WORLD CUP USA ’94 / QUARTERFINALS : Spotlight : NEXT TIME, BORA, GO WITH THE WHITE SOX

Sure, Tab Ramos’ injury hurt. As did Claudio Reyna’s. As did John Harkes’ two yellow cards during the first round. As did a distressing lack of Hagis, Baggios and Romarios.

But the real reason the United States soccer team sits on the World Cup sidelines today?

Those darned blue socks.

The U.S. team wore navy blue knee-highs in three of their four tournament games--and did not win one of them. The Mission Viejo Blue Sox went 0-2-1--tying Switzerland, 1-1, on a great goal by Eric Wynalda, and failed to score in successive 1-0 losses to Romania and Brazil.

But in their white socks, the Americans were undefeeted--looking the height of fashion in a 2-1 upset of Colombia.

For future reference, it should be noted: No United States team has ever won a World Cup while wearing blue socks.