Jun 13 2010
USA Ties By Putting “English” On The Ball
I decided the heat was just too unbearable around DC yesterday and went up to the local watering hole to watch the World Cup match between England and USA. It was one of the best games I have seen. Maybe just because of the fact everyone at every bar in Reston Town Center was watching and cheering and going “Ohhh!” on each near miss. It was great to see Americans come together and participate in this world sporting event.
When England scored less than 4 minutes in on an perfectly executed play everyone’s hearts dropped. A quick and decisive score could have meant the Americans were out of their league against the renowned Lions. Then when our goalie took the cleats to the chest it looked even more bleak.
But then the Americans got a bit of a break. A hard shot on England’s goalie was, for an instant, blocked. But it then spun off the goalie’s gloves and rolled into the goal. America was tied thanks to some serious ‘english’ on that kick.
It was a great game, look forward to reading everyone’s comments!
I have to admit, I have never managed to sit through an entire soccer game. I mean, come on…a game that ends in a tie? And it seems that everytime I do see part of one, some guy is laying on the field acting as if he just got mortally wounded. I wonder how they would like to have a 350 lb linebacker laying on top of them? Then they would have something to moan about.
My eldest son is a Tim Howard type. 6’2″, 205 lbs. Does a good job at left mid, both sons carry the ball well on the left, but eldest was cursed with a determination to defend the net. My youngest also carries the ball well at left mid, but is incredibly quick-twitched. At left back no one can turn the corner on him.
So, I’m glad that they are both at college now.
The eldest in EE. The youngest in FHS. (Finding himself.)
They both left the game when they went off to school, but number one has returned, playing in both an indoor and outdoor league this past Spring season. Four games a week in the net.
That being said, most don’t realize how addictive the game is. When my youngest left HS two years ago, I have been able to focus on work, stuff and golf. Now, two years later, I find that I’m addicted again.
1-1 is not the finish either team had hoped for. And you’re going to hear a lot of reportage on how “the US settled” for a tie. After the quick score against, I think our side did a good job of settling into play. There were plenty of good chances on both sides for additional scoring, things simply worked out the way they worked out.
How will things fare in the Algerian/Slovenian game? Will the US pass through?
I think they will. The interesting story will be how the CONCACAF fares. In Group A you have Mexico and Uruguay. Group B, Argentina. Group F, Paraguay. Group G, Brazil and Group H, Honduras and Chile.
How many will get into the round of 16? Six? Seven? Lots to see. Will we see another game like the Serbs and their long-ball game? Didn’t Ghana win must about every challenge?
The US and England were evenly matched. Both in talent, and perhaps more importantly, in style of play. For long-time fans of the game, that wasn’t always the case.
Good stuff.
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Has this added fuel to the “demon ball” controversy? It sure looked like that ball did something the goalie did not expect it to do! Or perhaps it was just a case of what happens in baseball so often – an infielder shifting his attention to getting rid of the ball before he has successfully fielded it!