S. Soccer Federation has given him a vote of confidence through the 1994 World Cup in the United States, rumors were rekindled that he would be replaced by West German Coach Franz Beckenbauer.

But Gansler should be left in peace at least until Tuesday night’s game here against Austria because of the success of his defensive strategy against Italy. His players deserve at least as much credit because they carried it out with determination, confidence and composure.

“It was a matter of finding out for ourselves what World Cup intensity is all about,” Gansler said. “The Czechs showed that to us not for 10 or 15 minutes but for 90 minutes. We’re quick learners. We learned from them.”

As for the strategy, it was not much different from one that might be employed by a lightweight in the ring against a heavyweight. He would try to score points on quick, flicking jabs, while backpedaling and dancing to avoid being on the wrong end of a knockout punch.

The boxing reference is not altogether inappropriate because one of the first persons to congratulate the U.S. players in their dressing room after the game was former middleweight champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler, now an actor based in Milan.

He was followed into the dressing room by several members of the Italian team.

“They sat around with us after the game, just to talk and to congratulate us for doing a good job,” said U.S. goalkeeper Tony Meola, whose father played in the Italian League before emigrating to the United States.

“It was unbelievable. They were just world-class on and off the field. They showed us a professionalism that perhaps we can take back with us to the United States. I just can’t get over the fact they were in the locker room with us. That never happens.”

The Italian press Saturday also complimented the U.S. team, calling its defense “an iron chain.”

But by the tone of some of their questions to Gansler, several U.S. reporters thought his strategy was un-American.

One remarked that he would rather see the United States lose, 5-1, while trying to match its opponent attack for attack than lose, 1-0, while retreating.

“You can’t please everybody,” Gansler said. “We looked at ourselves and we looked at our opponents, and decided to attack them intelligently. We didn’t go out there to be John Wayne. I don’t want to die at the Alamo or anywhere else.”

At least one player, Chris Sullivan, thought the United States waited too long to attack. Although Italy scored in the 11th minute, the United States stayed in its defensive shell until well into the second half.

But Sullivan acknowledged that his opinion might be biased because he is a reserve forward eager to get into the game. Gansler finally inserted him in the 83rd minute.

“Sometimes, as an attacking player, I wondered if we were trying to lose, 1-0,” he said. “I wanted to score a goal. As an attacker, that’s normal. Your heart says you want a goal.

“But your head tells you that if you start going forward, you’re going to expose yourself on defense. What happens then is that we’re on the wrong end of a mismatch. So I guess the best thing was to hold them and wait for a little luck.”

The United States almost got it in the 68th minute, when forward Peter Vermes rebounded Bruce Murray’s free kick and almost got it past Italian goalkeeper Walter Zenga. He managed to deflect the ball as it went through his legs.

“The outcome might have been different if Zenga had slimmer thighs,” Gansler said. “If we had luck at the end, it could have been a tie. Of course, if Italy had a little luck on the missed penalty kick, it could have been 2-0.”

The Americans also were fortunate that Italy seemed satisfied for most of the game with its 1-0 lead and did not pressure them. That might prove to be a mistake if the Group A winner is determined by goal differential.

With a 1-0 victory over Austria here Friday, Czechoslovakia tied Italy at the head of the group with a 2-0 record.

Both will advance to the second round, but the Czechs will draw a more favorable opponent if they at least tie Italy Tuesday in Rome, because of their advantage in goals.

The U.S. players attended Friday’s game, which was another victory of sorts for them because Austria’s loss kept them mathematically alive for a second-round berth.

They need not only a victory against Austria but a big victory. That does not seem possible, but if they have proved anything in this tournament, it is that they are unpredictable.

“I think I’ve got a lot more patience with them than some of you do,” Gansler told reporters. “Maybe it’s because I’m a multiple father. I’ve got four boys. No matter how many knocks they take, you’ve got to be optimistic because they’re going to keep coming time and time again.”

U.S. midfielder Eric Wynalda of Westlake Village said Friday he felt vindicated by remarks made this week by the general secretary of soccer’s governing body.

In discussing the performances of World Cup referees, Josef Blatter told the Associated Press that Wynalda should not have received a red card for a foul in the United States’ opening game last Sunday against Czechoslovakia.

The expulsion not only forced the United States to play the final 38 minutes of that 5-1 loss with only 10 men, but Wynalda also was disqualified from playing in the loss to Italy.

Wynalda also was fined $7,000.

Blatter said Swiss referee Kurt Roethlisberger was “clearly too harsh” when he sent off Wynalda for shoving a Czech player in the back. Wynalda said it was retaliation for earlier incidents.

“A yellow card would have been sufficient,” Blatter said.

Wynalda said: “That statement doesn’t make what I did all right. It was a learning experience for me. But FIFA’s position does make me feel a lot better.”

He said the U.S. Soccer Federation has not determined whether it will assist him in paying the fine, but added: “I’m hoping there will be some understanding.”