No Shame in the Silver

So for about 60 minutes this afternoon, what many said was to be impossible looked as if it were going to come true. The United States Men's National Team were up 2-0 against powerhouse Brazil and on their way to beating another top ranked team and winning their first FIFA tournament. But the dream shattered when Brazil scored 3 goals in the second half against an obvious fatigued US team. Many soccer fans in the US thought the sports writers and talking heads on ESPN may have to eat their words for once, but alas their egos are safe for now. Most likely any Monday morning coverage in the newspapers will talk about how the United States "choked" under the pressure and showed that their still not as good as the powerhouses of Brazil, Spain, and Italy. The talking heads shows on ESPN will talk about how people got carried away with this soccer thing, and the US let everyone down again. Its a shame that they can't see past the result and see how great this Confederations Cup tournament was for American Soccer.

Starting off with two less than stellar performances, this team rallied to beat a very overlooked Egypt team who has won the last two African Cup of Nations tournaments. Sure they aren't Italy, Brazil, Spain or France, but they are a good team who also took Brazil to the edge in the first round of the tournament. And with everything working out in their favor, the US advanced in what was called the "group of death". But it's no surprise for the United States to be drawn into a group at FIFA tournaments with other high ranked teams. The past two World Cups, the United States has been grouped into the toughest groups.

After advancing they drew #1 ranked Spain in the semi-finals, which seemed like an impossible to advance. But as the Adidas marketing slogan says "Impossible is nothing". The United States outplayed the best team in the world, and advanced to their first FIFA tournament final. They also turned heads and grabbed attention from casual sports fans and patriotic Americans alike. Coverage on Sportscenter and local nightly news programs, talking head programs actually devoting more than 30 seconds to Soccer, and water cooler conversations at offices across the country finally gave some attention to the sport that most people usually don't even know the rules to. But of course you still had your arrogant sports talk personalities like Jim Rome and Colin Cowheard who still bashed the sport and said it was a fluke.

Well on Sunday the United States proved it was no fluke. Sure they didn't win the game, and gave up a 2 goal lead at halftime, but they played with 4 time World Cup Champion Brazil and took them to the brink. Casual sports fans actually tuned in and watched an entire soccer match. Of course most of them still didn't understand the concept of stoppage time, but hey at least their watching. But my gut feeling as a supporter of this sport and a die hard fan of the National Team says that the American media will use this game against the men's team. The Jim Rome's and Colin Cowheard's of the world will say "I told you so" and stick their tongue out at soccer supporters across the nation. But little do they know that "in defeat can come victory". The United States played defeated the best in the world, and took what most likely will be the new #1 ranked team in the world to the brink, proving at least to me that this team can play with the best and will improve. But don't tell that to the media.