You want an America's Team to get behind, America? Here you go.
Scrappy, determined and not about to back down to anybody — not even big, bad England — the U.S. men hung on for a 1-1 draw at the World Cup on Saturday night that was every bit as good as a blowout victory. It's the kind of blue-collar effort the USA loves, and it might just give the Americans the major-league status they've been fighting for the last, oh, 20 years.
Or at least get them a lot closer.
"We fought our way back into this game, and that's what our team is all about," veteran defender Steve Cherundolo said. "We fight for every inch of playing field there is."
Fans have insisted for years that soccer is on the verge of becoming America's game and critics have always shot back with "Oh yeah. When?"
Kids have been playing for more than a generation now, we've adopted David Beckham and still the game is well below the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball on the U.S. sports Richter scale.
But it is growing and gaining interest, there's no denying that.
More tickets for this World Cup were bought by Americans than fans in any other nation except South Africa, despite the considerable expense to get here. Before the game, Americans marched proudly through the streets outside the stadium, dressed in red, white and blue from their Uncle Sam-hatted heads to their toes.
Back home, the World Cup is getting the kind of wall-to-wall TV coverage usually reserved for the other football's big event, the Super Bowl. People went out of their way to watch the match, some from the comfort of their homes, others at bars and restaurants - even the New York Mets were tuned in.
America's Team didn't disappoint.
Copyright 2010 AP News
