Westcott Field's International Ties & Players' Favorite World Cup Moments
By: Victoria White


   
    In jam-packed stadiums where face-painted fans sing chants at the top of their lungs, emotions, ranging from jumping-up-and-down joy to nauseating despair, run high.

    Every year, at the FIFA World Cup, the hard-fought upsets and thrilling goals, amidst colorful waving scarves and billowing flags, embody the heart and grit of players making history for their home nations.

    In Russia, this summer, Croatia defeated highly-favored-to-win England, celebrating the country's first ever trip to a World Cup Final.

    A few months earlier in March, Croatia practiced on Westcott Field, which has maintained international connections since it's infancy in '94, when it served as a training site for the Dallas venue of the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

    "We got to watch them practice," sophomore defender Talen Maples said. "They were here, just practicing before they played Mexico in Dallas Cowboys Stadium, AT& T Stadium, and it was fun. We got to see them out here, and see the difference between the level of play and what the players we look up to do in everyday training."

    Several members of Mustangs men's soccer shared their favorite World Cup moments throughout the years.

    For Maples, it is the moment that Clint Dempsey, who recently announced his retirement from professional soccer, scored the fastest World Cup goal by an American, a mere 29 seconds into a match in 2014.

    "I really liked when Clint Dempsey scored the fastest World Cup [goal] against Ghana," Maples said. "And also, I liked South Africa's goal, the first one of the World Cup [in 2010]. They went crazy and it was just a great, great atmosphere to be watching."

    When asked if he had a favorite World Cup moment, junior forward Akean Shackleford thought for a second.

    "Honestly, I don't. I don't," Shackleford said with a smile. "Because I'm from Jamaica, and my country [has] only made the World Cup once. I was like two years old, so there is nothing I could possibly remember. But, if I should choose one…I'd probably chose the 2010 FIFA World Cup where South Africa scored the first World Cup goal. That was a good moment."

    A consensus top moment, senior midfielder/forward Christian Boroom agreed.

    "One of my favorite World Cup moments was when [Siphiwe] Tshabalala [in] that first game of the 2010 World Cup, hit that top corner. Just spicer. That was nice," Boorom said.

    Some Mustangs' favorite moments have to do with family heritage.

    "For me, I'm half Swedish, so my favorite World Cup moment was when Sweden beat Mexico in the last games through the knock out stage," freshman midfielder Knut Ahlander said.

    Likewise, freshman goalkeeper Elek Arany, chose an exciting victory that pushed the team he was rooting for on to the next level.

    "When Belgium beat Japan, 3-2, this year in the Round of 16, after they were down, 2-0, kind of late in the second half," Arany said. "It was a great comeback and my family's all Belgian, so it was really exciting to watch that."

    Malaga, Spain, native, freshman midfielder Cristobal Moreno's favorite moment has to do with his ancestry, too.

    "As a Spaniard, my best World Cup moment was when we won the World Cup in 2010," Moreno said. "For me, that was the best one. When [Andres] Iniesta scored that goal, that was my best moment in the World Cup."

    Sophomore defender Joshua Berney also remembers the World Cup-winning goal in the final round that Spain scored over Japan. Ineista fell to his knees, shaking his hands toward the sky and throwing his head back in sheer jubilation.

    "I was in Missouri watching it," Berney said. "I was only like 12, so it's not that young. But, I remember exactly where I was, and it was really cool because I'm a Spain fan."

    Senior midfielder Caleb Smith's favorite World Cup moment came down the final seconds in an Italy vs. France suspense-filled shootout.

    "Probably 2006 final, the game winning PK by Fabio Gorosso for Italy," Caleb Smith said. "Yeah, that's one of my favorite memories."

    The rich and vibrant culture of host country Brazil in the 2014 FIFA World Cup stood out most to sophomore midfielder Luke Thompson.

    "I just felt like it was a great place for the tournament to be and all the teams played really well," Thompson said. "That was a lot of fun to watch."

    Inevitably, iconic moments occurred in 2018, too.

    "From this summer?" sophomore midfielder Ryan Capo said, contemplatively. "Probably Cristiano Ronaldo's hat trick [against] Spain. That's my favorite player and my idol, so seeing him score a hat trick against one of the top nations, it was fantastic."

    Another stand out play in the most recent games was top notch according to senior midfielder Emil Cuello, when Argentina advanced after a 2-1 triumph over Nigeria.

    "Definitely, when [Lionel] Messi scored that goal against Nigeria," Cuello said. "When [Ever] Banega hit that 50 yard pinger, and [Messi] just killed it with his thigh. He killed it with his foot, and finished with his right. That was one of my favorite moments."

    Freshman goalie Shane Lanson was even in Denmark for the World Cup this year.

    "I just loved watching Kasper [Schmeichel] for Denmark," Lanson said. "[He's] Denmark's goalie, and he played fantastic during the World Cup."

    When the USA hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup, Germany, Bulgaria, Sweden and Holland used Westcott Field as a training site for competition in Dallas. While the U.S. hosted the Women's World Cup in 1999 and 2003, it has been 24 years since the last World Cup, on the men's side, was on U.S. soil.

    However, this summer, the United States, along with Mexico and Canada, won a joint bid, dubbed the United Bid, to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

    Still in the process of narrowing down cities, AT&T Stadium in Dallas is in high consideration for the international celebration and competition.

    Perhaps, Westcott Field will be utilized, too.