NBrid

Sports story originally published at 192IQ.

Well USA couldn't pull off another upset and lost to Germany 1-0. Anytime your team loses you can't help but to feel disappointed, but they have no reason to hang their heads. Getting to the quarterfinals was a big accomplishment in of itself, plus they played well in defeat. They stood up strong against Germany and showed they belong. In fact you could argue USA out-played Germany, just that Germany finished on their few chances where as USA couldn't. Congrats Germany! But USA deserves our congratulations too, and a thank you. They made a statement to the world: Look out, we're coming!

This is just the next baby-step. It began in 1990 with USA making the World Cup for the first time in 60 years. It continued in '94 on their home turf when they played well enough to advance to the Round of 16 (as all home teams seem to do), but eventual champ Brazil showed they didn't belong there just yet. Shortly after Major League Soccer started up and things were looking up. Unfortunately the US bombed at the '98 Cup coming in last place. USA women's soccer helped by winning their Cup, but that's a different beast entirely.

This USA team did what no other USA team has done by winning a game in the Round of 16, and it was no fluke either. CONCACAF rival Mexico was a familiar foe who the US had in fact beaten 4 out of the last 5 times. It did take Korea beating Portugal when they didn't have to for USA to advance (rumors are at half of Korea v. Portugal, some Portugal players suggested to Korea they just play to a tie since both would advance), but USA put themselves in that spot by beating Portugal themselves 3-2 in their first match. Then in this game Germany won partially thanks to Man of the Match in Germany's Kahn (GK), and partially to the German's big heads (and their killer aerial attacks). USA took the game to them, and almost pulled this one off too.

Support for the team has been high, but many were late bandwagon jumpers. Still, seeing people who you know have never even seen a soccer match wish them luck is something. Like I said it is just the next baby-step, don't expect things to suddenly change. In a country already flooded with sports from MLB to the NBA and the NFL, it is hard to find room for another. If baseball does strike, maybe people will start to gravitate to a different sport. Maybe people sick at the current state of the NBA will get more excited by another sport (even if in different seasons). I'm a big fan of soccer and have enjoyed watching many World Cup games, not just US games. I would love to see soccer become more popular here in the US. Everyone knows the US has mad resources, and if more are put towards the sport of soccer, USA could become a world power.

A key to making this happen is making sure US players, especially the good ones, stop going overseas to play in Europe. Getting them to stay here in the US and play in the MLS would make that league more exciting. People need their star players to relate to a sport. More and more this is the case, but too many players are still lost. If they can do this though, look out world!

So here's to a brighter future for US soccer. Once again, congrats to Team USA. A thanks to long time players like Cobi Jones and Stewart. To those who stepped it up like Reyna, Pope, and of course team MVP Friedel. To those few who didn't get to play (back-up GK's Keller and Meola, for obvious reasons). To the future stars in the likes of Mathis, Donovan, and Beasley. To those I missed and coach Arena. And of course to my man McBride. I can't wait until the next Cup in 2006!

But oh yeah, this one is far from over. My pick: Brazil over Germany 2-1 in the finals. (But I'll be pulling for Germany.)