When the USA ended a four-decade absence by qualifying for the 1990 World Cup, a dynamic 20-year-old attacker earned a spot on the roster.
Eric Wynalda added a spark of creativity and struck the ball with unique accuracy. But 52 minutes into the USA’s opener, a 5-1 loss to Czechoslovakia, Wynalda was red-carded.
Wynalda said he coped with his disppointing World Cup by setting his sights on the next one — while inspired by Diego Maradona‘s history. The Argentine’s furstrating first World Cup performance in 1982, at age 21, also included an ejection. Four years later, his extraordinary play led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title.
At the 1994 World Cup, Wynalda’s excellent free-kick goal earned the USA a 1-1 tie with Switzerland in their opener and led to the USA’s first knockout stage appearance since 1930.
Gio Reyna endured an agonizing first World Cup, at age 19 in 2022, for other reasons. Last Friday, he tasted some World Cup glory with his golazo that capped the USA’s 4-1 win over Paraguay.
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