This is the 265thepisode of my podcast, 'Soccernostalgia Talk Podcast’.
For this
episode, I interview American Author Mr. Hal
Phillipsas we discuss his book, ‘Sibling Rivalry: How Mexico and the US Built the Most
Contentious, Co-Dependent Feud in World Soccer.’ (2026))
Mr. Hal Phillips is also the author of "Generation Zero:
Founding Fathers, Hidden Histories & The Making of Soccer in America”
(Dickinson-Moses Press, 2022).
For any
questions/comments, you may contact us:
You may also contact me
on this blog, on twitter @sp1873 and on facebook under Soccernostalgia.
The
US Cup was a mini-Tournament hosted by the United States in the Summer of 1992.
The United States were to host the 1994 World Cup and were anxious to test
themselves against quality opposition as part of their preparations. USA’s
Yugoslavian Manager Bora Milutinovic had taken on a similar task in preparing
World Cup Hosts Mexico in 1986. He had achieved his goals by playing in an
endless array of Friendly matches to get his team ready. Since USA did not even
have a professional League at the time, the Americans had no choice but play in
these friendlies.
However,
this particular Tournament was seen as something more. Not only the quality of
the opposition was stronger (Italy, Republic of Ireland and Portugal), but also
the whole format was designed to get the USA squad prepared in a round robin
mindset that they would have to play in two years time.
To
have the strongest squad in display in front of home fans, USA selected all its
key players playing for European sides who would otherwise be unavailable for
friendlies during the year.
This
included 1990 World Cup veterans John Harkes and Tab Ramos, as well as new
naturalized internationals such as the West German-born Thomas Dooley and South
African Native Roy Wegerle.
Others
such as Dutch-based Earnie Stewart were also called up for what was perhaps its
strongest squad (relatively speaking, remember USA were still somewhat new to
the International Game).
As
far as the opposition, the Italians were in America since they had missed out
on qualifying for the Finals of the 1992 Euros in Sweden, Arrigo Sacchi had
taken over months ago and the team was still in rebuilding phase.
The
key players were Juventus’ Roberto Baggio and the AC Milan stars such as Franco
Baresi, Paolo Maldini and Sampdoria (and soon Juventus) striker Gianluca
Vialli. Sacchi had called up many new players to experiment, these included
Foggia (and soon Lazio) striker Giuseppe Signori.
Jackie
Charlton’s Republic of Ireland were one of the most difficult teams to play in
Europe. They were not a very spectacular team yet were virtually impossible to
beat. Chalton had built a squad to play on their strengths of physical strength
and aerial power.
Just
prior to departing they had defeated Albania in their first World Cup 1994
qualifier. Their interest appeared lukewarm from the start with many perhaps
wanting to take a break and rest. This feeling would be justified after their
uncharacteristically poor performances in this Tournament.
Portugal
had missed out on the last few Finals of Tournaments. They were a side being
rebuilt by their former U-20 World Cup winning Manager Carlos Queiroz. They
were missing their kingpin Atletico Madrid star Paulo Futre as well as AS
Monaco midfielder Rui Barros and Benfica striker Rui Aguas. The side was in the
early stages of the Team that would be referred as their best Generation (that
of the 1989 and 1991 U-20 World Cup Graduates).
Youngsters
such as Luis Figo, Fernando Couto and Joao Vieira Pinto were on hand to get
valuable experience in their soon bright future.
The
Americans kicked off the Tournament on May 30th at Washington, DC
vs. the Republic of Ireland. The two sides had met a month prior (April 29th)
at Dublin and the Irish had come out winners (4-1).
But
this would be a different game and the more fatigued Irish (playing in a 4-5-1
formation) would eventually give way in a match played under heavy rain.
For
the Americans, Dooley and Wegerle made their long awaited debuts.
The
naturalized Americans gave the USA a much-needed boost as experienced
professionals from abroad. Thomas Dooley qualified, as he was the son of a former
US Army veteran stationed in West Germany.
