Classic Brazil Continues Run toward 6th World Cup

Johannesburg- Two syllables usually mean the end for most teams at the World Cup: Bra-sil.  On Monday night at Ellis Park in the Round of 16, Chile met the latest version of the Brazilian football dynasty and lost 0-3.  Brazil, now in the quarterfinals awaiting a match against the Dutch, showed off their classic effortless movement of the ball and their timely defensive stops.  Fans of the amazing Brazilian squad dominated the Ellis Park atmosphere as well.

Before the game, an older man decked named Osvaldo Salsalima decked out in green and gold brizilian gear climbed to his seat and mumbled enthusiastically, “Chile vs. Brazil, it’s Chile vs. Brazil, Chile vs. Brazil…”  Mr. Salsalima is what the World Cup is all about.

Carrying a vuvuzela with a pump, Salsalima who has been to four World Cups, tried hard to get the section excited pumped for an old South American rivalry played on the soil of Johannesburg.  His vuvuzela buzzed so loud into the ears of the fans around him that at least five people tried to get him out thrown out within the first 15 minutes of the game. To his resistance, security guards confiscated the vuvuzela with a pump.  It didn’t matter too much though; he was there to see the best show on turf.

In World Cup land, fans of all countries wear Brazilian football star jerseys  of Kaka, Luis Fabiano, Robinho and Ronaldo like Americans sport Jeter, A-Rod and Posada jerseys of the New York Yankees.  “Bandwagon fans” of the five-time World Cup champions are everywhere –even South Africans coincidentally have the same green and gold colors.  And why not support the great football giant? It’s fun for everyone.  Of course, except for the opponent.

Brazil routed Chile on Saturday night even with arguably the best player in the world, Kaka, playing subpar, and making mistake after mistake in the first 35 minutes.  But once the flood gates are open, Brazil goals come in bunches to the delight of Brazilian fans.

First, Juan broke the scoreless tie on a rocket header in the 34th minute. Then, Brazil made the Chilean defense look like helpless players hoping for offside when Fabiano received the last of a line of Brazilian passes in front of an open net in the 38^th minute.  Finally, in the 59^th minute, Robinho made the deficit insurmountable for Chile with a beautiful strike outside of the box.

After each goal, I looked back at the vuvuzela-less Salsalima and saw him cheerfully raise his hands in the air and shake them.  Chants of “Braaah-zeel, Braah-zeel” rang throughout the stadium like a death sentence for a good Chilean team getting routinely manhandled by the football powerhouse.  Chileans voiced their displeasure after being dominated by a fellow South African team.  Brazilian fans just mocked them.

Once the game ended, and the routine route finished, the real celebrating began.  Classy Brazilian fans don’t quite wear emotions on their sleeve quite like Argentina or England.  It’s almost as if goals come so readily, they wait until the end of the game to really break out the flags and banners and sing the Brazilian national anthem.

Brazil fans, holding a massive ten-foot World Cup trophy, chanted “olay, olay” as they walked out of the stadium, and some flashed 6 fingers in the air, representing a possible 6th championship.   Salsalima and the Brazilians have plenty to look forward as they are only 3 games away from another trophy to add to the collection.  Also, Brazil hosts the World Cup in 2014.  Indeed, Bra-sil  and the World Cup always go hand in hand.

Philip Deutsch

U.S. Goes Home, Africa Celebrates Success of Ghana

RUSTENBURG – Ghana sent the U.S. back home overseas in the second consecutive World Cup on Saturday night in Rustenburg, South Africa.  Just like in the 2006 World Cup group round, Ghana ended the “the Yanks’” run; this time 2-1 in extra-time in the Round of 16. South Africans, who were mostly rooting for America in group round play, dressed in Ghana Black Stars gear and chanted “Goodbye U— S—A” the entire game.

“We (Africa) have only one team left, and that is Ghana,” said Samuel Beya, a supporter of Ghana, a resident of South Africa and a former citizen of the Democratic Republic of Congo.  “Other continents such as Europe and South America still have many remaining.  We have one.”

The Black Stars did not disappoint their fans on a hazy night when Kevin Prince-Boateng scored in just the 5^th minute of the game.  He blitzed past a loose U.S. back line, unwilling to step up, and shot one past American goalkeeper Tim Howard at the near post.  The continent of Africa rumbled as the only African team left looked destined to advance through to the quarterfinals.

