Altidore and Howard, 2010

2006

What a difference four years make! Reyna, the star in 2002, has a disastrous 2006, including a killer turnover against Ghana. Pope, whose Metro stint came between those two tournaments, is back for his third go-around. Also on the US squad are Chris Albright (doesn't get off the bench), Bobby Convey (somehow manages to get into all three games), and Tim Howard (in a backup role).

Henry and France make a complete turn-around as well, but this one is of a positive variety. They make it all the way to the final, losing to Italy, and the future Metro icon scores three: one versus South Korea, one versus Togo, and the lone goal in a quarterfinal win against Brazil. Marquez is back as well, and scores in the Round of 16 loss to Argentina.

Ex-Metro Cornell Glen plays in all three games for spirited debutant Trinidad and Tobago. Future Metro Juninho (remember him? He was here last year!) features three times for Brazil, and even scores against Japan. Tim Cahill scores Australia's first two ever World Cup goals (they failed to tally in their first appearance in 1974), both coming in a 3:1 win, as Japan is victimized again.

2010

The US team is full of ex-Metros, as Howard is magnificent in goal, and his last-second long pass leads to the dramatic game winner against Algeria. Jozy Altidore is involved in the play as well. Michael Bradley has his own theatrics, scoring the equalizer in a 2:2 draw versus Slovenia (of course, we all know that should have been a win). Ricardo Clark and Edson Buddle, the latter laughed out of New York four years prior, feature as well.

Marquez returns, and spoils the home-standing South Africans opener by tallying in a 1:1 draw. Henry is back as well, but France once again befuddles, losing out on the group stage after scoring a single goal. Australia features two future Metros: Cahill, who scores the lone goal in a 1:0 win over Serbia, and David Carney.

Rounding out the 2010 roster are one of the best Metros of all time, Amado Guevara, who captains Honduras, and Andrew Boyens (never to be mistaken of one of the best), who doesn't get off the bench for New Zealand, but becomes the fifth all-time CURRENT Metro to appear on the world's biggest stage.

2014

Altidore, Bradley, and Howard are back for the US, together with debuting Brad Davis. Marquez will continue spreading his douchery for Mexico. But, of course, we're most excited about Cahill and Roy Miller (yes, Roy Miller!), the sixth and seventh all-time CURRENT Metros to participate in the World Cup.

Whew.

See the complete list of Metro players and their World Cup appearances.