South
African-born Roy Wegerle qualified through marriage. He was married to an
American, whom he had met while going to the University of South Florida.
Roy
Wegerle remained on the bench for the first half that remained scoreless.
He
later stated that sitting on the bench and watching the match helped him to see
how his teammates were operating so that he could be useful once he came on.
The
Irish took the lead in the 53rd minute. Steve Staunton took a corner
from the left side that was headed in by Mick McCarthy.
The
Americans tied the match just a minute later. A free kick taken from left side
was headed across by Dooley to the right side. From the right flank, John Doyle
crossed it for Marcelo Balboa to score.
At
the hour Jackie Charlton reverted to a 4-4-2 formation by inserting Tommy
Coyne.
The
US pressed on and in the 70th minute were rewarded with a second
goal.
Fernando
Clavijo crossed from left side for Tab Ramos, who volleyed it home from outside
of box.
A
few minutes from the end, Wegerle back heeled a pass to Dooley who set up John
Harkes to score the third.
The
American reaction from the match was positive. No one had expected the
Americans to defeat Ireland in such a manner. The immediate impact of the
newcomers was also unexpected. The usually unbeatable Irish had been a pale
shadow of themselves. Their World Cup qualifier vs. Albania had only been a few
days before on May 26th on a different continent.
On
the next day (May 31st), Italy took on Portugal at New Haven, Connecticut.
It
was a poor scrappy match that ended scoreless between two teams that did not
give much away. It was marred by the sending offs of the Italian Roberto
Donadoni and Portugal's Jose Leal.
Photo From : Soccer
International, Volume 4, Issue 6, June 1993
(Alessandro Bianchi and Joao
Vieira Pinto, May 31, 1992, US Cup, Italy 0-Portugal 0)
Photo From : Guerin
Sportivo, Issue 899 (Number 24), June 10-16, 1992
(Italy squad, May 31, 1992, US Cup, Italy 0-Portugal
0)
USA
took on Portugal on June 3rd at Chicago, Illinois. The Americans
were confident following their win over Ireland.
This
time Wegerle started and scored his first goal for his new Nation. In the 35th
minute, Bruce Murray sent Wegerle through and he rounded the goalkeeper and
scored.
USA
had now won two straight matches against European opposition, which was
unprecedented, and with four points looked set to win the Tournament.
Photo From : Soccer
International, Volume 4, Issue 6, June 1993
(Marcelo Balboa, June 3, 1992, US Cup, USA 1-Portugal
0)
Photo From : Soccer
International, Volume 3, Issue 9, September 1992
(June 3, 1992, US Cup, USA 1-Portugal 0)
Photo From : Soccer
International, Volume 3, Issue 9, September 1992
(June 3, 1992, US Cup, USA 1-Portugal 0)
Photo From : Soccer
International, Volume 3, Issue 9, September 1992
(June 3, 1992, US Cup, USA 1-Portugal 0)
The
next day (June 4th), the Italians took on the struggling Irish (who
appeared to wish to be anywhere else but there) at Boston, Massachusetts.
Newcomer
Giuseppe Signori gave Italy the lead in the 16th minute scoring from
an indirect free kick.
Photo From : Guerin Sportivo, Issue 899 (Number 24), June 10-16,
1992
(Giuseppe Signori celebrating, June 4, 1992, US Cup, Italy 2-Republic of
Ireland 0)
The match became a personal
nightmare for the normally reliable Ireland goalkeeper Packie Bonner.
In the 64th
minute, Roberto Mancini sent Signori clear. Bonner fouled him in the box and
was sent off as the last man.
Substitute goalkeeper Gerry
Peyton came on but he was powerless in stopping Alessandro Costacurta’s penalty
kick. The Italians won (2-0) to inflict further damage on Irish confidence.
