US Accumulating Its Own World Cup History

6/26/2014

In the past week I have heard people refer to “the greatest World Cup match in U.S. history” or “the best victory in U.S. history.”

I must have heard that about 10 different matches.

For a reputed outsider, USA is starting to develop a past. It is one of seven nations to have qualified for the last seven World Cup tournaments. It has reached the knockout round four of those times. This is no small accomplishment, to go along with the knowledgeable crowds everywhere.

I thought of that growing history on Thursday, just before the tense struggle with Germany in monsoon-lashed Recife.

I was in a green room at MSNBC waiting for my minutes on camera to mention my book as often as I dared. Another network guest sharing the green room was Jeff Agoos, the defender on the 2002 World Cup team, now working with Major League Soccer.

In that hope-giving year, Agoos had been in precisely the same situation the US now faced in Brazil – a simultaneous third match that could have gone either way.

Agoos smiled when I mentioned the similarities. He had played in the first two matches in South Korea, scoring an own goal in the 3-2 upset over Portugal, and playing the full 90 in the draw with the host team. Then he was hurt in the third match, as the US was being hammered by Poland, 3-1, and was replaced by 20-year-old DaMarcus Beasley. Agoos went into the locker room for treatment – and followed the news as Portugal had two players tossed out of the match, and gave up a goal to Park Ji Sung in the 70th minute.

Agoos recalled how the US survived that loss to Poland. From that soft crash landing came the 2-0 victory over Mexico and the 1-0 loss to Germany, which some experts think was technically and competitively better than the Mexico match.

With huge crowds and unprecedented television ratings all over the country, the U.S. is adding to its soccer history.

On Thursday I stuck a pair of plugs in my ears and watched both matches in the newsroom of MSNBC. The U.S. stood off a furious attack in the first 15 minutes but gave up a shrieking parabola by Thomas Muller for a 1-0 deficit that could have gotten worse, much worse.

For 23 tense minutes, the US was in danger of being knocked out of this World Cup after Ghana rallied for a draw with Portugal. The Germans respected the game by playing hard while seeking a record-breaking goal by Miroslav Klose.

Then, in the 80th minute, good old Cristiano Ronaldo stopped being the preening, smirking pretty boy and became the savior of the Americans’ World Cup, lashing a goal that put Portugal ahead, 2-1. When that game ended, I heard cheers around the newsroom. Many journalists had been following the match on their computers.

Twelve years after the anxious wait in Daejon, South Korea, the USA had lost a perilous third match yet survived the simultaneous match.

One more example of history: a few weeks ago, in that same green room, I ran into Bruce Murray, the striker of the 1990 American team. One manic night in Olympic Stadium in Rome, Murray had blasted a free kick at Italy’s superb keeper, Walter Zenga, who barely flicked it away, but Peter Vermes nearly put the rebound under Zenga, who groveled to keep the ball from crossing the line.

Now 46 and a youth coach in Bethesda, Md., Murray could only shake his head at how close he and his teammate had come to scoring against Italy.

In the future, fans will agonize over the ball that squibbed off Michael Bradley’s foot against Portugal last Sunday, and how three or four defenders allowed Ronaldo to lash a cross that a teammate headed for a goal.

Americans will remember those unfortunate moments, the same way they talk about the Joe Gaetjens goal that almost nobody saw in 1950, the Paul Caligiuri goal in 1989, the Landon Donovan goal in 2010, the John Brooks header in 2014. They will also remember the gallant battle to stay within 1-0 against Germany (the team I picked to win this Cup.)

We can all argue the rankings of these great moments, these terrifying moments, but the point is: this country is starting to have a soccer history we can actually debate.

(Photo Above: Peter Vermes Battles Italy's Franco Baresi. Now part of American soccer history.)

John McDermott

6/26/2014 04:01:59 pm

In all my years of watching top-level soccer, never have I seen a player as dangerous as Thomas Müller left so completely unmarked within shooting range. There wasn't an American player within ten or twelve yards of him when the rebound from Howard's excellent save came straight to his feet. Sure the USA made it to the next round, and congratulations to them and the Jürgen Klinsmann for doing so. But don't kid yourself. Today's USA performance, for me at least, raised more questions than answers. Jermaine Jones, Tim Howard and Fabian Johnson have been consistently very good. Beasley and Beckerman have been effective. Omar Gonzalez had a pretty good day today, thankfully. But what's up with Michael Bradley? Davis, Bedoya and Zusi didn't really get it done today either. Poor Dempsey, aka The Lone Ranger, ran and ran, but just never really got much in the way of service. And he's beginning to look a little beat up. If we are just going to defend against Belgium and hope for a counterattack goal, then maybe we'll be OK. But at some point you have to create scoring opportunities, certainly more than we were able to do today. I would go so far as to say that, in the euphoria over getting to the next round it's easy to overlook that this was really, in my opinion, our worst game. I do believe Jürgen will figure something out. But Belgium awaits, and they won't be easy.

