Jason HeimA Modern Day Miracle
June 22nd 2009 19:44
Category: Soccer
There are many, many faithful followers of USA Soccer who suffer through every disappointing loss and underachieving performance. For years, this team has been like the brutal train wreck that we just can't look away from.
The beginning of last week's group play in the FIFA Confederations Cup looked like it would be a familiar fate for USA soccer fans, with the Americans drawing a monster of a group in perennial superpower Brazil, defending World Cup Champion Italy, and pesky Egypt. The U.S. kicked off group play with a 3-1 loss to Italy (which was much more competitive than the score indicates), followed by an increasingly-unimpressive 3-0 loss to Brazil. At 0-2 with a differential of -5, it was a virtual lock that the U.S. would not be advancing into this week's elimination round.
Then Sunday's miracle unraveled. Kicking off against 1-1 Egypt needing to win by at least 3 goals AND needing Brazil to beat Italy by 3, American fans were not holding their breath in the least. Italy-Brazil were facing off concurrently, so the American team could track their progress and reassess their chances while its game was going on.
By the statistics, Egypt and Italy both had better chances to advance than the U.S. All Italy needed to do was stay within 3 goals, and Egypt could complete its unlikely run into the semifinals by beating the winless Americans. U.S. coach Bob Bradley could have rested the vets, let the younger guys play, and try to get a game speed look at some different lineups and strategies, but he didn't.
A few hours after kickoff, the unlikeliest of scenarios in Group B had unraveled: the U.S. dominated Egypt with an impressive and courageous 3-0 effort. Most improbable, though, was Brazil's shocking blitz of the world champions by that same 3-0 score. The U.S. pulled into a 3-way tie for second place at 1-0-2, then won the tiebreaker with best goal differential. The heart and determination of the U.S. players paid off in their shocking advancement into the semis.
The recent developments from the Confederations Cup in South Africa have certainly piqued fan interest stateside and reignited the buzz about U.S. soccer that hasn't been heard since the lead up to the 2006 World Cup. Heading into the semis this week, it doesn't get any easier for the confident American team. They will be huge underdogs against tournament favorite Spain on Wednesday, who sliced through Group A without allowing a goal against Iraq, New Zealand, and host South Africa. Momentum will be vital for U.S.A. as they look to continue their run and close the gap between itself and the world's soccer elite.
Has the United States finally turned the corner and found the right equation to sustain success against the world's best? No one can be sure about this revitalized U.S. team until matches are played against Spain and beyond. One thing is for sure, though: the buzz about U.S.A. soccer has returned for the time being.
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