WORLD CUP USA ’94 / THE FIRST ROUND : United States Has to Kiss Its Swisster : Group A: Wynalda’s goal on a free kick is good for 1-1 tie, but Americans aren’t happy about fall-back performance.

Four years ago, childhood friends Tab Ramos and John Harkes entered the Olympic Stadium in Rome and jogged out to play Italy in the United States’ second game of the 1990 World Cup. The crowd of 73,659 jeered and snickered in delighted anticipation of this team of scrawny college kids being served up to the mighty Italian team.

Ramos and Harkes knocked the ball around in warm-ups, took in the sea of Italian flags and the din of the fans, looked at each other and laughed. “What are we doing here?” they said.

Four years of working to establish a presence on the international soccer scene has created a sense of belonging for the U.S. World Cup team that was expected to yield dividends on the field. The team’s opening match against Switzerland here Saturday illustrated both the road taken and the distance yet to travel. While the 1-1 tie earned the United States its first point in the World Cup finals since 1950, it also exposed the growing American reluctance to move forward on a soccer field.

Hoping for a victory and three points and settling for a tie and one point is the scenario confronting the U.S. team with only two more first-round games. Three points out of three games could be enough to advance. Four more likely will be required. The urgency of their situation is clear from the team’s widely expressed belief that, of their Group A opponents, Switzerland was the most vulnerable.

No doubt the Swiss regarded the U.S. team similarly. In that respect, both teams were disappointed, although neither would confess to it. The Swiss were pleased that a defensive misalignment led to the goal by Georges Bregy. The U.S. team was delighted with the equalizer, a perfectly struck free kick by Eric Wynalda.

Things began so well. The crowd of 73,425 in the Silverdome--site of the first indoor World Cup game--was festive and decidedly pro-American. It might have been the first time the team has played in front of such a supportive crowd in the United States.

The team came out in its usual 4-4-2 alignment, with a few changes: Harkes played on the left wing instead of central midfield and Cle Kooiman played at right back instead of central defender.

What became apparent from the start was the U.S. team’s tendency to string out and not offer support. The few times an American forward made any kind of penetrating run, there was no teammate there.

“We left a lot of gaps, we were too spread out as a team,” Harkes said. “I think there is a lack of cohesion throughout the whole team. We just didn’t play well today. We didn’t squeeze up as a team. We didn’t push the ball up. We didn’t support each other. We need to be a more compact side. There was too much responsibility on one individual to perform a miracle.”

No miracles were forthcoming. Neither did the team adjust during the first half. In many ways it was one of the U.S. team’s oddest matches. The defense, its weak link, played exceptionally well. Its offense, where the heavy talent lies, was never in sync.

The team as a whole was shifted too far back on the field, rendering U.S. Coach Bora Milutinovic’s build-from-the-back style problematic, and time consuming. With no ball control in the midfield, the whole game got out of whack.

“If the defense pushes up 10 yards and the midfield pushes up 10 yards, then we’re closer to the front two (players),” Harkes said. “That allows us to catch any second balls that are coming down. If you watch today, Bregy, number six, was picking it up, and number seven (Alain Sutter). We didn’t have any pressure on them initially.”

Bregy’s goal on a free kick in the 39th minute was the result of a communication problem as the U.S. set up its defensive wall. The players set up six yards from the ball and the referee pushed them back to the regulation 10 yards.

“After that, we were way out of line,” U.S. goalkeeper Tony Meola said. “I just decided to hold my ground. I didn’t want to get beat on the near post.”

Instead, he was beaten on the far post.

But the U.S. team showed its resilience. Harkes made a slashing run and was fouled about 10 yards from the penalty area. Ramos, Harkes and Wynalda stood over the ball before the ensuing free kick.

Wynalda’s 28-yard yard kick dipped in under the crossbar. Wynalda, who was suffering from an allergic reaction and felt ill during the game, said it was the best shot he has ever made.

“It was a great goal,” said Harkes, who received a yellow card in the second half. “I didn’t think it was going in. I started to run in, thinking it was going to be a rebound. I thought it went over the top, but when I saw the spiders in the corner ducked, it opened the cobwebs up.”

The U.S. made some changes in the second half, but nothing was effective. Wynalda was replaced by Roy Wegerle and striker Ernie Stewart was replaced by Cobi Jones in an effort to put in fresh legs and speed.

It was the defense that preserved the tie, with the much-maligned Alexi Lalas containing Switzerland’s dangerous forward, Stephane Chapuisat.

To what end? As World Cup host, the U.S. team bears a heavy burden and also carries the proclaimed goal of advancing past the first round. One point isn’t bad, but it puts on pressure for the games against Colombia and Romania.

“We’re missing two points,” Lalas said. “We came here hoping to get three points. That was our goal. We thought it was pretty realistic.”

Milutinovic, who had leaped with joy from the U.S. bench at the moment of Wynalda’s goal, walked briskly off the field at the end of the game. As is his custom, Milutinovic would neither discuss his players individually nor allow any negative connotations to linger.

As he was hustled up a tunnel leading out of the Silverdome and into the blast of afternoon heat and light, Milutinovic turned and shouted, “We are alive.”

* ERIC WYNALDA: After the embarrassment of an early red card against Czechoslovakia in the 1990 Cup finals, he redeems himself with a beautiful goal on a free kick. C8

* ANALYSIS: Neither the U.S. team--with it’s first World Cup point in 44 years--nor Switzerland likes the result. C8