BRAZIL HAD IT COMING; WYNALDA SAYS U.S. TRIUMPH WAS ON SCHEDULE.

Byline: LEE BARNATHAN / Soccer

Do you believe in miracles, part two:

The U.S. national team's 1-0 victory over Brazil last week in the CONCACAF Gold Cup was significant, perhaps as important as the hockey team's 1980 victory over the Soviet Union.

Different era, different sport, same result: a semifinal victory over a world champion by a heavily unfavored American team.

Despite Sunday's loss to Mexico in the final, the victory showed that U.S. soccer continues to improve its standing in the world. It wasn't long ago the Americans were basically a joke. By the '94 World Cup, the U.S. proved itself respectable. Now it is formidable, no matter who the opponent.

According to forward Eric Wynalda, a Westlake High graduate who was part of several major U.S. victories, beating Brazil was coming.

``You've got to look at us and Brazil to put it all in perspective,'' Wynalda said Wednesday, the day after the Americans sent shock waves through the world. Wynalda went back to 1994, when the U.S. met Brazil in a World Cup second-round game at Stanford. Even with only 10 players, Wynalda said the Brazilians outclassed the Americans.

The next year, at Copa America, the players expressed excitement at getting another shot at Brazil. It nonetheless resulted in another loss, but Wynalda and others pointed out at least the team wasn't afraid.

``I think every kid growing up wants to play against Brazil,'' said defender Eddie Pope, who got his chance last week. ``It's an opportunity to get better, an opportunity to improve.''

In 1996 at the Coliseum, the U.S. played Brazil more evenly, with only an own goal being the difference in a 1-0 loss.

Then came Tuesday.

``Four months before the World Cup, it opens eyes,'' midfielder Claudio Reyna said last week. ``I was in Germany (with VfL Wolfsburg) when we beat Cuba and Costa Rica, and they were talking about it. Now that we beat Brazil, I'm going to call my friends and save the articles.''

``It's funny,'' Wynalda mused. ``We beat England (2-0 in 1993 U.S. Cup). We beat Argentina (3-0 in 1995 Copa America). We beat Colombia in the World Cup. All those coaches lost their jobs. I'm worried about Brazil's coach. We'd like to think it wasn't Brazil's coach's fault. We'd like to think it was us.''

Still one bigger: The U.S. players thought beating Brazil ranked up there with beating Colombia in 1994. Others soccer veterans disagreed.

ABC-TV commentator Seamus Malin and Spanish announcer Andres Cantor, known for the long ``Goooool!'' call, said the Americans' 2-1 shocker over Colombia was the single most important soccer victory in U.S. history.

They gave the same reasons: It occurred on the world stage during the World Cup, the most important sporting event in the world.

Plus, ``They (Colombia) were a favorite to win,'' Cantor said.

Seeking youth: Despite the loss to Mexico, ending a nine-match unbeaten streak, the Americans have taken another step in earning respect from the soccer world. Now it needs to be asked: Who will take over after France '98?

We're not talking about coach Steve Sampson here. We mean what players will build on the tradition begun in the last three World Cups by the likes of Wynalda, Marcelo Balboa, Paul Caliguiri, Thomas Dooley, John Harkes and Tab Ramos?

The player who came to mind during last week's Soccer Player of the Year awards at the Beverly Hilton was the 24-year-old Pope, who won the award over Reyna, 24, and Kasey Keller, 28.

Pope helped D.C United win the first two Major League Soccer Cups, even scoring the winning goal in overtime against the Galaxy in 1997. He also has played a capable defender and scoring option in the Gold Cup, just missing tying the match against Mexico.

``Two years ago, no one knew him,'' Wynalda said, ``and he can play with some of the best players in the world.''

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PHOTO American players believe they are now on par with the best in the world.

Associated Press