U.S. Team Tires of Hearing It Can’t Win
The odds against the United States winning the World Cup have as many zeros as prices in lira, and this lack of respect is beginning to annoy American players.
“In Italy, I think some of the fans said if they don’t beat the U.S. 4-0 it’s a disgrace,” said Michael Windischmann, the U.S team captain.
And the players certainly don’t like what they’ve been reading. The London Telegraph, for instance, wrote that the Americans are 2,000-1 to win the cup and would be “lucky to go home with their pride intact.”
“We’ve been listening to the same song and dance for the last couple of months, especially since we qualified,” goalkeeper Tony Meola said. “It’s something that a year ago, when I first came on the team, really upset me.”
The Americans recognize they are underdogs. They just don’t like hearing about it all the time.
“It adds fuel to the fire and we have this burning desire,” said Paul Caligiuri, whose goal at Trinidad and Tobago put the United States in the World Cup.
Czechoslovakia is a 1 1/2-goal favorite for Sunday’s game. The Americans, according to Las Vegas oddsmakers, are 20-1 to win any first-round game and 7-1 to tie.
“I liked the odds I saw today,” Meola said Thursday. “They were down to 600-1 or something. That’s a pretty good bet. Someone want to put something down for me?