Photo From : France Football, Issue 2410, June
16, 1992
(June 4, 1992, US Cup, Italy 2-Republic of
Ireland 0)
Photo From : Guerin Sportivo, Issue 899 (Number 24), June 10-16,
1992
(Packie Bonner fouling Giuseppe Signori, June 4, 1992, US Cup, Italy
2-Republic of Ireland 0)
Photo From : Guerin Sportivo, Issue 899 (Number 24), June 10-16,
1992
(Alessandro Costacurta scoring from the spot, June 4, 1992, US Cup,
Italy 2-Republic of Ireland 0)
Photo From : Guerin Sportivo, Issue 899 (Number 24), June 10-16,
1992
(Italy squad, June 4, 1992, US Cup, Italy 2-Republic of Ireland 0)
Photo From : Onze-Mondial, Hors Serie 16, May 1994
(Republic of Ireland squad, June 4, 1992, US Cup, Italy 2-Republic of
Ireland 0)
For their respective last
matches, the Americans hosted Italy in Chicago, Illinois. The stronger Italians were USA’s
strongest challenge in the Tournament and were favored.
The
Italians had last beaten a very inexperienced USA side (1-0) in their own World
Cup in 1990.
Those
Americans present that day: Tony Meola, Paul Caligiuri, Marcelo Balboa, John Doyle, Tab Ramos, John Harkes and Bruce
Murray had gained much needed experience in the intervening two years.
The more experienced Italians
took the lead in the second minute.
Photo From : Soccer International, Volume 4, Issue 6, June 1993
(June 6, 1992, US Cup, USA 1-Italy 1)
Photo From : World Soccer, August 1992
(Tab Ramos and Alberto Di Chiara, June 6, 1992, US Cup, USA 1-Italy 1)
Photo From : World Soccer, March 1993
(Giuseppe Signori, June 6, 1992, US Cup, USA 1-Italy 1)
Franco
Baresi sent a long cross to the left side to Alessandro Bianchi. Bianchi sent a
cross into the box, where Pierluigi Casiraghi got a touch and it fell for
Roberto Baggio who shot past Meola.
Photo From : Soccer International, Volume 3, Issue 9, September
1992
(John Doyle heading, June 6, 1992, US Cup, USA 1-Italy 1)
Photo From : Soccer International, Volume 3, Issue 9, September
1992
(Earnie Stewart and Paolo Maldini, June 6, 1992, US Cup, USA 1-Italy 1)
Photo From : Soccer International, Volume 3, Issue 9, September
1992
(Brian Quinn, John Harkes and Giuseppe Signori, June 6, 1992, US Cup, USA
1-Italy 1)
Photo From : Soccer International, Volume 3, Issue 9, September
1992
(Tab Ramos, Alberto Di Chiara and Roberto Donadoni, June 6, 1992, US
Cup, USA 1-Italy 1)
The
Americans tied up the match in the 23rd minute. Hugo Perez sent a
long cross to Wegerle on the left side. He laid it across and set up Tab Ramos
for a shot. Italy goalkeeper Luca Marchegiani parried the shot and eventually
John Harkes pushed the ball in.
The
score remained unchanged and ended in a satisfactory tie (1-1) for both.
Photo From : France Football, Issue 2410, June
16, 1992
(June 6, 1992, US Cup, USA 1-Italy 1)
Photo From : Soccer International, Volume 3, Issue 9, September
1992
(USA squad, June 6, 1992, US Cup, USA 1-Italy 1)
Photo From : Guerin Sportivo, Issue 899 (Number 24), June 10-16,
1992
(June 6, 1992, US Cup, USA 1-Italy 1)
Photo From : Guerin Sportivo, Issue 899 (Number 24), June 10-16,
1992
(June 6, 1992, US Cup, USA 1-Italy 1)
The
Tournament was concluded on the following day (June 7th), when the
Republic of Ireland and Portugal faced off in an inconsequential match.
The
Irish finally showed some positive signs and ended the US Cup in a somewhat
positive note by defeating Portugal (2-0).
The
Irish playing in a 4-4-2 formation took the lead in the 39th minute,
when Steve Staunton scored from a direct corner.