U.S. “journeyman” soccer fans who made the trek all the way to South Africa sat in nervous disbelief.

U.S. soccer had dug another early hole.  Both England and Slovenia jumped to 1-0 leads against the U.S. within the first fifteen minutes and even Algeria hit the crossbar in what should have been a quick goal.  Ominously, manager Bob Bradley’s squad did not respond with the same sense of urgency as in the other games.  Striker Jozy Altidore made several questionable decisions with the ball, and Ghana’s back line (only given up four goals in four games) embarrassed the U.S. offense.

Nonetheless, U.S. striker Ryan Finley controlled the ball in the box one on one against Ghanaian goalkeeper Richard Kingson.   Finley poorly struck the ball right at the ‘keeper, the ball deflected away and so did U.S. hopes for an equalizer.  Some U.S. fans put both hands on their head, stymied by their misfortune.  Some cursed in frustration, knowing that this is a tournament where such clear opportunities are scarce.

Ghana fans pumped their fists and waved their flags.  They were able to breathe a sigh of relief at the end of the first half.

“Each team must need luck to advance,” Beya said.  “Luck becomes very important at the World Cup.”

Luck for the U.S. seemed to be non-existent on African soil this time. Kingson ate up the ball on an open Clint Dempsey run right in front of the goal at the beginning of the 2^nd half.  On a gloomy, hazy night in Rustenburg, the Americans’ presence at the World Cup seemed to be slipping away at the site where their 2010 South Africa road began.

Then, in the 62^nd minute, the dynamic of the game and atmosphere completely changed when a Ghanaian defended shoved Clint Dempsey down in the box. The referee rewarded the U.S. a penalty kick, and Landon Donovan stuck the 3^rd U.S. equalizer of the tournament past Kingson.  Americans waited all game to celebrate, and then they did when their team tied the game in an intense elimination game.  Donovan had U.S. fans believing once again in a team that erased their 3^rd deficit of the tournament.

This round of 16 game laid in balance as the final minutes of regulation ticked away.  Both defenses shut down the opposing offenses during the last 30 minutes of the game.

When I went to the restroom during the five-minute break before 30 minutes of extra time, I heard a medley of American songs and chants, including the “Team America” theme song, the “Star Spangled Banner,” “God Bless America” and “Proud to be an American.”

Another defensive lapse and an incredible left-footed strike in the 93^rd by Asamoah Gyan of Ghana quieted the American patriotism.  Gyan darted to the surrounding track and leaped in the air shouting to the African faithful.  Gyan’s 3^rd goal in four games proved to be the game-winner as Bradley’s squad fired everywhere but in the net during extra-time.  Headers went wide, crosses fell short and Ghanaian players faked injuries on stretchers, stalling the chance for a U.S. comeback.

When the final whistle sounded, Kingson dropped to his knees in joy, some Ghanaian players tackled each other and others sprinted around the track with their native land’s flag in hand.  Ghana supporters rhythmically chanted “Ghana – Ghana – Ghana.”

Meanwhile, fiery Clint Dempsey stormed off the field, and U.S. defenders collapsed to the ground in exhaustion and sadness.

U.S. fans looked on at the celebration in dismay.  Most had blank stares – feeling letdown by the U.S. and an unforgiving tournament.  Some wore their American flags over their heads, shielding their eyes from the scene before them.  No longer would Americans flock from stadium to stadium in South Africa draped in American flags and sporting patriotic top hats.  The road for the comeback kids ended at the feet of Ghana again.

Our American study abroad group quietly drove back to the hotel.  We were met by South African and Democratic Republic of Congo security guards holding in their excitement while respectfully consoling U.S. fans after a great game.

Ghana moves confidently to the quarterfinals to face Uruguay and continue to represent the people of Africa and African football.  The pressure builds as the lone Africa team stays alive among European and South American football giants.

Five other African teams mostly underperformed and were eliminated from FIFA World Cup South Africa during group play.

Security guard Pierrot Papy-Tabasenge, from the Republic of Congo and fan of Ghana stayed humble but hopeful in the wake of victory. He described the surging African team: “Ghana, you see, they can do something.  They are above the other (African) teams. They are special.”

