U.S. Soccer Upsets Spain; We Don’t Suck Anymore?
Last week, after an especially ugly 3-0 loss to Brazil, I wrote a whiny little kneejerk post complaining about U.S. soccer. This is me:
There was a time, somewhere after the 2002 World Cup and through 2006, when the U.S. was considered a rising national soccer power. As of right now, those days are over. The U.S. Men’s National team is better than it once was, but it’s far from a power. At this point, it’s anything but.
What a whiny little b.
Today, the U.S. showed me, and thousands of HATERZ worldwide, where we could shove our apparently premature evaluations, topping Spain 2-0 in the Confederations Cup semifinal. This is the most unlikeliest of results, considering the following:
A.) Before their final group stage game, the U.S. needed to beat Egypt 3-0 and have Brazil beat Italy 3-0 to advance. This happened. Previous to that 3-0 win over Egypt, the U.S. had been playing sloppy, apathetic soccer not only in cup games but in World Cup qualifiers. There was little chance they’d beat Egypt, let alone Spain, especially because …
B.) Spain is without question the best national team in the world. They’d won gone unbeaten in 35 straight games and won 15 straight; their last loss was in 2006; and they’re the reigning European champions from Euro 2008, the best non-World Cup tournament in the world.
Spain: really really good. The U.S.: pretty much just bad. And yet, a 2-0 win for the U.S. on the strength of amazing defending, great goaltending by Tim Howard, a couple of slightly fortunate but well-deserved goals, and an uncharacteristic solidity throughout the midfield. The U.S. didn’t look sloppy or panicked nearly as much today, and even when they did, the back line kept them from conceding a goal. It was brilliant.
The Confederations Cup doesn’t mean much, but this game means everything to the U.S. So you’re telling me we don’t suck anymore?
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Not sure that you care enough to change it E, but Spain was unbeaten in their last 35 and had won 15 in a row, for what it's worth.
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