Cleveland Twitter welcomes Andrew Wiggins
June 27, 2014According to AP report, the Cavaliers have traded Alonzo Gee
June 27, 2014
MADRID, Spain —America has a new mass of soccer fans, and what a welcome they’ve received.
In the past week, the sport has shown off some of its strangest intricacies. It is a sport full of paradoxes, and they have been on full display thus far in this USMNT World Cup campaign.
Sunday’s draw felt like the world was ending, yet yesterday’s 1-0 defeat to Germany felt like a gift from the gods. Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese villain of Sunday’s match with his inch perfect 95th minute cross, provided vital breathing room for the Stars and Stripes when he rolled home a loose ball in the 80th minute to give A Selecçao das Quinas a 2-1 lead over Ghana that they would not relinquish.
So, at the end of the day, our American boys are going through to face Belgium on Tuesday. The Red Devils were a trendy pick to make a deep run in this tournament, but they have looked listless through much of their three group stage games. They emerge as winners of Group H with the full nine points, but they needed a come from behind effort against surprising Algeria, an 88th minute goal to beat Russia, and another late goal to finish South Korea after going down to 10 men just before halftime.
But Belgium is a problem for another day. Today is a day to celebrate a great achievement for American soccer as they successfully navigated the Group of Death and advanced to the knockout rounds for the second straight World Cup, a first in American soccer history. While they didn’t make it easy – just imagine how fun this game could have been if the U.S. had already clinched advancement by holding out for another 30 seconds against Portugal – they managed to scrap together four points and a second-place finish. Playing beautiful soccer is nice, but undeniably secondary. Just like in March Madness, the most effective tactic in the World Cup is survive and advance.
From the onset, my personal hope for this World Cup was that I would get to see at least one game back in the States. Clint Dempsey, Jermaine Jones, Tim Howard and the rest – American heroes all – have given me that opportunity. The experience of stumbling into a raucous bar packed with Americans in Madrid has been incredible – John from Purdue, if you’re reading this know that you were a splendid and knowledgeable companion to watch the Germany match with – but I can’t wait to be back home, where every bar, not just one or two Irish pubs, will be wall-to-wall red, white, and blue.
I come home tomorrow, and you best believe I’ll be wearing my U.S. “Bomb Pop” jersey the whole way. Let’s hope that our team in Brazil doesn’t make the trip back home for another few weeks.
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Image: Associated Press
3 Comments
I am debating taking a half day on Tuesday (here in the West Coast). Being a Cleveland fan its hard to get my hopes up, but after watching BEL yesterday they didn’t look THAT scary. They one goal they scored was on an insanely poor play from the opposing goalie. We had some okay looks against GER, just need some better first touches
I don’t know. I’m happy to advance, but not happy with the loss. I didn’t celebrate upon losing to Germany as I have seen many have.
I expected 1-1-1 and a tossup whether we advance or not. That is what we did.
No new updates?
What are people expecting/hoping to see tomorrow, especially with a possible return of Altidore? I’m actually ok with the offense without him, and would be fine using him as a later sub, as he’s probably not 100% anyway.
I like the idea of keeping Gonzalez in after that performance and moving Cameron to RB. Johnson’s going to have his hands full with Hazard, and will be more useful anyway in a more forward role. Every last bit of height against Fellaini won’t hurt either. I’d guess I’d start Bedoya on the other side, but don’t see how he’ll last 90 mins.
Yedlin for Gonzalez (Cameron back to CB, Johnson to RB) if they need a goal please. Loved that attacking combination on the right side.