Philip Deutsch

Miracle Donovan Goal Lifts U.S. to Round of 16

U.S. fans could not leave Loftus Voersfield Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa on Wednesday. They hung on to the miracle moment of a stunning goal by Landon Donovan in stoppage time. The Donovan goal in the 92nd minute to beat Algeria 1-0 lifted “the Yanks” from the brink of elimination and astonishingly won them Group C.

Epic disappointment for U.S. soccer transformed into pure ecstasy in just a moment. World Cup football can do that. Every bit of hope drained from the U.S. fan sections as the seconds ticked away. With a 0-0 draw on the horizon that would have knowingly ended the World Cup road for manager Bob Bradley’s squad, U.S fans sat cemented to their seats – completely deflated. Then most we’re on the ground in a chaotic frenzy after a Clint Dempsey led counter-attack ended with a rebounded strike by Donovan that blew the top off the stadium.

South Africans all around us smiled in shock as they observed Americans celebrating in insane fashion as the final seconds ticked off the clock. Nobody could believe it. Algerians who were almost obnoxiously loud the entire game stood completely stunned, not even able to say a word to each other. Us U.S. fans got used to the ground as we wildly jumped from seat to seat looking for every person sporting an American flag during one of the best instants in U.S. soccer history. Surprise, relief and joy all flowed at once.

“This day will go down in history for the U.S,” U.S. fan Zach Levandov said after the game. “The drama was incredible, and we finished ahead of England in Group C.”

The Algerian Desert Foxes, similarly to the way Algeria tied England 0-0, gave the U.S. fits all afternoon long in what turned into a must-win for the red, white and blue. Of course, a handful of golden opportunities fell into the lap of the U.S. during the first half. Each time they seemingly took chances for granted.

The U.S. squandered an early possession in which two wide-open shots inside the box bounced right off the Algerian goalkeeper, and then Dempsey got caught offside as he put the ball in the goal. Then, minutes later, the U.S. almost shot the ball in again, the ball rolled in front of the goal and Jozy Altidore blasted a sure goal over the crossbar. By the end of the first half, it only seemed a matter of time before the U.S. found the net.

Then, the second half came, and the U.S. offense went cold, stuck in a 0-0 draw with the less talented Algerians.  Would the U.S. flop out in the group round for the 2^nd straight World Cup in an ugly draw to essentially internationally irrelevant football team Algeria?  If so, surely that would be several monumental steps backward for U.S. soccer.

But for the second consecutive game, the man who has become the face of U.S. soccer, Landon Donovan came through in the clutch.  Donovan, playing in his 3^rd World Cup for U.S. soccer, salvaged “the Yanks” from the upset ruins of this crazy tournament with one touch.

The Algerians threatened to beat the United States on the other end as stoppage time progressed.  Then, Clint Dempsey, who has looked the toughest of all U.S. players at this World Cup, started a counterattack in the final minute.  A U.S. shot bounced off the Algerian ‘keeper in what seemed to be the final missed opportunity.

The ball sat right in front of the ‘6 yard box for what seemed like minutes.  All of a sudden, out of nowhere, the U.S. soccer reliable darted toward the rolling ball that held the fate of the U.S. He got to it before the ‘keeper, stepped up and kicked the U.S. to the next round.

As the final seconds ticked down, a journalist could not sufficiently describe the raucous moments that followed.  U.S. fans don’t have the unity of Argentines who chant deafeningly together, the class of the Brazilians or the fiery passion of the English, but every U.S. fan loudly made their mark in the midst of a “buzzer beater.”

The American play, goal and celebrations weren’t pretty, but it didn’t matter.  Bob Bradley and the determined U.S. players just found a way to survive. And not just survive, to finish ahead of football powerhouse England in Group C.

Fans of other countries wanted to take pictures with the hoarse Americans chanting U — S — A constantly.  After 15 minutes of constant celebration with U.S. fans, I exasperatingly sat down in my seat trying to think of how to explain this.  One word: inexplicable.

Group Reports A and B

Group Report for Groups A and B after Two Games

Group A

South Africa vs. France

Both teams have one point and are at the brink of elimination.  If a draw occurs in the Uruguay vs. Mexico game, both teams will be eliminated.  Another decision would mean each team has hope – but a small glimmer at that because South Africa’s goal differential is -3 and France’s -2.  If France or South Africa wants to advance, they must get help and pummel the opponent.

