World Cup Memories: Brazil v USA, 1994

Another of our World Cup Memories for you now and, with England drawing the USA in Group C for World Cup 2010, it just had to be an American memory. The natural choice would have been USA's historic victory over England in 1950, but I'll be buggered if I'm going back that far.

Instead, I'm heading back to 1994 and the World Cup hosted by the United States. It was a tournament without England, but it brought football to the attention of a post-NASL America and the tournament lived up to its billing. Eventual champions Brazil secured victory in a dramatic penalty shoot-out against Italy, with current coach Dunga lifting the trophy.

But the Brazilians didn't have things all their own way, and in the round of 16 had to negotiate a tough game against the hosts. USA had struggled to escape the group stage, progressing as one of the best third-placed teams after finishing third behind Romania and Switzerland in Group A. No such trouble for Brazil, who topped Group B.

The USA came out fighting against Brazil, but it was Leonardo who went too far. Now head coach at AC Milan, the Brazilian midfielder landed a vicious elbow on the skull of Tab Ramos, putting the Real Betis midfielder in hospital for over three months. He was dismissed in the 43rd minute but Bebeto slid Brazil's winner past Tony Meola before Fernando Clavijo followed him down the tunnel in the dying minutes.

Now, the USA is a more mature football nation and it comes as little surprise to see Bob Bradley's men play big teams hard. But then, before Major League Soccer was born, over 80,000 in San Francisco saw the beginnings of a redevelopment in US soccer.