When it comes to World Cup experience, Josh Wolff has plenty. The Wizards forward is one of 11 players to represent the US National Team in Korea/Japan 2002 and Germany 2006. Wolff was a 25-year-old forward for the Chicago Fire with 16 caps and four goals to his name when Bruce Arena first called upon him to be a part of the World Cup squad. Eight years later, and with South Africa looming on the horizon, Wolff talked to MLSsoccer.com about his first experience on the world’s biggest stage.
MLSsoccer.com: You were a relatively young guy in Korea/Japan 2002. What sticks out about that tournament for you?
Josh Wolff: When it starts, you are never really prepared for which way it’s going to go. Our group in 2002 was Portugal, Korea and Poland, obviously difficult but doable. I think the biggest surprise was that we came out and were up 3-0 against Portugal in the first half. I don’t think we expected that, and certainly people around the world didn’t expect that. We got a result in the game that we weren’t expected to. Then against the hosts, we did very well to tie. Unfortunately, we fell on our face against Poland, but Korea was able to help us out and beat Portugal. The one thing I can say is that you’ve got to expect the unexpected. You’re not sure how things are going to turn out until the games begin. And when they start, the tournament takes on a life of its own.
MLSsoccer.com: What was it like to not just get out of the group, but also to beat Mexico in the Round of 16 and then play so well against Germany in the Quarterfinals?
Wolff: We got out of the group and for us, at that point, to face Mexico was great. They were a team we struggled against for many, many years, but from 2000 on I think we started to turn the corner. To play them on the biggest stage in the world was great for us. We came out with a lot of determination and grit, and I think that’s what our group was, and has always, been about. We stuck it to them, which was a great feeling. We came up a little short against Germany, which was actually probably our best game of the tournament. You’ve just got to make the most of your opportunities, leave it all out on the field and hope the results go your way.
MLSsoccer.com: Obviously, there is a healthy rivalry between the US and Mexico. What was it like to not just beat Mexico, but to beat them with the highest stakes possible?
Wolff: That was certainly one of those highlight games for me and for us as a country in the sport. It’s one thing to beat them in friendlies in America or beat them in qualifying. But when you are at that event and you have everything to play for, it’s the greatest stage in sports. We were on the busses afterward and we were able to celebrate. There were songs and guys are having beers, and their bus was next to ours. The feeling that we had –that we took them out of the tournament and kind of stuck it to them–, I think if you asked anybody that was on that team, that was one of those moments that you absolutely savored. It set in. It was really exciting. There was just exhilaration that, over one game, I don’t think we’ve felt. Those guys have that same opportunity going into this one. You take down England and you’ll have some really great feelings.
