Profiles of U.S. Team Members
Here are the players on the U.S. World Cup team. Note: Caps are international appearances, from a long-ago practice of giving a player a cap--like awarding a letter--after international matches.)
Desmond Armstrong, 25, defender. 16 caps. Washington, D.C. Quickness is his best asset. Missed most of Cup qualifiers with a broken leg suffered in January, 1989, but won starting job this spring. He is one semester short of an English degree but is working on a career as an illustrator.
Marcelo Balboa, 22, defender. 16 caps. Cerritos. He is a utility player most comfortable at sweeper. His father, Louis, is a former pro in Argentina and with the Chicago Mustangs (NASL). Balboa is majoring in criminal law-recreation at San Diego State.
Jimmy Banks, 25, defender. 27 caps. Milwaukee. A nimble player, he is used for man-to-man marking. He played for U.S. head Coach Bob Gansler in college (Wisconsin-Milwaukee).
Brian Bliss, 24, defender. 30 caps. Rochester, N.Y. Tireless player but used less and less often as Cup approached.
Paul Caligiuri, 26, midfielder-defender. 36 caps. Diamond Bar. Experienced but uneven performer who has played professionally in West Germany’s second division. Scored the goal against Trinidad and Tobago that put the United States in the World Cup finals. Partly by default, it is the most significant goal in U.S. soccer history.
Neil Covone, 20, midfielder. 5 caps. Hialeah, Fla. Former captain for Gansler on the national youth team, he was only recently added to the World Cup squad. He has a major in politics and economics.
John Doyle, 24, defender. 27 caps. Fremont. Tall and strong. His father (golf), mother (basketball) and wife (all sports) were top high school athletes.
Eric Eichmann, 25, midfielder. 26 caps. Margate, Fla. Quick and sometimes flashy, with experience in the West German first division but seldom used as Cup approached. Scored 118 goals at St. Thomas Aquinas High School.
John Harkes, 23, midfielder. 34 caps. Kearny, N.J. Tough and fearless, a workhorse at midfield who had a mid-winter trial with Sheffield Wednesday in the English Second Division. Father played professionally in Scotland.
Chris Henderson, 19, midfielder. 4 caps. Everett, Wash. Fast and inventive on the flank, seen as an international regular in the future. Student body president at Cascade High in Everett.
Kasey Keller, 20, goalkeeper. 5 caps. Lacey, Wash. At one time, during Cup warm-ups, he was considered on equal footing with first-line goalie Tony Meola. Father, Bernie, was star softball pitcher in state of Washington.
Paul Krumpe, 27, defender. 25 caps. Torrance. Hard-working and quick two-way player, but foot injury kept him sidelined most of ’89. Formerly worked as aviation engineer at McDonnell Douglas, and as women’s soccer coach at Cal State Dominguez Hills.
Tony Meola, 21, goalkeeper. 15 caps. Kearny, N.J. Became No. 1 goalie midway through qualifying round and subsequently quit school to concentrate on soccer. Had brief winter pro tryouts with Sheffield Wednesday of England but hopes to play professionally in Italy after Cup. Drafted by Yankees in 1987, played outfield and third base at Virginia.
Bruce Murray, 24, forward. 40 caps. Germantown, Md. Dangerous if midfield can get him the ball exactly where he wants it, but not too mobile. Gansler likes his “subtle” contributions. A scratch golfer, he is 1987 Hermann Award winner as nation’s best collegiate player.
Tab Ramos, 23, midfielder. 24 caps. Hillside, N.J. Maybe the most consistently skilled of the U.S. players. Came to United States from Uruguay, where his father had played professionally, at age 7.
John Stollmeyer, 27, midfielder-defender. 32 caps. Annandale, Va. Rough and tumble, and his best skill is throw-ins, making him the quintessential American player (he’s good with his hands).
Chris Sullivan, 25, forward. 14 caps. Redwood City. Experienced internationally in Hungarian and French first division but didn’t join national team until March. Still holds five football pass receiving records from high school.
Steve Trittschuh, 25, defender. 36 caps. Granite City, Ill. Uses height to advantage in air but less certain when ball is on ground.
David Vanole, 27, goalkeeper. 24 caps. Manhattan Beach. Lost starting national team job to Meola in summer of ‘89, challenged USSF (and lost) over contract fight in January but was called back because of his value off the field. Plants small American flag in rear of goal whenever he plays.
Peter Vermes, 23, forward. 21 caps. Delran, N.J. Strong, internationally tough--with first division experience in Hungary and The Netherlands--and hard-working; like several of his teammates, he would be noticeably better with a better surrounding cast. Father played professional soccer in his native Hungary, before defecting to United States in 1956 when Soviet tanks crushed revolution.
Mike Windischmann, 24, defender. 48 caps. Glendale, N.Y. Steady, low-key team captain and sweeper. The most experienced on the team, with more appearances in international play than any other U.S. player in history. Former Adelphi All-America whose first international match was against Ecuador at Hofstra University field.
Eric Wynalda, 21, forward. 11 caps. Westlake. A find at striker this spring, fast with a nose for the goal but inexperienced internationally. All-time leading prep scorer in California with 88 goals and 35 assists. Father, Dave, played football at Princeton.
YEARLY WORLD CUP GOAL AVERAGE
Location and average goals scored per year for all final tournaments.
Average Games Year Location Goals Played 1930 Uruguay 3.9 18 1934 Italy 4.1 17 1938 France 4.7 18 1950 Brazil 4.0 22 1954 Switzerland 5.4 26 1958 Sweden 3.6 35 1962 Chile 2.8 32 1966 England 2.8 32 1970 Mexico 3.0 32 1974 West Germany 2.6 38 1978 Argentina 2.7 38 1982 Spain 2.8 52 1986 Mexico 2.5 52
