Arena - restored pride in the team (Allsport)

By Paul Walker, PA Sport, Jeonju

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The United States team came to these World Cup finals craving respect, acceptance and credibility.

Respect from the world game, particularly the top European leagues, acceptance in their own nation, where the vast majority don't even know what the World Cup is and think it's a game for girls, and credibility for themselves as players.

And one man, Bruce Arena, the most successful coach in American soccer history, has achieved that.

To see the States in the quarter-finals will be viewed in the European big leagues with amazement.

American footballers, with a few exceptions, aren't really taken too seriously on the European side of the pond. Until now.

This time four years ago the US were laughed out of France 98 without a point - losing even to Iran - and with only one goal. And they were beaten then by Germany, Friday's last-eight opponents in Ulsan.

Fulham's Eddie Lewis explained the Arena factor and the burning desire amongst his team-mates to be taken seriously.

He said: "For us to advance as a nation in this sport we have to do well in the big tournaments.

"I know soccer isn't a big deal in the States, but maybe now things will start to change.

"I have been with this team now for three years, and the biggest thing is that we play as a team. From the moment Bruce took over after what happened in '98 when there was a lot of fighting among the team and a dissension, things have changed.

"He told us that we don't have big superstars in the States and the only way we will be successful is with 20 or so players who all think alike and want to help each other.

"That's not easy to achieve, but in time it is working, you see the players who don't play are always supportive of those who do."

The only success they had had in the modern era was reaching the second phase of their own tournament in 1994, when they were ousted by eventual winners Brazil. Before that it had been back in 1930 when they had last reached this stage.

But then there were only 13 teams taking part in Uruguay in the first-ever tournament, the US only had to play two matches to reach the semi-finals and then they were dispatched 6-1 by Argentina.

From then to the modern day the majority of people in the States have viewed the World Cup as an event the rest of the planet gets worked up about while they would rather play basketball, baseball or gridiron.

Until now. When the President of the USA, George Bush, takes the time to telephone his country's footballers and wish them luck -even though he told them he knew next to nothing about soccer - then something is getting through to the US mentality.

Arena has achieved that. He took over after France 98 and has moulded this squad of bit-part players with English league clubs and second-rate European sides into a team their country can be proud of - if they knew who they were!

Arena, at 51, has won everything he can win in the States. Five college championships with Virginia University, two Major League Soccer championships with Washington DC United, plus the US Open Cup, the CONCACAF Champions Cup and the Interamerican Cup, plus the 2002 Gold Cup.

None of that means much in Europe, but in the States, Arena rules. He said after the victory over Mexico: "Our region is underrated around the world. But with the showing of ourselves, Mexico and Costa Rica here, we should now get a lot more respect.

"Nobody gave this team much chance, but we have proved to be a good side."

The likes of Brad Friedel, Joe-Max Moore, Kasey Keller, Claudio Reyna - and to a lesser extent Eddie Lewis - have made an impression on the British game and are taken seriously.

Frankie Hejduk was signed by Bayer Leverkusen, but made no impact. John O'Brien has done reasonably at Ajax and Tony Sanneh likewise at Nurnberg.

But the bulk of the US squad still play in Major League Soccer, where clubs with names like Wizards, Earthquakes, Fire, Revolution, Rapids and Crew amuse and bewilder British fans.

There's not too much laughing going on now though in places like Lisbon and Mexico City.

Lewis explained the desperate desire from the Americans to be taken seriously.

He said: "We don't get respect as American players, people don't take us seriously.

"But maybe my generation will be the one that makes the breakthrough for others to reap the benefits."

Midfielder Landon Donovan, possibly the brightest hope of all in the American team, added: "If we can beat teams like we have, and if we can even beat Germany, people will have to start taking notice of us. It will open peoples' eyes."

Defender Pablo Mastroeni made the point: "Hopefully our younger generation can keep American soccer hopes alive and also make heroes out of some of the players on the field."

But you know, deep down, the real achievement for the US here would be acknowledgement in their own homeland where this tournament is ignored by 95734f the population. Arena is maybe on the way to achieving that, now with the President on board!