For the first time in 32 years, the United States men’s soccer team will be playing a World Cup game on home soil Friday night.The popularity of the sport in the U.S.changed dramatically following the 1994 World Cup, due largely to the Stars and Stripes making it to the knockout round for the first time since 1934.
It could be déjà vu this year (the New York Knicks were in the NBA Finals the last time the U.S.hosted), as this year’s team is probably the best in recent memory.Now, team legends Landon Donovan and Tim Howard aren't going as far as to say they will win it all, but they are certainly not ruling out a "magical summer."CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMU.S.
midfielder Landon Donovan celebrates with striker Jozy Altidore and goalkeeper Tim Howard after their 1-0 win in the Group C first round match at the 2010 World Cup on June 23 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Tshwane, South Africa.(Timothy A.
Clary/AFP)"I'm not sure they're capable of winning it.That's probably reserved for about five teams in the world.
But I do think they can have a magical summer where they go on a run and they have magical moments, late goals, somebody becomes the darling of the team, and they capture the attention of the media and the supporters," Howard recently told Fox News Digital."Of course, having a deep run is going to help the momentum, particularly because it's at home and more people are going to be watching just simply because it's in America."Both Howard and Donovan agreed that winning the group is the bare minimum, and then knockout play can become interesting."That game against Senegal (a 3-2 USA win on May 31) was what a Round of 32 game could look like, maybe even a Round of 16 game.There were a bunch of changes, it was hot, both teams haven't been together a long time yet, so I'm not putting too much into the result," a cautiously optimistic Donovan said.
"I'm just saying that's the type of opponent and the type of game you could get.We can...