Portugal
had chances in the closing stages but could not capitalize.
Ireland
killed off the match in the last minute. Staunton found Ray Houghton, whose cross was headed
in by Tommy Coyne.
Photo From : France Football, Issue 2410, June
16, 1992
(June 7,
1992, US Cup, Republic of Ireland 2-Portugal 0)
The
Americans hosts won the US Cup with five points to satisfy the skeptics at home
and abroad who had misgivings about the Americans’ preparations for the 1994
World Cup.
For
the Americans the Tournament gave hope for a satisfactory showing at the World
Cup. It should be remembered at the time the objective was merely to get beyond
the first round.
This
fact was highlighted by USA Manager Bora Milutinovic, who noted that had this
been a World Cup group they would have advanced.
The
1990 World Cup had essentially been a team made of College graduates with no
professional experience. In two years, the likes of Harkes and Ramos had
progressed by playing regularly at professional level.
The
inclusion of Dooley and Wegerle was also deemed a success.
The
Italians, just like the Irish, used this Tournament for experimentation and
also a dry run for the proper World Cup.
All
the other Managers at hand, as well as players such as Italy’s Roberto
Donadoni, were praiseworthy of USA’s improvements in just a few years.
Jackie
Charlton remarked how not many teams could beat them (1-3), while Carlos
Queiroz highlighted the inclusion of the European based players.
The
American players such as John Harkes felt they had now earned a certain level
of respect and also a change in mentality. Now, they were playing to win
instead of fear of losing by large scores.
As
far the Italians, the most significant aspect of this Tour was Sacchi’s
decision to dispense of then-starting goalkeeper Walter Zenga.
Others
such as Signori earned their way into the National Team set up.
The
Irish had more or less treated this Tour as a vacation and only took it
seriously late on.
They
had completed their main brief in defeating Albania in the World Cup qualifier
just prior to departing. Once in America, they had competed in a wishy-washy
manner.
There
was also a case of indiscipline concerning veteran defender Kevin Moran. He had
reported late back to the team hotel after playing golf. There ensued an
argument between himself and Charlton. This led to his omission in two World
Cup Qualifiers in the Fall of 1992.
This
Tournament would become a summer tradition for the Americans until 2000 (though
skipped in 1994 and 1998).
Its
importance would wane in the latter stages but this edition and especially the
one in the following year would go a long way to help the USA Soccer program.
‘US
Cup 1992’ Squads:
USA:
Goalkeepers:
1-Tony Meola (Captain)
18-Kasey Keller (Millwall Football Club-London / England)
Defenders/Midfielders/Strikers:
2-Janusz Michallik
3-John Doyle
4-Bruce Murray
5- Thomas Dooley
(1.Fußball-Club e.V. Kaiserslautern / Germany)
6-John Harkes(Sheffield Wednesday Football Club /
England)
11-Zak Ibsen (UCLA (University of California Los Angeles))
12-Earnie Stewart (Willem II Tilburg / Holland)
13-Mark Chung (University of South Florida)
14-Brian Quinn
15-Desmond Armstrong
17-Marcelo Balboa (Colorado Foxes)
19-Chris Henderson (Seattle
Storm)
20- Paul Caligiuri (Sport-Club
Freiburg e.V. / Germany)
21-Fernando Clavijo
22-Roy Wegerle (Blackburn Rovers
Football Club / England)
Coach: Velibor ‘Bora’
Milutinovic (Yugoslavia)
Note:
1-John
Doyle was contracted to Swedish club (Örgryte Idrottssällskap-
Göteborg) from
(1990/93) but in the summer of 1992 he was loaned to San Francisco Bay Blackhawks.
2-USA
players not contracted to foreign players were contracted to the United States
Soccer Federation.
The
contractual status of some of these home based players who played for College
sides and/or semiprofessional teams in unclear.
