Reyna tracks Miroslav Klose (Allsport).
CLAUDIO'S SILVER LINING
By Paul Walker, PA Sport, Ulsan
Click here to place your World Cup bets!
Click here for USA team section
Click here for teams index
Click here for latest World Cup headlines
Click here for World Cup photo gallery
Click here for World Cup Bettingzone
USA skipper Claudio Reyna has hailed the "incredible progress" his country
have made on the world stage.
The Sunderland star was one of the stars in the States' unlucky 1-0 World Cup
quarter-final defeat by Germany.
But the Americans went home with their heads high after reaching this stage
for the first time in 72 years.
And Reyna said: "There has been incredible progress for us after what
happened in France '98."
At that tournament the USA lost all of their group matches, including a 2-0
defeat to the Germans.
Reyna, the former Glasgow Rangers midfielder, added: "We met Germany again
and the strides we have made were evident from the way we played them last
time.
"We were aggressive, created a lot of chances - far more than them. We took
them on and it was a very tight game. In the locker room we felt we deserved at
least extra time."
Reyna has seen his side beat the likes of Portugal and Mexico here, and win
praise from the Germans for their display in the quarter-final showdown.
He said: "Sometimes the better team doesn't win. But that's the way it goes,
maybe we didn't have enough killer instinct. They are strong with corners and
set pieces and that's the way they scored.
"But in reaching the quarter-finals we have made a lot of people proud in our
country.
"We are happy with the way we have performed but unhappy with the way we went
out because we have come so far. But this time we were upset and went out
swinging.
"We had them on the ropes, I don't think I have seen Germany as defensive and
on their heels in this tournament as they were against us."
He added: "We can be proud. We have learned there is not much between us and
the so-called giants of the world anymore. If Germany are one of the best teams
in the world then we are not far away.
"With the right attitude and the right approach we can continue to improve.
It just shows that the soccer world is getting really closer."
|
