The United States is out of the 2010 World Cup and the most remarkable thing about that fact is that most of the country knows it. Record-breaking audiences in America watched their national soccer team match England, get robbed of a victory against Slovenia and dazzle in the late minutes against Algeria. This was all en route to the knockout stage — a destination they were expected to make given their pool. But nobody cared about that — only a small percentage of Americans watching knew any back story about their team. They cared because their friend cared, or their neighbor, co-worker or sibling. Everybody seemed to be watching, or was curious at the very least. It left as quickly as it arrived — the excitement — but in its brief period, the American public — a people largely disinterested in the sport — got themselves a fast and free education about the beautiful game.
1. Soccer is not a beautiful game.
I wasn’t around to witness the Pele-era Brazil teams run circles around other nations with short passes, dead-on accurate crosses and goals kissed into the net with just the right touch. But I’ve seen footage, and I played on and against enough teams growing up to experience soccer as a cruel game of keep-away, where one side has the otherworldly chemistry to never lose control of the ball. It’s amazing. It’s art. It’s not the 2010 World Cup. Players flop all over place, turning the pitch into a minefield of prima donnas. As frustration builds, cooler heads don’t prevail, and they commit fouls. Of course, the center referee is blowing his whistle every 30 seconds attempting to keep things in order. But nothing is. It’s sloppy soccer — soccer with brute force. Goals in this World Cup are made on indecent opportunities — when the other team has its guard down, or a referee is too scared to be sure.
2. Our team needs a set agenda before each game.
How many times did the U.S. have the lead going into the second half? Answer: none. For a team that won their pool, that’s incredible. Preposterous, actually. That fact alone should not have had anyone expecting a run deeper than the quarterfinals. When a team is always playing catch-up, something needs to be changed. In each of these games, Bob Bradley had to adjust his squad accordingly. Bradley couldn’t construct an offense that forced the other team to react. As it exciting as it was, the U.S. is too talented to rely on miracles. It’s time to trash the fairy tales.
3. A goal in soccer is the most exciting point in sports.
It’s the same old argument: there’s not enough scoring in soccer. That’s why there’s basketball, where one basket equals two points. (Note: I know the free-throw dilemma. I know. But I hate free throws.) Patience is a virtue, and a goal is soccer is the most virtuous achievement in all of sport. When this year’s World Cup began, so many people complained about the scoring. “How can we get excited when we don’t see goal?” Then Landon Donovan netted the winner against Algeria and all those same people rightfully shut up. You experienced the goal; you saw the YouTube video of all the celebrations; you went nuts; you hugged somebody you didn’t know; you wouldn’t have done any of this with a score of 10-9.
4. Refereeing is just as suspect as in the other sports.
From what I can remember (and from what I’ve read), it’s never been this bad. The thing about referee blunders in soccer is that, because there’s so little scoring, one early in the game can dismantle a team’s focus to the point of no return. It happened against England, and now they’re going home to have their bums chapped by the Queen.
The U.S. had to battle back from a blown call in two games. Who knows? If they hadn’t rebounded this team wouldn’t have advanced — they’d be just another crappy U.S. soccer team. Given the amount of control soccer referees have on the game, it’s ridiculous how poor they are on the national stage. Of course, the room for error and public scrutiny is there: the field is absolutely gigantic, but yet they only work with a three-man crew; there is no instant replay; they don’t have to discuss their performance to the players, coaches or press; they may not be open to dialogue of the game (which takes shape in head-hunting or the ability for players to understand calls) because of a language barrier; they suck.
5. The U.S. national team deserves both worldwide praise and critique.
And it’s not because of their performance. The world knows we supported our team as nation, not just as a cluster of groups at local sports bars. With this newfound attention, fans will demand more out of the U.S. squad. Hey, Bob Bradley’s job is already in question, even though he coached well. I’m not saying Americans are going to rigorously follow their soccer team over the next four years, but they’ll care enough to see that they have a confidant coach and able roster. Am I crazy to think that? It doesn’t look like it.
Photo from fOTOGLIF
