For examples of how little a team’s form in the World Cup run-in matters in the tournament itself, look no further than the US
T
he last time the United States men’s national team entered into the final stretch of their preparations for a World Cup on home soil, the results were dire. From January through April of 1994, the Americans, who were mostly sequestered in a full-time training camp, played 12 games and won just twice. They even managed to lose to Iceland, who were a total non-factor in global soccer back then.
Then, that ’94 team went on to survive the group stage and narrowly lose to eventual champions Brazil, 1-0, in the round of 16. They delivered on expectations in spite of their deflating run-in.
This precedent may bring some measure of consolation to present-day USA fans. When their team next gather in May to get themselves ready for the World Cup proper with friendlies against Senegal and Germany, they will have gone more than six months without winning.
