On July 4, 2009, The U.S. Men's National Team will play on Independence Day for only the second time in USMNT history, as they begin their quest to defend the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

I was fortunate enough to be in attendance the FIRST time the U.S. Men played on this great holiday, and it was for none other than a second-round match in the FIFA World Cup - the first World Cup ever held on American soil.  We were up against Brazil, with a crowd of over 84,000 on hand, and with the eyes of the world upon us.

With our most recent USA v BRAZIL match - last Sunday's Final of the FIFA Confederations Cup so fresh in our memories, and on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of this great experience, I'd like to share my story here with you.

ENJOY =)

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July 4, 1994 --- Do you remember it ?

Man, I sure do !

I had been a volunteer with the USA '94 Organizing Committee since 1992, when my initial task was to distribute the first official souvenirs that were issued - World Cup flag logo lapel pins (as seen in the illustration here). I was wearing one of these on this very special Independence Day in 1994.

The scene was the campus of Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA. The event was a second round (round of 16) match of the 1994 World Cup - the first-ever FIFA World Cup of any kind held in the USA. The opponents were USA and BRAZIL. I could hardly contain myself once I found out that this would be the pairing on this special holiday...

It is hard for many to remember now, but Brazil actually were not so favored to win that year. USA were in only their second consecutive finals tournament, after decades of qualifying strife, so it was a beautiful thing to see them make it out of the group stage at all. We had managed to get through via a defeat of Colombia (thought to be one of the early favorites, but then eliminated in the group stage after their two disappointing losses to Romania and USA).

On Brazil's roster: Major stars like Romario, Cafu, Bebeto, Leonardo, and Dunga (these days the national team's coach)...and some 17-year-old not many in the USA had heard about - some guy named Ronaldo...

Team USA had our biggest names playing, but they were also little-known to most Americans, as this was in the days before the MLS, and before much of the World Cup qualifying or international friendly matches were even shown on national TV here.

However, for this tournament, America as a country would shine on the world stage as host nation, and the team was hoping to do the same this day against the powerhouse lineup. In goal, we had as our number one Tony Meola, perhaps the best-known name on the team at the time, as well as others whose names many will recognize now: Eric Wynalda, Marcelo Balboa, John Harkes, Claudio Reyna, Brad Friedel, Alexi Lalas, and Cobi Jones, just to name a few...

The attendance was 84,147, and had been sold out far in advance of anyone knowing - or certainly being able to accurately guess - which two opponenets would meet here on this great holiday. Fans had hoped and did know there was a chance of the USA playing, and the fact that this was one of our great national celebrations in any case made it all the more appealling and important to be there - if at all possible.

Everyone had flags, everyone had energy, everyone had the "Go Get 'Em" spirit of the competition. We all knew we had a mountain to climb that day as a team...but we also were full of national pride and knew that stranger things than a USA defeat of BRAZIL in a World Cup had already happened in this tournament and in every past edition...

Fast forward to halftime: The huge in-stadium screen with the 'via satellite' pictures live from Rio de Janerio and Sao Paulo told the story. A shocked population gathered in public squares showed the anquish and disbelief on every face in the crowd. The score was 0-0 after 45 minutes of play...

Here is a country who had already won the World Cup and were the only country to have qualified for every single men's World Cup since the event began in 1930, and they were being held back from scoring a single goal by these soccer minnows the USA. Yet, that was exactly what the scoreline showed. Newspapers and TV commentators had predicted a rout, with a Brazilian win of anything from the common prediction of 4-0 to even the outlandishly boastful 10-0. It seems possible that few had truly studied the USA side; it seems likely that few even took them seriously.

Conversely, you can imagine how I and the others watching this transpire in person were filled with jubilance all during this halftime period, while in disbelief trying to wrap our heads around it. How could it be, we asked ourselves, that Brazil had not yet managed to get one past Meola, with all of their aggressive attack, trickery and daring-do ? We didn't really care about the reasons - we were just ecstatically happy to see this happening !

One of the match's events that most affected the second half of play - and motivated Team USA - was the sending off in the 43rd minute of Brazilian star Leonardo. It is said that during halftime, this red card was used as a rallying cry for the American troops, who then knew that Brazil would have to play the entire second half with a man down. Whatever happened in that locker room, it did work, and for awhile, at least...

The minutes ticked by...

Now up over 70 minutes, and we in the stands were all getting very excited. Still no score, and only 20 minutes to go ! Would it be possible that USA could get a real chance to score ?

Alas, Bebeto - as it turns out - was the one who ended our American dream of knocking out Brazil and contuning on as some sort of giant-killer into the quarterfinals. Bebeto scored in the 72nd minute, and the USA just ran out of gas. But, man, did we ever put up a fight !

By the way, Brazil did go on to silence their critics by winning that 1994 World Cup; they did so by defeating Italy in a PK shootout. So, the USA fans didn’t feel so bad in the end being eliminated by the eventual winners. Brazil have been one of the perennial favorties ever since; as of now, they are the only five-time winners.

I will never forget that Independence Day fifteen years ago, and I encourage all of you to go to a FIFA World Cup match in person if the opportunity ever comes your way. This was one of four I attended in '94, and it is one of my favorite life experiences. The USA are itching to host next in 2018 or 2022 (they have also hosted the Women's World Cup, and as recently as 2003), and if the world's biggest event gets back to our shores, I will be sure to be there...and you should be, too !

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY =)

author: Ric Schenck / getin2thegame @ BallHype