Italy:
Goalkeepers:
1-Walter Zenga
(Internazionale Football Club- Milano)
12-Luca Marchegiani (Torino
Calcio 1906)
Defenders/Midfielders/Strikers:
2-Moreno
Mannini (Unione Calcio Sampdoria-Genova)
3-Alessandro Costacurta
(Associazione Calcio Milan)
4-Riccardo Ferri
(Internazionale Football Club- Milano)
5-Paolo Maldini (Associazione
Calcio Milan)
6-Franco Baresi (captain)
(Associazione Calcio Milan)
7-Amedeo Carboni
(Associazione Sportiva Roma)
8-Alessandro Bianchi
(Internazionale Football Club- Milano)
9-Attilio Lombardo (Unione
Calcio Sampdoria-Genova)
10-Luca Fusi (Torino Calcio
1906)
11-Giorgio Venturin (Torino
Calcio 1906)
13-Roberto Donadoni
(Associazione Calcio Milan)
14-Roberto Galia (Juventus
Football Club-Torino)
15-Alberto Di Chiara(Associazione
Calcio Parma)
16-Giuseppe Signori (Foggia
Calcio)
17-Roberto Baggio (Juventus
Football Club-Torino)
18-Roberto Mancini (Unione
Calcio Sampdoria-Genova)
19-Pierluigi Casiraghi
(Juventus Football Club-Torino)
20-Gianluca Vialli (Unione
Calcio Sampdoria-Genova)
Coach:
Arrigo Sacchi
Note:
For the match against Portugal, Roberto Baggio wore number 17 and Gianluca
Vialli was number 20, however, in the match vs. USA, Baggio wore number 20 and
Vialli wore number 17.
Portugal:
Goalkeepers:
1-VitorManuel MartinsBaia(Futebol Clube do Porto)
12-Adelino Augusto BarrosNeno(Sport Lisboa e Benfica)
Defenders/Midfielders/Strikers:
2-FernandoManuel SilvaCouto(Futebol Clube do Porto)
3-JorgePauloCadeteSantos Reis (Sporting Clube de Portugal-Lisboa)
4-PauloManuel BanhaTorres(Sporting Clube de
Portugal-Lisboa)
5-PauloJorgeFerreiradeSousa(Boavista Futebol Clube- Porto)
17-Edward John Paul ‘Eddie’
McGoldrick(Crystal Palace
Football Club-London / England) (20-Terence Michael Phelan (WimbledonFootball Club-London / England)80th)
5-Paul McGrath (Aston Villa Football
Club-Birmingham / England)
6-Andrew David Townsend
(ChelseaFootball Club-London /
England)
8-Raymond James Houghton(Liverpool Football Club /
England)
9-Niall John Quinn
(Manchester CityFootball Club /
England)(13-Thomas Coyne(Celtic
Football Club- Glasgow / Scotland)72nd)
10-John William Aldridge(Tranmere Rovers Football Club /
England) (19-David Thomas
Kelly(Newcastle United Football
Club / England)78th)
Coach: John ‘Jack’ Charlton
(England)
Booked: Paul Mc Grath 38,
Mick Mc Carthy 42
Sent Off: Packie Bonner 64
Other Substitutes:
7-Roy Maurice Keane(Nottingham Forest Football Club /
England)
14-Kevin Bernard Moran
(Blackburn RoversFootball Club /
England)
18-Christopher Barry Morris(Celtic Football Club- Glasgow /
Scotland)
11-Kevin Mark Sheedy(Newcastle United Football Club / England)
Team
Captain:Mick McCarthy (Paul McGrah assumed captaincy at 46th
minute.)
