Soccer

This past Sunday I went to Soldier Field to see the US National Team. Unlike most things national, I was filled with hope. The US was playing multi-world cup winning Brazil, and the team this year may be the best yet. So expectedly I was hoping for a huge upset from the no.17 ranked US over the no. 1 ranked Brazil. I did not get to see a win, but I saw something else.

The score of 4-2 would not spell out a close game, but it was a close game. The US was the first to strike, with a corner resulting in a goal by Bocanegra. The US was of to a good start. Then in the 33rd min. an own goal from the US tied it up. Brazil then scored off a header by Lucio. Then in the 73rd min. Dempsey (one of the US players with the most promis) scored. So in the 73rd min. US and Brazil were tied. I (and the rest of the croud) began chanting "U-S-A" It may have been the most American I have ever felt. This is the true power of sport. Then 2 min. later Ronaldinho scored brining it to 3-2.

This game was tight, the only way Brazil was up was the own goal from the US. Then came stoppage time and in the first min. a terrible call was made by the Mexican ref. (probably sore over the domination the US put on the tri-color). He called a penalty kick for a foul half as bad as the one Brazil gave the US in the 67th min. I was in shock. Of course the goal was good and the story was over there.

The lesson from the story is more than "we lost". It is "we lost, but looked great doing it" This may not seem like much, but after the overhyped and underpreformed team of the 2006 World Cup, it was nice to see a team worth playing internationally. In my mind that game was played more like a 2-2 tie. Either way I have hope that the US will soon be showing the international community that we deserve some respect.