Think you know your soccer trivia? We’ll be the judge of that. Pop quiz: who the heck is Jack Marshall? Even the trivia buffs in the U.S. Soccer Communications Department would be hard-pressed to tell you that one Jack Marshall received his one and only cap way back in 1926. Okay, that was pretty much impossible. They get easier. We give you four questions at varying difficulty levels, from 1 (easiest) to 4 (hardest).

Sure, the U.S. has only played in one previous FIFA Confederations Cup, finishing a strong third way back in the summer of 1999 in the sweltering heat and thick gray air of Mexico, but that hasn’t stopped us from coming up with some trivia regarding the U.S. Men’s National Team and their first entry into this unique biannual mini-World Cup.

 [Editor’s Note: The U.S. did play in a similar event in Saudi Arabia in 1992 that was known then as the Intercontinental Championship, finishing third out of four teams, but the U.S. has competed just once since FIFA began officially staging the event every two years in 1997.]

Questions:
Q1: Which powerful team in this year’s Group B was also grouped with the U.S. for the 1999 Confederations Cup in Mexico?
Q2: The U.S. was 3-2-0 at the 1999 Confederations Cup, with two wins coming via shutout. Which U.S. goalkeeper recorded both of those shutouts?
Q3: Two-part question: 1) Which player on the current U.S. roster for France 2003 scored a goal at Mexico ‘99? 2) Which player NOT on the current U.S. roster for France 2003 scored TWO goals at Mexico ’99?
Q4: Which former U.S. MNT forward and star of the first several MLS seasons provided a game-winning goal and a game-winning assist in a pair of 2-0 wins?

scroll down to see correct answers...

Answers:
A1: Brazil.
A2: Brad Friedel, who was 2-0-0 in the tournament with 2-0 victories over Germany (July 30, in Guadalajara) in the opening round and Saudi Arabia (Aug. 3) in the third place match. Kasey Keller started the other three matches, posting a 1-2-0 record.
A3: Jovan Kirovski, who scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 win over New Zealand in the team’s opening match on July 24, and Brian McBride, who scored insurance goals in both the New Zealand win and the Saudi Arabia win.
A4: Paul Bravo, who assisted on Ben Olsen’s goal in the 2-0 win over Germany and then struck in the 28th minute to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead over the Saudi’s.

Table of Contents
1) Armchair Midfielder (Back in the U.S.S.A.: The Big Six Venues)
2) In Threes (w/ MNT defender Greg Vanney)
3) DeeJay for a Day (w/ U-17 MNT forward Guillermo Gonzalez)
4) Queries & Anecdotes (w/ WNT forward Mia Hamm)
5) Mark That Calendar (MNT vs. Group B – France 2003)
6) Superstar!!! (w/ MNT midfielder Eddie Lewis)
7) FAN Point/Counterpoint (Who will win the 2003 Confederations Cup?)
8) "You Don’t Know Jack (Marshall)" (1999 Confederations Cup Trivia)

Download this issue of Center Circle (.pdf).