Drama on the Pitch

It took 91 minutes, but the United States eventually got that 1-0 lead and win it needed to advance and win the group. We all know the run up, Dempsey robbed on a bad call, the US dominating the chances but not scoring, then a Tim Howard throw, which I'm sure would impress Payton Manning, found the feet of Donavon; Donavon to Jozy, Jozy to Dempsey, Dempsey denied, and Landon follows up with the rebound goal. I'm not trying to downplay the goal, trust me I was going nuts, quietly nuts, but nuts nonetheless. But we all know how it happened and what it did, but do we know what it meant? Do we truly know how big it was?

One person that doesn't is a man by the name of Pat Caputo. Normally, I would never bring up another journalist in this blog, but I have a bit of a bone to pick with Mr. Caputo. Caputo said, nay ranted, about how little this game meant, only because we played Algeria. He was angry that people, although I have yet to hear one soul make this one besides him, were comparing it to the US Olympic hockey win against Canada at Canada this year. Let me break this down Breaded Style...

Hockey is great yes, but this win is bigger. Under every normal circumstance I'd say the US hockey was bigger, but these weren't normal circumstances. Question, if the hockey team lost that game, would they have been out? No. Would the soccer team? Yes. Did the hockey score in the last seconds to win that? No. Soccer? Yes. Ya get my point here? The timing and what was at stake makes this win bigger. Okay sure, it was Algeria, but to win under pressure when everything is on the line, that is always impressive in my book.

Also, let's factor in that everyone in that stadium was rooting against the US, with a select few of course. Everyone else wanted the African nation to win that match. So the hostility was there. Also add in the two major blown calls that almost kept the US from advancing, and then you got yourself one hell of an accomplishment.

Sorry Pat, but this win means so much, and that was just the tip of the iceberg. The US wins the group for the first time since 1930. Last time I checked, that's a really long time. The sport was almost dead in the 70's and 80's, it was saved by a goalie that never saw the pitch in a WC game(read the article, link at the end). And now, the popularity is rising, and thanks to this game, people believe that the US can actually compete. I don't care if you hate soccer, if you don't see the significance in this win, then you are an ignorant buffoon (directed at all, not just Pat.)

This win, and this WC run could spark a huge growth in interest for the game of soccer. As weird as it sounds, the Fifa franchise has really helped laying the ground work for building interest. The MLS is getting better, and more US players are competing at international levels. Factor in all of this, and you can see that popularity for soccer is rising. There are those who still deny it, but soccer is pretty damn popular here in the states now. Had the US lost, all those on the fringe fans, would just say, "Oh the US sucks, who cares?" But now, they're sayin "Hey... we could make a decent run here, these guys are pretty good." I don't care if it was just Algeria, this win has monumental significance for the sport stateside.

Official prediction: Because the US won the group, we now have a favorable bracket to play with. No Germany, no Argentina, instead we get Ghana and the winner of Uruguay and South Korea. Reaching the semis is very doable, and I believe the Yanks will do it. No, not a type, the US will reach the semis. Beyond that, doubtful, but reaching the semis is one hell of an achievement for such a "lousy squad."

Thanks to Mike for posting this, and check out this piece, long but very good.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5308513/ce/us/david-vanole-esophagus-saved-us-soccer?cc=5901&ver=us