Two hundred seven: That’s the number of players who have only played for the United States men’s national team once. Only once did they play in a high-level match. Some of the 207 you’ve heard of, like former USMNT coach Bruce Arena (1973 vs Israel), and some you don’t, like Jimmy Ford (1916 vs Israel). Switzerland).
Amazingly, two of these one-of-a-kind players appeared at the World Cup: Walter Dick, in a 7-1 loss to the hosts. Italy in 1934, when Adam Wolanin played in a 1-3 loss to Spain in Brazil 1950.
There are strange things, too. Otto Decker scored twice in the previous 6-3 loss England in 1953 and the Americans never saw the field again. Meanwhile, Gordon Burness originally played for Canada and scored in a 6-1 loss to the United States in 1926, before moving to the United States and playing his lone match against — wait and see — Canada!
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The story of these 207 men in the cap club went far and wide, and ESPN had the opportunity to visit some of them.
They all offer different perspectives on the experience, but all agree on one thing: to play at the highest level for their country is the honor of a lifetime. Their lives have had turning points since joining the US national team, but even though it happened only once, these historic moments will forever be theirs.
Eddie Robinson, defender: 19 January 2008 vs Sweden
A four-time MLS Cup winner with San Jose and Houston, Eddie Robinson has provided a tough advantage to those championship teams, but his tendency to flirt with red cards always seems to derail hopes of the national team. his family. “What I heard from both Bruce and Bob [Bradley] basically, ‘I can’t believe you won’t be sent off.’ I understood that. Robinson said.
Robinson was called up to the camps in 2002 and 2006, but his USMNT didn’t appear until 2008 in a friendly 2-0 win in January against Sweden. A guy who rarely scores in the MLS has managed to score a goal in his only national team cap, just one of 10 “only players” to do so.
However, as Robinson pondered his only cap, a feeling of regret overcame him. “I almost insulted myself. I have never been so focused. I am representing my country. It makes me emotional to this day. I said to myself: ‘I have I can play better for my team, so why shouldn’t I? focus on my club team?'”
Tim Harris, goalkeeper: 16 June 1985 vs England
Before becoming President of Business Operations for the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, Tim Harris was a goalkeeper at UCLA and later the LA Lazers in the Major Indoor Soccer League. In the summer of 1985, an unexpected call came in.
“They said, ‘You’re going to come and support Arnie Mausser.’ I was very indifferent to the idea, but they said, ‘Look, you can make some money,’ so I said, ‘OK, I’ll do it,'” Harris recalls.
The US had only one training session before the game against England and Harris did not expect to play… until a disagreement between Mauser and coach Alkis Panagoulias changed everything. “The break was coming to an end and I was walking back to the bench when someone said, ‘You know you’re playing.’ And I said, ‘What are you talking about?’ They said, ‘No, you’re in,'” Harris said.
Having taken a 2-0 lead, Harris conceded three more goals with a final score of 5-0.
“I’m the definition, preferably the average,” says Harris. “But no matter how bad it gets, you’re still playing for your country and you can never downplay the importance of that.”
Though now fully ingrained in NBA life at the executive level, Harris is still an avid football fan, so much so that the appearances of European soccer stars to the Staples Center at times Create memories for a lifetime. “Just before Jose Mourinho took the job at Man United, he came to watch a game. He, Kobe Bryant and I were sitting in the coaching room after the game. He asked Kobe about the preparation, Kobe was in the middle of the game. ask him questions.
“For me, just sitting and listening to those two guys talk is cool.”
Curt Onalfo, defender: 14 June 1988 vs. Costa Rica
Onalfo is a very familiar name in the American football world, as a former MLS coach and currently MLS technical director. New England Revolution. But as a player, Onalfo is hyped as the next great thing. In the summer of 1988, 18-year-old Onalfo was invited to play for the US B team against Costa Rica in San Antonio, Texas, where he helped the United States win 1-0.
“I just remember I was super nervous about it and needed to settle down. It took me about five minutes and then I was fine,” Onalfo said.
Onalfo went on to play for the United States at the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship and also the 1992 Olympics, however a year later he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease, displacing his hopes of competing in the 1994 World Cup. “I was a candidate to play for the 94th team, but then I got cancer. It ended. After chemotherapy, I was not the same. I never had outstanding speed and when undergoing chemotherapy, I lost a step,” Onalfo said.
