After seeing the Cubs lose 2 straight to drop another series to Pittsburgh, and seeing the Sox get pathetically swept in Minnesota, I turned to the World Cup in attempt to salvage the weekend. It was the USA vs Portugal. With a win, the USA would shockingly advance to the next round. You’ll never believe how this one ended up…
Portugal scored first on a gift wrapped goal. As Portugal kicked a long one towards the goal right at a US defender, he shanked one, that landed right in front of the Portuguese player who buried it, to take a one goal lead. Knowing my pedestrian soccer skills, I still believe I could have cleared that one. What a bonehead play! Next, came the rattling off of the stats that spelled doom. In 11 World Cup games, when Portugal scored first, they’ve never lost. In 20 World Cup games, when the US has given up the first goal, they’ve never won. Game over right? Wrong.
I’m not a soccer expert by a long shot, but the rest of the first half seemed to be dominated by the US. Unable to score, the US trailed 1-0 at the half. So now, the decision… do I sit there and watch the rest of the game? I don’t even like soccer. Why am I getting committed to this game like I did the first US game vs Ghana? Is it because I see pictures of Grant Park filled with soccer fans watching the game? Is it because it’s the World Cup? Is it because I support my country? Is it because I’m just looking for a winner today? So, I keep the game on, and begin to knock out some stuff that needs to be handled on this Sunday night. With my wife at work, it’s me and the boy, and he needs to be cleaned… that’s when I get a text from my brother saying EQUALIZE. Now I finish up and head back to the game. Yep, they sure did. The US tied it at 1-1. Game on.
So now, I’m locked back in front of the TV, postponing my son’s nightly cartoon to his dismay. The US continue to play well. A tie is really something to be happy about against this Portugal team, who is ranked 4th in the world. This would be a great accomplishment. GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They score again, and as I yell, my son cries, and the US leads the match 2-1. As the game continues, my excitement builds… my son wants his cartoon… I’m definitely not changing it now. The US is about to advance to the next round. As they put 5 extra minutes on the clock (I thought I heard 4 initially…), this game was on ice. Just hold on one minute there…
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Wait a second… a minute ago, a tie was a great achievement. Now, it feels like we just got eliminated from the World Cup. Why did I let myself get emotionally involved with this game? It’s bad enough with the Cubs, Bears, Hawks, and Bulls… but now US Soccer? I got enough to deal with day in day out without having to worry about US Soccer.
They are NOT eliminated. In fact, they are in decent shape. A tie or a win vs Germany and they advance. A loss vs Germany and the tiebreaker rules come into play, which I am not 100% familiar with, but I believe it has something to do with goal differential, which means I’m rooting for Portugal to win since they lost 4-0 in their first game. Unless they win 4-0, and we lose 4-0…
Forget about it. I’m not worrying about that crap. I hope I have to work when they play next. I don’t need this. I don’t need to get emotionally involved with this. It’s soccer for God’s sake. I don’t even watch the Chicago Fire. I didn’t even watch the Chicago Sting… although I do remember them winning a championship… OK, whatever. GO USA… I hope they win… I just don’t need to see it. I just don’t need to hang on every kick like I hang on every pitch, pass, or shot. I don’t need to be disappointed by another team. I got enough to deal with. I don’t even like soccer.
White Pele
Explain to me how one of the best players in the world, Ronaldo, gets by himself on the outside, 1on1, with less than a minute to play. Then let me know how another Portugal player is able to streak past how many US defenders for the tying header. Just a very poor defensive effort to close out what was a very good US game in what should have moved them on to the knockout stage. DISGUSTING! The good news is that Germany and the US only need to tie, and they both advance…look for that to happen.