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USA

The USA were one of the 13 teams in the inaugural World Cup in 1930.
In Germany 2006, it will be USA's 8th participation at the World Cup. Previous appearances were in 1930, 1934, 1950, 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002
USA's best performances have been reaching the Semi-final in 1930, and the Quarter-final in 2002.
The USA reached the semi-finals of the first FIFA World Cup in 1930, although only 13 teams took part. Argentina ended American hopes with a 6-1 win.
In 1948, the USA suffered their worst defeat, when they lost 11-0 to Norway in Oslo. Their best result came in 1993 when they beat the Cayman Islands 8-1, watched by fewer than 4,000 fans.
In recent years the United States have emerged as a force in world football, qualifying for the last four FIFA World Cup finals. The Americans reached the quarter-finals at Korea/Japan 2002, losing narrowly to the eventual runners-up Germany.
The USA trainer had to be carried off unconscious during the 1930 Semi-Final against Argentina after he ran to the pitch to attend an injured player, dropped his medicine box, and broke a bottle of chloroform. When he tried to pick up the broken bottle, he took in the fumes and fell to the ground immediately. The injured player recovered without any treatment.
After an enormous journey by sea, Mexico and USA played a qualifying match in Rome on 24 May l934, three days before kick-off of the Italy 1934 finals. Mexico lost the match 4-2 and went home immediately and the USA went home three days later when they lost to Italy in the opening match.
The first qualifying match played on artificial turf was between Canada and USA on 24 Sept 1976 in Vancouver, Canada.
USA beat England 1-0 in the 1950 finals, though some British newspapers reported the result as USA 1, England 10 as the editor believed that the reporter had made a typing mistake. Before the match, both sides believed that it would be an easy win for England, and double-digit goals were expected. This match is now considered by many people as the greatest upset in World Cup history.
Larry Gaetjens, the goal scorer in USA's 1-0 win over England in 1950, returned to his native Haiti, where he was arrested for organizing an anti-government movement, eventually dying in jail.
USA's star striker Landon Donovan, the day after their defeat to Germany in the 2002 quarter finals, played in a USA League match. Strange but true, the USA League did not have a break when the USA national team were playing in the 2002 finals. Due to time difference, Donovan could manage to play for his club San Jose in USA on Saturday 22 June 2002 after playing in the quarter finals in Korea on Friday 21 June.
Where is the United States of America? Check out this map.