South Africa came into the tournament with nothing to lose, and France came into to the tournament with everything to lose.  If France drops this game or even draws, it will likely go down as one of the worst World Cup performances in French history.  Nobody in France can have any confidence in this club right now as they are in complete turmoil.  From a far-away perspective, the 2-0 loss to Mexico last week sent the French ship into flames as striker Nicolas Anelka got into it with manager Raymond Domenech at halftime, and now Anelka is gone.  France must have normally reliable weapons Thierry Henry and Franck Ribery step up and set fire to the net if they are to save face at this World Cup.

Star midfielder, Steven Pienaar, must be more aggressive in pushing the South African offense if Bafana Bafana wants to beat the French.  Against Uruguay, “the boys” controlled the ball well against a better opponent but couldn’t make anything happen around the box.  The result was a more physical team wearing them down and then talented striker Diego Forlan snuck behind the South African defense for two goals.  Bafana Bafana actually played Uruguay tough until ‘keeper Itumeleng Khune got a red card and then the better team ran away with the game.  Expect the Bloemfontein crowd to be raucous, and the vuvuzelas to be deafening in what could be the last game for the hometown heroes.

Uruguay vs. Mexico

Both teams are atop the group with four points apiece and sitting in fine position to advance.  But, winning the game would mean facing the runner-up of group B (probably Greece or Korea) and not Argentina who will most likely be the Group A winner, barring a shocking Greece over Argentina upset.  So expect these teams to play hard for the win.

Uruguay impressed in its first two games, tying France 0-0 and blowing past South Africa on their home soil 3-0.  Luis Forlan could be one of the best players in the World Cup thus far as he’s scored two goals already and has been consistent force on the field.  Uruguay is very solid defensively and is not scared of taking risky tackles so don’t expect Uruguay vs. Mexico to be a high-scoring game.  Though, the Uruguayans must be wary of picking up a costly red card, losing a man for an important game and then the Round of 16.

Mexico bounced back from a disappointing start by toppling France 2-0 in a tournament-saving victory.  Now with confidence, Mexico is an extremely dangerous team in this tournament.  They are determined, experienced and smart with the football.  Their comeback against South Africa also showed their togetherness where another team could have panicked and dropped the opening match in Johannesburg.  With a win, Mexico could threaten to finish in the top four in the World Cup.  With a draw or a loss, their road will likely end against the buzz-saw of Argentina.

Group B

Diego Maradona doesn’t settle for anything but first and if the Argentines draw or win against Greece then they will easily win Group B.  They have six points after two relatively easy wins while underdog Greece is alive with three points after shocking Nigeria 2-1 in a wild win.  Now, Greece could take the group with an upset win but would need South Korea to lose if the Greeks draw.  If Greece and South Korea wins, three teams would finish with six points, and it would come down to goal differential.  Greece, South Korea and Nigeria can finish anywhere from 2^nd to 4^th in this group.

Argentina vs. Greece (I will be in attendance)

Argentina brilliantly attacked South Korea (S.K. defense was on their heels the entire game) during a 4-1 win and beat Nigeria 1-0 in their opening game.  Diego Maradona’s quick passing, smoothly running offense took down any doubts of the Argentine’s scoring drought in qualifying, thanks to Higuan’s rare hat-trick (2002) against South Korea.  An average team cannot stop the slew of stars that Maradona fields: Lionel Messi, Carolos Tevez, Javier Mascherano, Gonzalo Higuan and Sergio Aguero.  Don’t forget the passionate fans of Argentina who help to fuel the Argentina’s high-octane offense.  If it weren’t for a mistake in the back late in the first half against South Korea, Argentina would be pitching a shutout right now.  If Argentina can strike early, it will likely completely take the momentum away from Greece and force the Greeks to play a different game.  Then, the trend of smooth sailing for Argentina will continue on Tuesday.

