“Tainted” is how Eric Wynalda now describes USA’s 2-1 win over Colombia at the 1994 FIFA World Cup™. What should have been a joyful celebration of football taking root in the States has, as the US stalwart’s description acknowledges, become synonymous instead with the fateful own goal and subsequent murder of Andres Escobar.
“As a team, we were very hesitant to talk about that game for that reason,” admitted Wynalda. “We didn’t want to dishonour him.”
However, while the Escobar tragedy put football firmly in perspective, it should still be reflected that this match was a momentous milestone on the road to America embracing the beautiful game. Wynalda…