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AUSTRIA 0 / UNITED-STATES 3, April 22, 1998. |
After leading the United States over Austria 3-0 Wednesday night with a goal and two assists, Claudio Reyna said the win was at least on par with February's upset of World Cup champion Brazil. "This," he said, "was perhaps the best performance for us this year. We put on the pressure and used our chances." Since a 1-0 upset of Brazil February 10, the United States (5-3-1 this year) had lost to Mexico, the Netherlands and Belgium, and tied Paraguay. Against the Austrians, the Americans were missing their top scorer, Eric Wynalda, who had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee last week and isn't expected back until mid-May. But Reyna provided the offensive spark in the second half, feeding Frankie Hedjuk and Brian McBride for goals. It gave the team some badly needed confidence heading into final preparations for the World Cup, where the Americans play Germany, Iran and Yugoslavia in the first round this June. Reyna said the victory was important because Austria's style is similar to that of the Germans. "The results were super for us," he said. U.S. coach Steve Sampson called Reyna's play exceptional, saying part of the reason for the strong second-half performance was other players opened up "more space for Claudio." Sampson also praised the defensive performances of Eddie Pope and Thomas Dooley. Reyna's role has become a key for the team because of injuries to midfielder Tab Ramos. Sampson wants Reyna, who missed the 1994 tournament because of a pulled hamstring, to become the central distributor, a role filled by Ramos in 1990 and 1994. Ramos, coming off major knee surgery, is 50-50 for the World Cup, which starts June 10. In a move designed to make Reyna's role on the field more comfortable, Sampson said last week that John Harkes will not be on the World Cup roster. Harkes, the U.S. captain, had refused to play a more defensive role and repeatedly tried to involve himself with the offense. After a listless first half with few opportunities, Reyna went by Martin Amerhauser and fed Hedjuk for an easy goal nine minutes into the second half. Then, in the 89th minute, Reyna sent a back-heel pass to McBride, creating a nearly uncontested shot. Reyna capped the night by scoring in the final minute when Austria's defense seemed nearly asleep. It was Reyna's sixth goal in 58 appearances with the national team. He has four goals in 24 games this season for VfL Wolfsburg in Germany's Bundesliga. "Maybe it wasn't the poor performance of the Austrians but the good performance of the Americans," Sampson said. Austria coach Herbert Prohaska said the results revealed major problems within his team. "We are down a goal and everything dissolves," he said. "Everyone starts running around, and there is no order on the field. We cannot make points at the World Cup this way." Dietmar Kuehbauer, one of the better Austrians Wednesday, spoke for all of his teammates. "I am really depressed," he said. No waltz in Vienna for U.S. soccer team VIENNA, Austria April 21, 98 (AP). In 10 to 15 years, Steve Sampson predicts, the United States can win the World Cup. For the moment, however, the U.S. coach has more immediate concerns -- a tuneup game against Austria on Wednesday in which the Americans need a cohesive performance leading to the World Cup in June. Although his team has not played well of late, Sampson knows his squad has an altogether different approach from the one that advanced to the second round in the last World Cup. "Before they only didn't want to lose," he said. "Now it's a team that wants to win." Claudio Reyna, the U.S. midfielder who plays in Germany, thinks the Americans could be one of the surprises in France. "We could be like Sweden in 1994," he said of the third-place finisher. In Austria, the United States faces a team that was first in its qualifying group, although many of its players are past their prime or young and untried. In March, the Austrians lost 3-2 to Hungary, which failed to qualify for the World Cup. The Americans also have fared poorly. After jolting Brazil 1-0 on Feb. 10, they lost to Mexico, the Netherlands and Belgium, going goalless in all three games. They then tied Paraguay 2-2. The U.S. team closed practice Tuesday. The day before, Reyna said the upcoming game is important because Austria's style resembles Germany's. The Germans, along with Iran and Yugoslavia, are grouped with the United States in the World Cup. "They have a similar game plan, they run a lot and are aggressive," Reyna said. "It's an important test for us." The Americans will be counting on striker Brian McBride and midfielder Cobi Jones. There's also defenders Marcelo Balboa, Alexi Lalas and Thomas Dooley, each with more than 70 appearances for the national team. Sampson said he is eager to test the depth of his squad against Austria. "We'll be looking for players 12 to 16 in Vienna," he said. "At the World Cup you cannot rely on only 11 players." The Austrians will rely on Toni Polster, who scored seven goals during qualifying games; Andreas Herzog, another veteran with nearly 50 goals in the German Bundesliga; and midfielder Dietmar Kuhbauer of the Spanish league. Austrian coach Herbert Prohaska said a victory at Ernst Happel Stadium was crucial leading to the showcase in France. "Only a victory will allow us to go to the World Cup without pressure and without bickering about personnel decisions," he said. 
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