George Vecsey

6/27/2014 02:48:02 am

John, just gave you and Claudia a shout-out at the end of an interview on KNBR. You're right about Michael B. I can understand a mistake, but 3x90 of lethargy and flubs? You know I thought he was the best US player in South Africa. Is he hurt? Who knows. GV

Andy Tansey

6/26/2014 04:46:26 pm

A few random points:
- Perhaps we must include Portugal 2 - Ghana 1 among the great matches in USA history.
- Having hoped that 8WC would be as recognizable as CR7, it was conspicuous to me by its absence in today's Times column.
- No collusion between Klinsman and Lowe, but after getting out of the group, on ESPN, Klinsman seemed chummier with the German players who played for Germany than the US and German players who played for US.
- Come on, you Spurs! - I am disappointed that (as of my progress through the DVR) either WE (US) or Belgium must depart.
- I was able to walk from my office by Grand Central to Penn to take the LIRR 7:22 and get home without an inkling tonight to watch US play Germany recorded and unspoiled. Where else than in USA? The only stranger with whom I had any interaction on this here big day in US history, thanks to CR7, was wearing a Germany jersey on the LIRR platform on the way in this morning. Where else than in USA?
- I take off my hat to Klinsman - and eat it - for getting us out of the group.

My view of the spirit and refereeing approach in these third games has shifted. It is almost as if FIFA has instructed the referees to go red. Now 6 straight reds. However, the latest video shows that the teeth were clearly deliberate, and I feel sheeoish for missing that.

George Vecsey

6/27/2014 02:49:46 am

Mr. T: I was in Penn Station on Thursday and saw three teen-aged girls with jerseys that said Altidore, Dempsey and a generic USSF logo. It is happening, and it's fun. How did you go til evening not knowing the score? You have amazing powers. GV

Mendel

6/27/2014 02:41:51 am

I watched my first USA soccer match last night in Jerusalem and I cannot tell you much other than Ann Coulter is an idiot.

George Vecsey

6/27/2014 02:52:00 am

Mendel, soccer and Ann Coulter? Never thought of them in the same sentence. And now I am sorry I have. Yikes.

Mendel

6/27/2014 03:25:13 am

George,

Did you not see her column before I mentioned it?

George Vecsey

6/27/2014 04:02:53 am

Mendel, no, somebody just sent it. Not sure I want to open it.
I'm afraid I might catch something.
GV

Mendel

6/27/2014 04:10:59 am

Too late for me. I’ve been afflicted.

John McDermott

6/27/2014 04:12:13 am

I confess I don't know much about Anne Coulter. I imagine she is some kind of shrieking right-wing harridan created by Fox. She must have gotten up the other day and said to herself: "It's been kind of slow for me lately. Everybody's watching the World Cup. What outrageously provocative thing can I say that will get people paying attention to me again? Wait a minute. I know...I'll trash SOCCER!" Che stronza!

George Vecsey

6/27/2014 04:29:46 am

she is intruding on the province of aging sportswriters who still advance the no-hands theory of why soccer is a terrible sport

che corraggio...what gall

Andrew Tansey

6/27/2014 04:46:07 am

Heard about her - may I call her "She Who Must Not Be Named"? - at least second hand, just this morning. Apparently, she made a remark about people whose (great?)-grandparents were born here not caring for soccer. My ultra-kid's Liberal arts schoolmate who was never interested in soccer thus decided to watch for moral reasons. I also learned that a strategy is NOT to forward anything in a manner that generates countable clicks so as to increase this person's virality.

In England - after what I saw about the John Terry trial - maybe she could be brought up on charges.

Anyway, although my mother was born Azzurri, my better half enables my ultra-gooner-kid to be entitled to consider herself a daughter of the American Revolution, and football (as with the feet) is the only sport she cares about.

Maybe we should stop talking about Her Who Must Not Be Named. I just heard of her and hope I forget soon.

As far as avoiding spoilers, here are some tips:
- Send E-mails - no matter how unprofessional - to office mates and common E-mail correspondents to request no spoilers.
- Turn off the radio.
- Turn off the internet.
- DURING THE WALK THROUGH MANHATTAN:
- - Wear a baseball cap with the brim down low and avoid looking at anything.
- - If a jersey catches your eye, don't look.
- - Stay away from blocks with pubs.
- - Listen to the Grateful Dead with loud headphones.
It doesn't always work, but it did yesterday, for both me and my ultra-Outlaw-kid. Had the result been different - it was so tepid - it might have been different.

