The World Cup Dream Begins!

Well the moment has arrived. I leave for the Portugal National training camp in preparation for the South Africa World Cup!

I have been fortunate to have worked on three different continents with world class players at all levels. However, I never had the opportunity to participate in the World Cup. In fact I never even attended a World Cup. That is all about to change.

Since I was notified to join Portugal’s National Team staff, for the past month I have been functioning on few hours of sleep. From my responsibilities to the University of Hartford to my soccer camps, Connecticut Soccer School and Star Goalkeeper Academy to my family, our two pugs Max and Nuno. It has been an insane pace. But this is my life and soccer is my passion.

It is not often that you get to experience an ultimate dream. Participating in the World Cup competition was the only missing link to complete my professional career dreams.

It is important for me share that my success is very much as a result of people who I was very fortunate to be surrounded by.

People who no mater what had faith and confidence. People who gave me courage to pursue my dreams. People who presented opportunities for me to learn and grow. People who shared their wisdom and knowledge with me. People who were kind and generous with me. It is them I pay tribute and the credit goes to them. I am so grateful to all those who impacted me more than they can ever imagine.

I am proud to be an American born coach who has earned and been given this opportunity. It was in the USA that my formal soccer foundation was developed. I feel I am a reflection of our outstanding coaching system and that I in some way serve as a USA soccer ambassador during my international travels. My goal was to develop my American ingenuity and combine with my unique European experiences. This combination has shaped me as a coach. Have no doubt that we have outstanding soccer educators in this country and the rest of the world should recognize this fact. I happen to be the fortunate one. This does not mean I am better or special but simply I am unique. Hopefully, in the near future we will have more like me who will have the opportunity to display their skills in the international arena.

I am so excited about being involved in the South Africa World Cup. What a competition. Think about the magnitude. 204 countries participate. 850 games down to 32 teams who will play 64 games. Finally one team will be crowned “World Champion”. This process is certainly worthy of the title “World Champion”.

My only regret is that it is not possible to put all my friends and love ones inside my body and have the opportunity look out through my eyes what I will be experiencing. I’m sure it will be difficult for me to express in words what I will see and feel.

When I was notified that I was selected to join the Portugal National Team coaching staff. I went through a maze of emotions. It was as if I was a bottle and the cork was removed and all my emotions spilled out. I began to reflect on the sacrifices that I and my family and professional associates had made to allow me this opportunity. I drove back to Colts Park in Hartford and began walking around in the areas that my father use to train me. The tree that I used to throw the ball off and catch is still there. My father was a former Professional goalkeeper in Portugal. He was my mentor, my inspiration and my hero. You cannot imagine how proud he is. In fact sometimes his pride is embarrassing when he is with his friends having coffee or sipping on a glass of red wine. It’s all good. He loves his son and I love him.

Since I was informed by Professor Carlos Queiroz and head coach of the Portugal National Team the process began for me to mentally and physically prepare myself for the challenges I will be encountering.

Mentally I started the process by assembling selected motivational songs on my IPod that would be part of my daily life. Physically I needed to accept who I am today and not what I was 16 years ago when I was also part of Portugal’s world cup qualification process. We lost to Italy in Sao Siro Stadium in the 1993. That lost prevented Portugal to qualify to the 1994 World Cup hosted by the USA. Along with Coach Carr and Coach Kelly’s encouragement we put together a plan that was reasonable yet challenging. The University of Hartford players were very patient with my regime. I receive total support from my players and coaching staff. There support and understanding was awesome.

The goalkeeper preparation has begun in my mind as well as offering suggestions on team bounding and mental preparations to cope with the pressures of the World Cup competition.

I am sad and the anxiety is high as I depart my friends and love ones. It’s my comfort zone. Now I take this exciting adventure and journey to South Africa. Thinking and hoping everyday that the Portugal National Team will represent their country with pride, dignity and honor. There are so many factors that we cannot control. One thing is for sure; our players and coaching staff will be as best prepared as possible. No detail will be overlook. I am confident if there were World Cups awarded for preparation that Portugal would be a very serious candidate to lift the Trophy. Unfortunately, there is no such award. It’s about results on the field and the rest is about conversation.

With in the next few hours, I will step off the plane in Portugal and I will smell, eat, drink and eat soccer. The fierce soccer debates start immediately. From the taxi driver to the little kids to the grandparents everyone will have an opinion on the Portugal National Team. This is a country that is completely embraced by the game of soccer. They live it, breath it, they are consumed by the beautiful game and so am I.

Live the World Cup!
Dan Gaspar