With all due respect, I know that we are the Warriors are an 'upstart' on the World Stage, and I know we are not a perceived giant among the so called football powers but don't we at least deserve some respect and credability for our accomplishments?
To be seen as a mere'minnow' or fly which could be just swattered away either points to arrogrance on the part of some nations or an example of what I will termed as 'football ethnocentrisim.'
Reality check...It's a fact, recently with the exception of an undermanned Mexican team, we have not encountered so called football nations of comparable might. Regardless, our games aganist
Costa Rica were not out of our grasp!!!! yet I have not seen nor heard of diminshing or disparaging remarks directed aganist CR. A first game positive result aganist Guatemala would have put us withing almost the same amount of qualifying points as Costa Rica.
Appearing at this level and approaching each game is a switch for us . Duing games leading up to the Hex and games in the Hex, there was an expectation for us to do well and to qualify. We carried this high expectations into the 'Gold Cup flop'.The pressure to perform and to do so convincingly was one the Warriors faced each and every game. Now we are cast in the role of 'spoilers' underdogs.
Our present role, could be a monumental advantage to our approach fo rthis game. Other nations who are casting our game aganist England as a mere 'FA cup game' or who are seeing us as a stepping stone to the next stage may underestimate us, may be overconfident, may break down in discipline and if we step up our level of play and rise to the occassion, we could produce some of football major upsets at a World Cup.
I say, let's embrace this role. 'walk quietly and carry the big stick' and let's do what no one else expect but ourselves.
Could we now begin to list some of the biggest upsets from Past World Cups? Could this be our World Cup legacy? could we be immortalized as a football nation for cuttiing down the mighty foes? could we be the David and Goliath story?
Upset story # 1
http://2002.fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/02/en/pf/h/cg/cmr_eng_1990.html