George Vecsey

6/27/2014 05:16:15 am

Andy, always listen to the Grateful Dead with earphones.
I may do that on a car ride into NYC today (not driving)

As for liking soccer, nothing creaks more than a twisted mind coming up with stupid theories. MY wife's family got off the boat at Mystic CT around 1623, went up into the hills and stayed. And she likes to watch soccer because it is creative, players have great agile physiques, and it is over in a predictable time. Quaker genes from the 17c...likes soccer. Tell Coulter. She will have a theory. GV

Alan Rubin link

6/27/2014 07:23:58 am

George

The United States has always had a soccer history; the general public has just recently embraced it with enthusiasm.

A tale of two goalies! Tim Howard made a text book reflex save by directing the ball to the side, but where were the one or two defenders who should have been there to cover the rebound?

The Ghana goalie’s poor clearing punch was a gift to Ronaldo, who easily netted it.

Although a Ghana-Portugal tie would have put the US through, Portugal’s tie breaking goal dashed any hope of Ghana getting a win, which could have been trouble of the US.

Klinsmann was quoted after the disappointing 2-1 loss to Honduras at the beginning of the World Cup qualifying round, “It is good that American fans are beginning to complain. It shows that they are becoming true soccer fans.”

Also, he stated after the team advanced on Thursday, “the knockout round is another tournament where anything can happen."

There seems to be a psychological element to entering a new phase where past sins are purged.

I enjoy Klinsmann’s candor and upbeat optimism, which appears to have permeated the team.

I expect two more games. After that, who knows?

Comments are closed.

QUOTES

Measuring Covid Deaths, by David Leonhardt. July 17, 2023. NYT online.
The United States has reached a milestone in the long struggle against Covid: The total number of Americans dying each day — from any cause — is no longer historically abnormal….

After three horrific years, in which Covid has killed more than one million Americans and transformed parts of daily life, the virus has turned into an ordinary illness.

The progress stems mostly from three factors:
First, about three-quarters of U.S. adults have received at least one vaccine shot.
Second, more than three-quarters of Americans have been infected with Covid, providing natural immunity from future symptoms. (About 97 percent of adults fall into at least one of those first two categories.)
Third, post-infection treatments like Paxlovid, which can reduce the severity of symptoms, became widely available last year.
“Nearly every death is preventable,” Dr. Ashish Jha, who was until recently President Biden’s top Covid adviser, told me. “We are at a point where almost everybody who’s up to date on their vaccines and gets treated if they have Covid, they rarely end up in the hospital, they almost never die.”

That is also true for most high-risk people, Jha pointed out, including older adults — like his parents, who are in their 80s — and people whose immune systems are compromised. “Even for most — not all but most —immuno-compromised people, vaccines are actually still quite effective at preventing against serious illness,” he said. “There has been a lot of bad information out there that somehow if you’re immuno-compromised that vaccines don’t work.”

That excess deaths have fallen close to zero helps make this point: If Covid were still a dire threat to large numbers of people, that would show up in the data.

One point of confusion, I think, has been the way that many Americans — including we in the media — have talked about the immuno-compromised. They are a more diverse group than casual discussion often imagines.

Most immuno-compromised people are at little additional risk from Covid — even people with serious conditions, such as multiple sclerosis or a history of many cancers. A much smaller group, such as people who have received kidney transplants or are undergoing active chemotherapy, face higher risks.

Covid’s toll, to be clear, has not fallen to zero. The C.D.C.’s main Covid webpage estimates that about 80 people per day have been dying from the virus in recent weeks, which is equal to about 1 percent of overall daily deaths.

The official number is probably an exaggeration because it includes some people who had virus when they died even though it was not the underlying cause of death. Other C.D.C. data suggests that almost one-third of official recent Covid deaths have fallen into this category. A study published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases came to similar conclusions.

Dr. Shira Doron, the chief infection control officer at Tufts Medicine in Massachusetts, told me that “age is clearly the most substantial risk factor.” Covid’s victims are both older and disproportionately unvaccinated. Given the politics of vaccination, the recent victims are also disproportionately
Republican and white.

Each of these deaths is a tragedy. The deaths that were preventable — because somebody had not received available vaccines and treatments — seem particularly tragic. (Here’s a Times guide to help you think about when to get your next booster shot.)
***

From the great Maureen Dowd:

As I write this, I’m in a deserted newsroom in The Times’s D.C. office. After working at home for two years during Covid, I was elated to get back, so I could wander around and pick up the latest scoop.
But in the last year, there has been only a smattering of people whenever I’m here, with row upon row of empty desks. Sometimes a larger group gets lured in for a meeting with a platter of bagels."

--- Dowd writes about the lost world of journalists clustered in newsrooms at all hours, smoking, drinking, gossipping, making phone calls, typing, editing.
***
"Putting out the paper," we called it.
Much more than nostalgia.
---https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/29/opinion/journalism-newsroom.html

US Accumulating Its Own World Cup History

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