Wynalda vows to return for the 2002 World Cup

THE SCORE WAS only 1-0. There still was time to make something happen.

But when the call came for a change, the man who had scored more goals for the United States than anyone else never heard his name.

And as the Americans were unceremoniously dumped from the World Cup by Iran 2-1 on June 21, Eric Wynalda left the field at Lyon, France, by making a promise to himself.

"I'm going to be back," the Las Vegas resident said. "I'm not going out this way."

He'll be 32 by the time the next World Cup rolls around in 2002. But Wynalda can take comfort, knowing that the man he claims ruined his and his teammates' experience in France the past couple of weeks won't be around should the Americans qualify for Japan-Korea 2002.

To the surprise of no one, Steve Sampson stepped down Monday as the national team coach.

Delayed decision?

From Wynalda's perspective, Sampson's decision to quit came three weeks too late.

"Steve wanted it to be his team, his show," Wynalda said from San Jose, where he is back on the field for the Clash of Major League Soccer. "If it works, he's a hero. If it doesn't, well ...

"It was just so weird. I didn't know the guy anymore. When we started playing, it was so clear we weren't organized. We had so many people playing out of position."

For Wynalda, who had battled back from knee surgery in April to win a spot on the national team and compete in his third World Cup, the results were simply too bitter to swallow.

Sampson started him against Germany, yanked him in the second half of a 2-0 loss, benched him against Iran, then played him at midfield in the late stages of the 1-0 loss to Yugoslavia.

In between, he was nearly sent home by Sampson for questioning the tactics in the Germany loss, which included starting seven players who had never been in a World Cup match while using him as the lone forward in a 3-6-1 formation. That alignment saw him get few touches and be subjected to double-team marking by the German defense.

"It was miserable," Wynalda said. "The whole World Cup experience was so miserable. We just felt so helpless out there. I never really had a chance to play my game.

"For Germany, I was about 90 percent fit. But I was ready to go against Iran."

As for his near-expulsion, Wynalda said Sampson didn't have the guts to tell him to his face to back off the public criticism.

"He saw what happened with (Faustillo) Asprilla when the Colombia coach sent him home and after Germany, Steve had the idea he was 'The Almighty,'

"He sent (assistant coaches) Thomas Rongen and Clive Charles over and they told me it was inappropriate to say that stuff to the press."

Coach's retaliation

Sampson benched Wynalda for the Iran match. He went to a new formation, adding a second forward, which would have benefitted Wynalda's game. He would have had someone to play off of and could have given the impotent American attack a boost.

But the Iranians scored first, and as the unlucky Americans hit both posts and the crossbar, it was evident things weren't going well.

Wynalda never saw the field that day. He was convinced it was Sampson's way of getting even.

"For the rest of my life, I'll never forget the look from the rest of the team when he brought (Tom) Dooley off and brought Maise (Brian Maisonneuve) on," he said. "It was like they couldn't believe what Steve was doing."

Maisonneuve, a defensive midfielder, was unable to turn the tide in the late stages. Wynalda began making plans to leave France right after last Thursday's game with the Yugoslavs.

"I just wanted to put it behind me as quick as I could," he said of his decision to rejoin the Clash last Saturday. "I'd taken a lot of time from the Clash to concentrate on the national team and I feel I owe this club something. I want to show them that my heart's in the right place."

Which is why he spurned several offers to remain in Europe after the World Cup.

"Honestly, I was considering it," he said of staying overseas. "But the offers I had before the World Cup went way down after we were eliminated.

"Besides, I think it's beneficial to stay (in the MLS). I enjoy the guys on the Clash and we played one of our best games in weeks the other night (a 2-1 loss to Los Angeles with Wynalda assisting on the lone San Jose goal)."

In San Jose, he may find things more stable than with the national team. Sampson's juggling of the U.S. lineup was a constant source of frustration to Wynalda and his teammates, especially veterans Tab Ramos, Marcelo Balboa and Alexi Lalas.

"It was so confusing," he said. "Nobody could figure out what he (Sampson) was doing. Our lineup changed seven times. It would change on the practice field, then it would change again on the bus. It was crazy.

"But through everything, the team still stayed together and it tried as hard as it could. I know everyone's disappointed in what happened. But believe me, no one is more disappointed than the players. Everyone gave it their best and I give the boys credit for that."

Plans to return

What will always bother Wynalda was this was the most talented side the U.S. has produced. Yet the results were worse than in 1990, when the Americans were ousted in the first round in Italy, their first World Cup appearance in 40 years.

"It leaves a bad taste in your mouth, for sure," Wynalda said of France '98.

"This was a lot like 1990 because of the results. But this team had far more talent. It's not an indication of how good this team was.

"That's why I want to come back. I'm not going to let this guy ruin me and end my World Cup career like that."

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