The same country, Greece, who took Europe by surprise by going on a miracle run to win the Euro Cup in 2004 showed glimpses of that same magic in a surprising comeback victory against a supposedly better Nigeria team.  Of course, Greece picked up a fortunate break with a Nigeria red card late in the game.  But once a team is given life and momentum in the World Cup, they can make anything happen in 90 minutes, especially at World Cup South Africa.  One thing is for sure is that the Greeks have heart, and if they feel overmatched early on, they might play for a 0-0 draw and pray that Nigeria beats South Korea.

Nigeria vs. South Korea

South Korea, a dark horse in my book, has three points while Nigeria, a lower tier African team in this tournament, has zero points after two losses.  South Korea probably will be safe with at least a draw because Greece is largely overmatched against Argentina.  However, a win would almost assuredly put them in the tournament as they beat Greece 2-0 in the opener.  The Nigeria Super Eagles are barely alive and could advance with a win against South Korea and an Argentina win if the Super Eagles win by enough (goal differential would be the tiebreaker).

South Korea easily handled Greece 2-0 but looked completely overmatched in a 1-4 blowout against Argentina.  They play a “kamikaze” type of football that could really entertain viewers if they start clicking on all cylinders.  South Korean fans are also something to watch as they cheer the entire game, bring out large flags before the game, have organized chants and bang on drums the entire game.  They believe they can advance, and they are probably the second best team in this group.  Manchester United’s Park Ji Sung is their most prominent player and is used to pressure playing the biggest premiere. Expect him to perform well.  Nigeria, solid defensively and also pretty conservative, will tightly guard the box.  South Korea will be sniping from long range, hoping to advance to the second round.

Nigeria, playing in their home continent, stands in shocked disappointment after blowing a 1-0 lead against Greece and then losing all points when Greece’s Vasilis Torosidis scored in the 70^th minute.  Even after dropping their first two games, the strange thing is Nigeria still has a legitimate shot at advancing if they beat South Korea because Greece (GD: -1 ) faces Argentina, South Korea has a goal differential of (-1) and Nigeria only has a goal differential of (-2).  Playing maybe their last World Cup game on their home continent, bitter about two losses and playing a must-win game, look for Nigeria to play very hard.  Midfielder and leader, John Obbi Mikhel, must orchestrate the attack for the Nigerians, pushing forward on every opportunity.

—Philip Deutsch

Football fever steady across the continent

ADDIS ABABA — Ethiopia was a far cry from qualifying for this year’s World Cup, but that hasn’t dampened Ethiopians’ enthusiasm for the game on this soccer-obsessed continent. Every game sees downtown Addis Ababa’s largest public square packed with fans hoping to catch some action on the Coca-Cola-sponsored big screen devoted exclusively to World Cup content.

On Friday evening I headed over to Addis’ iconic Meskal Square to cheer on the Americans in their match against the Slovenians. For a number of reasons—prominent among which is the fact that Ethiopia is the number one recipient of US aid in Africa—the crowd was overwhelmingly rooting for the Red, White, and Blue.

Unsurprisingly, reactions were muted as the Slovenians took an early 2-0 lead. But when the US club clawed back to a 2-2 tie powered by goals from Donovan and Bradley, the crowd erupted.

Yet these reactions paled in comparison with the mayhem that followed the Americans’ third goal in the 87^th minute. Pandemonium broke out as hundreds of Ethiopians danced in the streets and backed up traffic on the capital’s main thoroughfare.

Once the raucousness subsided and it became clear that the goal was left uncounted, however, the contagious enthusiasm quickly cooled. Almost on cue, the clouds opened up and unleashed a torrent of rain, sending Ethiopian soccer fans packing. Such was the metaphorical conclusion to the Americans’ disappointing performance against Slovenia.

—Matthew Keshian

Bees Buzz the Other Way for Cameroon

PRETORIA — The World Cup produces odd scenarios.  On Saturday night at the Cameroon vs. Denmark game, this is what I saw: the comic book type matchup of Olsen’s Eleven vs. the Indomitable Lions; a ball that consistently flew so high over the net for Cameroon that it looked like a rigged hot air balloon; a North Carolinian wearing a Baltimore Orioles hat sitting in the middle of a South African section that cheered exasperatingly for Cameroon; grown Danish men dancing in the middle of Africa with a sign that said “blow on my vuvuzela.”  Impossible?  Nope.

