Talking about our generation: Top 10 U.S. men's national team moments

A friend of mine recently requested a top 10 list of moments from the 1994 World Cup, an event that really raised soccer awareness here in the states and let's face it the reason why this blog is possible today.

I figured with today's first big pre-cup match with the Netherlands to get you folks I might top that request with a top 10 list of U.S. national team moments in our generation. Hopefully this list will spark some debate - throw something in the comment section if you disagree or have another moment that influenced you.

10. Like the British music invasion the late 1960s brought The Beatles, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and many other vastly influential bands - conversely the 2000s have been the decade of American soccer invasion in Europe. More American players are gaining experience at the highest levels of club and international soccer than at any time in the U.S. team's history. A few of those player include Landon Donovan and Tim Howard (Everton), Jozy Altidore (Hull City), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Maurice Edu and DeMarcus Beasley (Rangers), Brad Friedel and Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Eddie Johnson and Freddy Adu (Aris), Steve Cherundolo (Hanover 96), Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt), and many more.

9. In the 2000s the U.S. also established itself as the best team on the North American continent thanks to several big wins over their rival Mexicans and three Gold Cups wins in 2002, 2005, and 2007. The biggest of those Gold Cups was the 2007 2-1 victory over Mexico in which both teams had their top squads. Last summer after the Confederations Cup, the Mexicans got a little revenge defeating the Americans 5-0 in the final, but the U.S. did not bring its A-team to the tournament instead calling up many young players for their first action. Regardless our great Red White and Blue clearly were the team of the decade on this continent.

8. Is a tie between three great 1-1 ties - the 1994 draw with Switzerland, 1-1, the 2002 draw with co-host and eventual third place finishers South Korea, 1-1, and the 2006 draw with eventual World Cup champions Italy, 1-1.

The first two ties in '94 and '02 propelled the U.S. into the knock-out stages, and although the '06 tie could not do the same remarkably the goal the Americans scored (be it an Italy own goal) was the only the Azzurri boys let up the entire tournament.

7. The launching of MLS in 1996, a pivotal moment for the growth and development of young American players. the league has seen more than its fare share of bumps and bruises over the years, but the league is still relatively new in comparison to the other major professional sports leagues in America and continues to chug along.

6. Of course our No. 7 moment would not be possible without this moment - the 1994 World Cup in the states. Filling our enormous American football stadiums across the country like the Pasadena Rose Bowl, the Pontiac Silverdome, and Foxboro the tournament drew enormous crowds and exposed the American people to the crazy passion the rest of the world has for the beautiful game. Noise makers, songs, fireworks, and even hooligans, but in the end it was enough to help start MLS.

5. The 1998 Gold Cup gave American soccer one of it's top three greatest victories in the history of the team. The semifinals pitted the Red White and Blue against the heavily favored reigning World Cup champion Brazil, who had only lost one time since that victory in 1994. Although the Samba boys did not have all of their first-team players, the talent they assembled should have been more than enough to walk out with the tournament championship.

The Americans had other plans and a second-half strike by Kansas City Wizards' star Preki along with a mesmerizing performance in net by Kasey Keller led the U.S. to an incredible upset, 1-0. After the game legendary Brazilian striker Romario, who was stoned point-blank on several occasions by Keller, would called the American keeper the best in the world.

Unfortunately "El Matador" Luis Hernandez of Mexico spoiled the U.S.' attempts to win the Gold Cup scoring the lone goal of the final and perhaps in a haze, the U.S. would go on to lose every match at '98 World Cup France.

4. Last summer the U.S. pulled off their best finish in a world-wide international tournament taking second place at the World Cup prequel 2009 Confederation's Cup in South Africa. Defeating Egypt 3-0 in the final group match combined with Brazil's 3-0 defeat of Italy on the same day, the U.S. qualified for the semifinal match with Spain by the skin of their teeth. But the stunner of all stunners was the American victory over World No. 1 ranked Spain, 2-0 in the semifinals. At the time Espania was riding a record 15-match winning streak and 35 match unbeaten streak (tied with Brazil).

The only following moments that topped that victory over Spain occurred in the grandest of stages - the World Cup.

3. Let's face sports are better with rivalries - a team you just love to hate, one you despise so much your mouth curls in disgust each time you think of them. For the U.S. that team is Mexico. Geographically and historically you don't need me to tell you these two countries dislike each other and that passionate hatred has carried out over onto the pitch in many memorable games.

Like I said before the U.S. was the team of the decade on the North American continent over its bitter rival and enemy Mexico largely in part to the U.S.' victory over its southern neighbor in the 2002 World Cup, 2-0. Mexico has never been the same since and the sleeping giant that is the U.S. continues to rise towards a true world power.

2. It was the shot heard round the world - at least the footballing world. Heading into the 2002 World Cup, Portugal were experiencing their golden generation led Luis Figo and Rui Costa, and were heavy favorites not only to win Group D but also the World Cup.

But the Portuguese were in for a rude awakening as the U.S. erupted with three first half goals in both team's first game of the tournament. John O'Brien scored less than four minutes into the game on a rebound off a corner, Landon Donovan then made it two for the U.S. on a deflected cross, and Brian McBride's electrifying diving header on a brilliant cross from Tony Sanneh gave the team just enough juice to hold off a late Portugal come-back effort and win, 3-2.

1. If the 1994 World Cup made Americans aware of the international phenomenon that was soccer, then the U.S. team's performance held up its end of the bargain delivering the biggest win in American soccer history.

After earning an important draw with Switzerland in the opening game of the Cup, the U.S. pulled off the American faced the No. 4 ranked team in the world captained by the big hair do of Carlos Valderrama. Columbia like Portugal in 2002 was the favorite to win Group A and was getting better odds in many places to win the World Cup than eventual champion Brazil.

A first half cross by John Harkes led to Andres Escobar's famous own goal and 62nd strike by Ernie Stewart ensured the win over the South Americans despite giving up a late goal, 2-1.

Yes the U.S. upset England in 1950 to reach the semifinals of the World Cup, but that win did not launch of a professional league and a national movement of young soccer fans to pick up the game. And in fact the win over Colombia was the first for the U.S. in the World Cup since its famous win over England.