Official
Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas
Uniform Colors: Green Shirts, Green
Shorts, Green Socks
18- Kasey Keller (Millwall Football Club-London / England)
8-Dominic Kinnear (San Francisco Bay Blackhawks)
10-Peter Vermes (Figueres /
Spain)
11- Zak Ibsen (UCLA (University of California Los Angeles))
15-Desmond Armstrong
13- Mark Chung (University of South Florida)
19-Chris Henderson (Seattle
Storm)
Team
Captain:Tony Meola
Official
Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas
Uniform
Colors: White Shirts, White Shorts, White Socks
Italy:
12-Luca Marchegiani (Torino
Calcio 1906)
2-Moreno Mannini (Unione Calcio
Sampdoria-Genova)
5-Paolo Maldini (Associazione
Calcio Milan)
14-Roberto Galia (Juventus
Football Club-Torino) (10-Luca Fusi (Torino Calcio 1906) 65th)
4-Riccardo Ferri
(Internazionale Football Club- Milano) (15-Alberto Di Chiara(Associazione
Calcio Parma)46th)
6-Franco Baresi (Associazione Calcio
Milan)
8-Alessandro Bianchi
(Internazionale Football Club- Milano) (9-Attilio Lombardo (Unione Calcio
Sampdoria-Genova) 74th)
Roberto Donadoni
(Associazione Calcio Milan)
19-Pierluigi Casiraghi
(Juventus Football Club-Torino)
20-Roberto Baggio (Juventus
Football Club-Torino) (17-Gianluca Vialli (Unione Calcio Sampdoria-Genova) 74th)
16-Giuseppe Signori(Foggia Calcio)
Coach: Arrigo Sacchi
Booked:
Pierluigi Casiraghi 60
Other Substitutes:
1-Walter Zenga
(Internazionale Football Club- Milano)
7-Amedeo Carboni
(Associazione Sportiva Roma)
11-Giorgio Venturin (Torino
Calcio 1906)
18-Roberto Mancini (Unione
Calcio Sampdoria-Genova)
Team
Captain: Franco Baresi
Official
Kit Supplier/Designer: Diadora
Uniform Colors: Blue Shirts, Blue
Shorts, Blue Socks
Date:
June 7, 1992
Competition: US Cup 1992
Result:Republic of Ireland 2-Portugal 0
Venue:Boston, Massachusetts-Foxboro Stadium, USA
Attendance: 41,227
Referee: Helder Dias (USA)
Goalscorers:
(Republic of Ireland): Steve Staunton 39, Tommy Coyne
90
(Portugal): None
Lineups:
Republic
of Ireland:
16-Gerry
Peyton (Everton
Football Club-Liverpool / England)
18-Christopher
Barry Morris (Celtic
Football Club- Glasgow / Scotland)
12-Michael
Joseph ‘Mick’ McCarthy (captain) (Millwall Football Club-London / England)
4-David
Anthony O'Leary (Arsenal
Football Club-London / England)
3-Stephen
Staunton (Aston Villa Football Club-Birmingham / England)
8-Raymond
James Houghton (Liverpool
Football Club / England)
5-Paul
McGrath (Aston Villa Football Club-Birmingham /
England)
15-Alan
Francis McLoughlin (Portsmouth Football Club / England)
20-Terence
Michael Phelan (Wimbledon Football Club-London / England) (17-Edward John Paul ‘Eddie’ McGoldrick (Crystal Palace Football
Club-London / England) 90th)
9-Niall
John Quinn (Manchester City Football Club / England) (10-John William Aldridge (Tranmere Rovers Football Club / England) 87th)
David
Thomas Kelly (Newcastle
United Football Club / England) (13-Thomas Coyne (Celtic Football Club- Glasgow / Scotland) 59th)
Coach:
John ‘Jack’ Charlton (England)
Booked:
Alan Mcloughlin 17, Paul McGrath 48, Chris Morris 73
Portugal:
1-Vitor Manuel Martins Baia(Futebol Clube do Porto)
15-João
Domingos Silva Pinto (Futebol Clube do Porto)
16-Rui Filipe Tavares Bastos(Futebol
Clube do Porto)
2-
Fernando Manuel Silva Couto (Futebol Clube do Porto)
19-Samuel Antonio Silva Tavares Quina (Boavista Futebol Clube-
Porto)
