Spain 0-2 United States

[Nordic Superman]

Haha, this is awesome, I was buzzing on the final whistle because of English football fans have some kind of gay soft spot for Spain...

Anyhow... USA destroyed Spain, knocking them out and destroying their chances at making history past Brazil by going 35 games un-beaten.

See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8114585.stm

[body88]

Owned!  Imagine if all the best athletes in America played soccer?  They all play football, baseball, basketball and hockey!

[Nordic Superman]

Owned!  Imagine if all the best athletes in America played soccer?  They all play football, baseball, basketball and hockey!

Well it doesn't work quite like that because all the top players making $250K per week have the best facilities and athletic training...

However the benefit the USA team have is that I bet a lot of their players have a background in athletics; and it certainly showed against the Spanish last night. In Europe everyone wants to be a footballer (soccer player) - there are organisations that exist to promote athletics for promising talent that didn't make it in football. In the US I assume it's the other way around, people in athletics / NFL etc. who don't make it filter into the football / soccer sport.

Kinda like the Russians in the European Cup... a team full of energy and pace.

[body88]

Well it doesn't work quite like that because all the top players making $250K per week have the best facilities and athletic training...

However the benefit the USA team have is that I bet a lot of their players have a background in athletics; and it certainly showed against the Spanish last night. In Europe everyone wants to be a footballer (soccer player) - there are organisations that exist to promote athletics for promising talent that didn't make it in football. In the US I assume it's the other way around, people in athletics / NFL etc. who don't make it filter into the football / soccer sport.

Kinda like the Russians in the European Cup... a team full of energy and pace.

It depends.  football, baseball, basketball and hockey gobble up all the best athletes.  They don't turn to soccer when things don't work out for them....most of the time they start a business or work for a living.  MLS is a joke in the US.  There is no money in the sport and no one cares about soccer at all.  I'd be shocked if 2 out of 10 americans knew what we did last night vs spain.

[Nordic Superman]

It depends.  football, baseball, basketball and hockey gobble up all the best athletes.  They don't turn to soccer when things don't work out for them....most of the time they start a business or work for a living.  MLS is a joke in the US.  There is no money in the sport and no one cares about soccer at all.  I'd be shocked if 2 out of 10 americans knew what we did last night vs spain.

Which is both sad and crazy considering the achievement the US boys did last night.

[body88]

Which is both sad and crazy considering the achievement the US boys did last night.

Agreed.  However, in 30 years soccer will be very big in the us.

[bigrh]

What a great game of football that was.  Beating Spain, the world champions.

I'm from New Zealand and Spain had just slaughtered us 5-0, so to see them downed was a beautiful sight.

[body88]

What a great game of football that was.  Beating Spain, the world champions.

I'm from New Zealand and Spain had just slaughtered us 5-0, so to see them downed was a beautiful sight.

Nice!  I hope soccer/football gets bigger in the US.  I went to the AC vs Inter game a few months ago, and it was a lot of fun.

[bigrh]

AC vs Inter would have been huge.  The Milan derby is one I need to see, the atmosphere would be amazing.

For a country that has football (soccer) as a minor sport, America punches well above its weight.  Can't wait to see them compete in the next World Cup over in South Africa.

[body88]

AC vs Inter would have been huge.  The Milan derby is one I need to see, the atmosphere would be amazing.

For a country that has football (soccer) as a minor sport, America punches well above its weight.  Can't wait to see them compete in the next World Cup over in South Africa.

It's getting more popular here.  Nothing like Europe, though.  I just spent a few weeks in Italy, and let me tell you, those are some loyal fans.  I lived in the North End of Boston for a few years, and there is a huge Italian population there.  Soccer is big in that neighborhood.  That's where I got an appreciation for it.