USA Vs. The World

As many of you should know by now, yesterday was a historic day. The United States of America played England in a World Cup game, the first time in over 50 years. The outcome was a 1-1 draw, leaving each team with 1 point in the group stage. As the players left the field, Americans rejoiced while English fans were in agony. What gives Americans the right to rejoice? Why did the New York Post headline read "USA WINS 1-1"? I would hardly call a tie a victory. 1 years ago we advanced to the Finals of the Confederations Cup and lost to Brazil 3-2. We took down arguably the best team in the world, Spain, in the semi-finals. Why is this tie so good for us. People everywhere are saying that it will be huge if we get out of group stage. I am sorry, but we ranked 14th in the World, we are one of the largest countries population wise. Rec league soccer is the 2nd most popular sport behind little league Baseball for young kids, and we most certainly have the facilities to support a top of the line team.

I will gladly accept a 1-1 draw, but not cheer for it. We should expect to draw the top teams in the world. After all, are we not one of the top teams in the world? Our top players play for some of the top club teams in the world. Our younger players are not even in their prime yet and are sure to have large impacts in the future. Everything else America competes in, we expect to win, why not Soccer, "the worlds game"? Better yet, why are English fans disappointed with the result? OK, aside from the fact that our 1 goal was a huge blunder on Robert Green (the England Goalie), he also saved England from defeat a few times. Why can the English not accept the fact that America is good at "futbol." If England shared a group with Brazil, Germany, France or any other international powerhouse, they wouldn't be thrilled with a tie, but they wouldn't be as upset.

Both America and the rest of the World need to wake up and realize that the players who take the field for America are good. We have a real chance at doing well this World Cup. We should not be considering a tie with England a "win", we should consider it a tie. We should expect to beat the rest of our group and advance to the knockout stage. Americans need to realize that the World Cup is as important as elections, in fact the World Cup can influence elections and politics. Americans need to stop and realize that playing in the World Cup is a huge deal. Get off our lazy butts, take 2 hours out of your day, go to a bar or a screen set up in a public place and watch history! And the rest of the World should not be upset when they tie or lose to America. We may not be a powerhouse, but we are not a joke. We know how to play the game, we are not just playing to lose, we believe we have as good a shot to win this thing and the next country. They also need to understand that we are going to call the game Soccer, and call the "pitch" a field. It is a tie to Americans, not a draw. If soccer really is the Worlds sport than the World needs to accept how we play the game and what we call the game. The World needs to understand that we are here to play soccer, and we are here to make a statement.

Stop celebrating over yesterdays tie. Look at the tape and realize we could have won that game, just as easily as we could have lost that game. The next few weeks will be a huge test for Americans. If we lose, people will not care, when in fact they should. If we win we will celebrate, but not as much as we should. It is time to wake up, drink your coffee and realize this is big. This is more than big. This game defines the World, changes countries, starts wars and ends them. Makes economies run and can break them down. This is the World Cup, this is Soccer. GO AMERICA!

Keep on smiling