Despite cancer that cut short his national team career, Onalfo still remembers his solitary appearance and now tries to impart knowledge to his players whenever possible. they get the first call.
“I think the best piece of advice I’ve found is to tell them: play to win, not to impress. If you play to win, you’ll go beyond nature and play to the best of your ability. mine.”
Mac Cozier, forward: October 16, 1996 vs Peru
October 1996 was an exciting time for US Soccer. A month before World Cup qualifiers for France In 1998, the core group of men’s national team players went on strike. A friendly match with Peru in Lima was going on, so a group of USMNT players who wouldn’t normally be called were invited to the camp. Columbus Crew rookie Mac Cozier is one of them, but he’s a little flustered when he shows up at camp.
“I asked, ‘Where’s Eric Wynalda? Where’s Tab Ramos?’ We didn’t really hear all that was going on at the time,” said Cozier, now a math teacher at a high school in Jacksonville, Florida.
When he arrived in Peru, Cozier was exposed to a whole new football atmosphere. “When you’re in college, you just get on the bus and nobody knows who you are, but here in this atmosphere, you’re with the police, they turn on the lights and in the stadium, people are screaming. shout at you.” Cozier said.
Cozier came on for Jean Harbor in the first half and quickly made an impact, letting Dario Brose equalize 1-1 for the first half. However, reality played out in the second half and Peru won 4-1.
“It opened up some doors for me that I wouldn’t have otherwise. I had to come play in chile for a year and experience that culture. That’s when I started learning more about what it means to play football and playing for the national team opened that door for me,” Cozier said.
David Cayemitte, winger: December 2, 1984 vs Ecuador
The United States national team has a long history of Haitian-born players on the team, such as 1950 World Cup hero Joe Gaetjens and two-time World Cup winner Jozy Altidore. Haitian-David Cayemitte’s birth time with USMNT was sandwiched somewhere in the middle, featured in a 2-2 draw with Ecuador at Miami’s Orange Bowl.
“It’s great to be a part of that history. It’s great to see the national team accept that no matter where you come from, you have a chance. After my children were born, the national team was the anniversary. My third lucky idea,” Cayemitte said.
Raised on Long Island, Cayemitte became one of the top high school players in the area and played at Adelphi University in Garden City, New York. It was there that the opportunity for the national team appeared. “The national team went around and one of the trainings took place at Hofstra University. I’m not sure how it went, but my coach, Bob Montgomery, knocked on my door and he She said, ‘You have to try.’ I said, ‘For what?’ He said, ‘For the national team.’ I thought he was joking,” Cayemitte said.
A few weeks later in Miami, positioned at right-back, Cayemitte came on as a substitute and stopped Ecuador’s attack.
“I went inside and focused on predicting any ball. I knew I had the pace to catch up to their left-back. I wouldn’t have access to the ball, so he had to keep going back. deep into the center. I went inside and did my job,” said Cayemitte beaming.
Misinformation about the timing of two training sessions quickly ended Cayemitte’s time with the national team. It’s hard for him not to look back on those mistakes and think what could have gone wrong.
“That’s my business, but looking at the players who were there at the time, I knew I could have become a right-back or a right-back for that 86 team… Any regrets? But do I blame anyone? No. It’s my responsibility. That said, it was a great moment.”
Romain Gall, defender: 20 November 2018 vs Italy
While the dream of the USMNT is long gone for the aforementioned players, hope is still alive for Romain Gall. The right winger’s only national team game so far was a 0-1 friendly loss to Italy under Dave Sarachan, which was a transitional period after the United States failed to make it through the round. World Cup 2018 category.
“Having the first time playing for Italy, just being on the pitch gives you unlimited energy because you are in a positive space. The whole camp is something that I will definitely remember for the rest of my life. It was a moment of honor,” Gall said.
Gall received a follow-up call for the January 2019 camp, but Malmo’s Europa League Round of 32 drew with Chelsea prevent him from attending. Gall had an initial chat with then-new coach Gregg Berhalter, but hasn’t received anything since. With his contract ending at the end of the year at Malmo, Gall is leaning towards staying in Europe, with one of the main motivations being a return to the US national team.
“I’m an athlete, I’m a dreamer, so coming back to the national team is always on my mind and I hope that day comes whenever possible,” Gall said.
