World Cup Thoughts - United States

I have been following soccer since my early childhood, when my father would throw shoes at me when my movements would disrupt his shortwave radio signals while he tried to follow Italian Serie A broadcasts on our front porch in Overbrook, West Philadelphia. Sunday mornings were spent experiencing both wonderment and fear as I tried to listen to the static-y Italian broadcast for news of Napoli's fortunes while dodging my Dad's size 10s. My Dad and I joke about this era, as I make fun of this time in our lives by verbally recreating those front-porch broadcasts - "Inter-Juventus uno-zero. Napoli-Pisa, uno-zhhhhttkkkkphhht". We laugh at the memory of shortwave static even with the scars of shoes hurled at rapid pace at my head and neck still feeling fresh two-plus decades later.

I have drifted in and out of love with the sport known as football the world over in the past two-plus decades. The harshness of relegation was tough for me to swallow as a kid, but as an adult I see the European relegation system as one of the salves for American sports ills. That said, from the 1982 World Cup, won by my father's mother country Italy, until today's matches, the World Cup has been stop-everything-else-in-its-tracks important to me. I recently received one of the finest compliments I have ever been given by one of the best friends I have ever had when she posted the following to my Facebook wall: "FYI, I still can't watch World Cup matches w/o thinking of you. You totally got me into the sport during the summer of '98, and for this I am forever grateful. Hope all’s well".

Football (world football, not the NFL) is the world's game. While I am a big fan of American sports, soccer/football has always been a favorite pursuit for me. Over the past 16 years and four World Cups, American soccer has become an increasingly more powerful player on the world stage. During the 2010 World Cup, I argue that the American national team has shown the world that it is not all that far away from being able to compete with the world elite.


Today, the U.S. had a most disappointing result. The Americans fell behind Ghana 1-0 very early in the match. The Americans dominated the second half, and quite frankly, should have won. However, the U.S. gave up a goal early in overtime and could not equalize. The American run ended in the Round of 16, and Ghana advances. Normally, this is a situation where I would bemoan an incredible lost opportunity. The U.S. should have won the match versus Ghana. The U.S. soccer supporting public should be celebrating and readying for a quarterfinal date with Uruguay. Sadly for us, this is not the case. But instead of attacking the U.S. side for its failing today, I am going to focus on some positives.

First, during today's second half, the U.S. side was dominant. There was no shortage of skill or class during the second 45 minutes of the match. The passing of the American side was beautiful and the chances that were generated were truly world-class. During the second half of today's match the United States national soccer team looked as good as it EVER has on the world stage. I can honestly say that they played at a level where I honestly felt that they could play with anyone on the planet. I have no reservations about making this statement whatsoever.

For anyone who knows me as a longtime Italy loyalist, take note. I will always root for the Azzurri, but just as I stated before the Cup, my loyalties are first to the USA and then to Italy. If the USA ever plays the Italians from here forward, my support will go unequivocally to the red, white and blue - just as it did during the current Cup.

To critics of the American brand of football (soccer), I give you this. The American sporting spirit never quits. A two goal deficit to most sides is unassailable. Not so for the Americans. I always thought that American sporting thought needed to evolve to succeed on the world football stage. I was completely wrong. The 2010 American World Cup side showed that it was unfazed by an early goal. It showed the world that the U.S. team does not quit. The Americans showed throughout the Cup that they will attack and fight until the final whistle, regardless of the score. And you know what? It was not just a matter of effort. American players such as Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley and Benny Feilhaber performed at a level that even the staunchest critics would have to give credit to.


I look online at headlines announcing that the U.S. is not ready to play with the rest of the world. This is wholly inaccurate. The U.S. is closer to playing against the rest of the world today than it was when it reached the quarterfinals in 2002. Come 2014, the world will be on notice, because the Yanks are coming and they will be intimidated by no one.

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