The USMNT was 30 seconds away from advancing from their group after just two matches. Points 4, 5, and 6 were within their grasp. And then Cristiano Ronaldo did something about it. Silvestre Varela’s header, deep into stoppage time, denied American victory after one of the best halves in the history of US Soccer. So why am I smiling this morning?
Because this is dreamland.
12 years ago, the USMNT shocked everyone by beating Portugal.
At 5:00 a.m. Eastern Time on June 5th, 2002, an unheralded U.S. men’s national team kicked off its World Cup against Portugal. At 5:03, John O’Brien scored for the U.S. By 5:36, the Americans led 3-0.
The only previous time the United States faced Portugal in the World Cup, it ended in a 3-2 U.S. victory. That was 12 years ago, and only two players from that match will be at today’s game: Damarcus Beasley is now a left back, Paulo Bento is now managing his national team. But there are lessons to be learned nonetheless.
There was a disturbing moment early in the second half of Uruguay’s 2-1 victory against England. It was soon overshadowed by Wayne Rooney’s equalizer and Luis Suarez’s subsequent winner, but it is worth revisiting. In the 61st minute, the match paused after a frantic English attack to note that Arvalo Pereira was hurt. ESPN’s English commentary crew bemoaned the gamesmanship of what seemed to be a Uruguayan effort to waste time. And then the camera showed Pereira lying motionless on the ground. The referee quickly motioned on the Uruguayan trainer, and Ian Darke quickly changed his tune.
The 2014 World Cup took its first three victims yesterday. Spain, Cameroon, and Australia will all play another game in. In the wake of one exit, a forest of eulogies has already been written. One of the eliminated teams needs nothing said about them. But Australia deserves some attention.
In the 23rd minute against Ghana, Jozy Altidore was trying to run past a defender down the left wing when he suddenly pulled up, grabbing his hamstring. Altidore’s absence showed how important he is to the USMNT. Without him, the US had no one to aim long balls towards, no one to hold up possession (a problem compounded by Clint Dempsey’s broken nose and Michael Bradley’s subpar performance). The sort of play where Altidore’s injury occurred did not happen again with Aron Johannsson. It’s not Johannsson’s fault, necessarily, but he plays better alongside a striker like Altidore than instead of him.
It was coming, and somewhere deep inside we all knew it. Ghana was going to score, even if we deluded ourselves into thinking that it wouldn’t happen until after the final whistle. When Andre Ayew scored, at the end of an admittedly beautiful move, it sucked the hope out of me. It seemed at the time that the only question was whether the U.S. would hang on for a draw or concede a second. Even Taylor Twellman, in the commentary booth, was of the opinion that the U.S. should try to cling to what it had. But Jurgen Klinsmann does not think the way you, Taylor Twellman, or I think.
The drawmeisters were doubly cruel to the U.S. last December. It was bad news enough to be given the group of death, alongside Germany, Portugal, and Ghana. Not much was said at the time about the second indignity: the wait. 26 teams will have gotten their World Cups underway by the time the U.S. kicks off later today. As if four years wasn’t long enough.
For all the drama, pageantry, and excitement that surrounds the build-up to the World Cup, we had no right to expect such fun. The dirty secret of international soccer is that it’s generally disjointed, slower and less entertaining than the club game. The theory goes that attacking tactics require a bit more time together than international teams have, and that the format and massive stage of these tournaments leads to cautious managers. And so in 2010 Spain was coronated following a series of 1-0 victories. Despite complaints from goalkeepers about the dip and swerve of the Jabulani, the tournament averaged fewer than 2.3 goals per game.
1432 days have passed since Andres Iniesta scored in extra time to win the 2010 World Cup for Spain. Not one more. Four years have come and gone, and it is finally, finally time for the World Cup. Thank God.
There have been predictions by the boatload, protesters by the thousand, and now, at long last, there will be soccer. This is what it is all—all—about. This is what we have been waiting for.
The next month is going to be amazing.
The time for previews is mercifully coming to an end. Let’s do this.
Belgium: Belgium are the dark horses in this tournament, they say. They’ve been saying that since last year at least, and a moderately easy group has done little if anything to temper that sentiment. It’s become cliche, but then there are reasons for that. The amount of young talent produced by a country of 11 million people is staggering. Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Adnan Januzaj, and Kevin De Bruyne are all 23 or younger, as is Christian Benteke, who will miss the World Cup due to injury. A back four of Toby Alderweireld, Vincent Kompany, Thomas Vermaelen and Jan Vertonghen is less youthful, but no less skilled. You could argue that Belgium will be a powerhouse in 2018, but these players have the talent to do things now.
Argentina did not need help to survive the group stage. They received it in the form of this draw.
Argentina: This is a squad so talented in attack that Carlos Tevez was left off and it doesn’t feel too large an exclusion. Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero, Ezequiel Lavezzi, and Rodrigo Palacio are Argentina’s strikers, and it’s almost a shame they can’t all play at once. For good measure, Angel Di Maria is in their midfield. It’s an absurd collection of talent, but it only covers half of the pitch. In this group, defensive frailties won’t bother them, but the back line will have to step up if Argentina is to fulfill its trophy-lifting potential.
Clever Through Balls 