Yesterday’s World Cup match between the United States and Algeria took a few years off my life. There’s something about playing the United States that always brings out the best in our opposition. I’m sure there are political reasons for that. Algeria needed a convincing win to advance, but seemed content with a draw that would ruin our chances. In fact, after the game was over they appeared devastated that they lost the draw.
In the second half the US had chance after chance, and after 90 minutes we still didn’t have a goal. Mercifully, we scored in stoppage time (not to be confused with shrinkage time) to advance to the knockout stage. The World Cup is always a bittersweet time to be an American soccer fan. The sport is a lot more popular that in was in 2002, but it gets tiring hearing people complain about a sport they know nothing about. Considering that the World Cup is every four years, would you cut us fans some slack? Nothing else is going on right now but baseball. There’s plenty of time for World Cup coverage.
I’ve always had mixed feelings about Landon Donovan. Mostly because he’s such a great talent and I wish he played in Europe. However, he’s been the real hero for the United States in this World Cup. He’ll be remembered as one of our best players and also for scoring two important goals for us in the group stage.
United States' Landon Donovan, front left, celebrates after scoring a goal with fellow team members United States' Clint Dempsey, back left, and United States' Edson Buddle, front right, during the World Cup group C soccer match between the United States and Algeria at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, Wednesday, June 23, 2010. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
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