England Outruns U.S., 2-0 : Soccer: Americans’ lack of conditioning is evident in loss at Wembley Stadium.

When the U.S. team was eliminated from the World Cup on July 4 by eventual champion Brazil, it was not intended that world-class soccer would likewise be banished from the United States.

The absence of a first-class professional soccer league has never been so apparent as it was when the reassembled U.S. national team lost to England on Wednesday night at historic Wembley Stadium, 2-0. Seven of the 11 U.S. starters had not played a full game in two months and the four others are only starting their seasons with European clubs.

When English Coach Terry Venables called up his team, the players arrived in excellent condition after playing in highly competitive European professional leagues. When U.S. Coach Bora Milutinovic assembled his team, most players were suspiciously tanned and rested.

Even with the element of revenge--the United States stunned the soccer world when it beat England in the summer of 1993, 2-0--the ingredients for the first appearance in Wembley by an American team did not promise anything other than a diligent, pedantic match. That was what came to pass on a cool, damp night.

The game, in front of a raucous crowd of 38,629 that lustily booed the U.S. national anthem, featured a stale U.S. team and an English side that is clearly still working out the kinks of playing for a new coach. It seemed that everyone had his mind somewhere else. For the English, it was thoughts of their club seasons and the buildup to the 1996 European Championship. For the Americans, it might have been finding a job.

The U.S. players’ glaring lack of match fitness was apparent immediately. Despite assurances that Venables had left behind the long-ball system, the English did in fact pass the ball up the field. In their often futile runs chasing the English wingers, the U.S. players were quickly winded.

Most damaging, and fleet, for the English were Alan Shearer and David Platt. Shearer scored the game’s two goals and might easily have scored more.

John Barnes had been a controversial choice at left midfield for England, seen as a player whose better days--and several pounds--were behind him. But Barnes did what no American was able to do, hold and distribute the ball at midfield. His passes set up not only the two first-half goals but also some quality chances.

For all of Barnes’ skill, however, his contribution had more to do with opportunism than creativity. He excelled at taking the ball away and picking up errant passes.

To that end, both goals were the result of U.S. turnovers. On the first, in the 33rd minute, Shearer bulled in from the right side. Alexi Lalas backpedaled rapidly in front of him but lacked the proper angle. Shearer slid the ball past goalkeeper Brad Friedel to the near post.

“We didn’t expect to lose the ball in that situation and we were all out of position,” Friedel said.

Shearer got his second goal seven minutes later. Graeme Le Saux sent a pass in from the left side and found Shearer with his body at an odd angle to the goal. Still, Shearer hit a diving header and caught Friedel going the wrong way.

The U.S. team missed its two most skilled players. John Harkes and Tab Ramos were injured. Lacking them, there was no one who could hold the ball in midfield, critical for the U.S. team. With its methodical build-from-the-back style, there is no way to bypass the midfield. Without a link between the front and back, the U.S. fell into an old habit and seldom went forward.

Milutinovic, as usual, responded to questions rather than answering them. The hectoring of the British press drove him to the edge of losing his temper as reporters took exception to his rather cheery assessment of the U.S. team’s performance.

Those who are familiar with Milutinovic don’t really expect him to answer the questions and he wouldn’t get drawn into a discussion this time, but he has said it before: For American soccer to progress there must be a professional league.

This time, he didn’t have to say it. The vague, rusty play of the American team against England made the point nicely.