Listen from a distance, and the blare of a hundred vuvuzelas sounds like insects gathering in a horror movie.  And what most all World Cup followers don’t know: the sound of the vuvuzelas actually represents the buzz of South African bees.  The bees’ purpose: to fend away the opposition from scoring.  For a crowd of mostly South Africans who came to support their fellow African nation, Cameroon, the mystique of the vuvuzela might have back-fired.

Olsen’s Eleven, the nickname for the Denmark squad coached by legendary player Morten Olsen, rallied past Samuel Eto’o and the Indomitable Lions 2-1 in Pretoria on Saturday.  The loss officially eliminated Cameroon who couldn’t kick a rock in the ocean: 23 shots and golden opportunities literally every two minutes…. But only one goal to show.

Off a steal in the 10^th minute, Samuel Eto’o, the Cameroonian striker, drilled home a goal in one of the best moments in African football history.  The vuvuzelas buzzed loudly and the entire continent seemed to have Cameroon’s back on this day.

However, Cameroon’s next eighty minutes of headers, free kicks and squared-up strikes flying over the crossbar could equate to John Starks in his worst playoff games or Rick Ankiel’s wild pitch display in the National League Division Series.  Shaking heads and heads in hands followed every opportunity that Cameroon squandered in front of the net.  “X’s” signaling missed shots littered the simulated field of the Cameroonian shot chart.

It was only a matter of time until Denmark showed quality beats quantity.  In the 33^rd minute, Nicklas Bendtner silenced the “bees” easily sticking a cross in the Cameroon net for the equalizer.  Then, Dennis Rommedahl showed how confidence should be shown in the box when he clinically bent a shot during the 61^st minute that proved to be the game-winner.

Fifty-seven percent possession, 23 shots, seven corners and thousands of vuvuzelas for Cameroon meant nothing but what could have been for a talented team that seemed to outplay Morten Olsen’s team.

If you showed Olsen the stat sheet before the game, he would have been packing for Denmark.  Instead, the Danish were enthusiastic for their three points, their team’s resolve and their good luck – something very important at the 90 minute by 90 minute crapshoots at the World Cup.  The bees must have turned on the Africans on Saturday in Pretoria.

—Philip Deutsch

Crazy U.S. Comeback in Johannesburg

JOHANNESBURG – The situation looked all too familiar for U.S. soccer at halftime on Friday in Johannesburg, South Africa: a much smaller, less renowned country running all over a lethargic U.S. team at the World Cup. Did it bring back images of Ghana’s eliminating upset of the U.S. in 2006? Epic disappointment hovered in the air above U.S. fans who hoped for a deep run in 2010 as Slovenia, essentially a brand-new country of just a few million, jumped to 2-0 lead. Coach Bob Bradley deserves a raise after engineering “The Yanks” to a comeback, a draw and a near win that saved them from the brink of elimination.
In the first half, The U.S. looked lazy, unmotivated, unlucky and like 11 individuals while the gritty Slovenians seemed quick, hungry, fortunate and like a cohesive football unit. Each Slovenian goal sucked the air out of Ellis Park on Friday. At halftime, American flags that were waving violently in the beginning stood dead still and American fans that were jumping up and down at kickoff sat chilled in unconfident silence – mulling over the falling fate of their team.
I gazed around the Slovenian section where I sat. It was a strange sight, indeed. People of a country where essentially no American in the stadium could point to on a map were exhilarated. Slovenian fans, looking out of place at the World Cup with a fresh nationalistic identity, neon green wigs and not really an internationally notable player’s jersey to sport, now looked confident in winning a group consisting of the U.S. and England. It was an unexpected party for these Europeans. A party that did not seem destined to be crashed.
Everyone knew a U.S. loss would all but doom the squad’s chances of advancement after such promising signs of improvement throughout the last three years. Deep within the rugged Ellis Park stadium, the U.S. locker room, led by their stoic manager, stayed poised. Less than three minutes into the second half, captain Landon Donovan took charge, making a run alongside the net. He drilled a high shot from a tough angle past the timid Slovenian ‘keeper. The U.S. sections exploded into life. Maybe U.S. soccer wouldn’t disappear in the “dark city” of Johannesburg.
Then, the Slovenians stalled, the U.S. squandered countless opportunities and the officials made several questionable calls. With Ellis Park on edge, shaking with anxiety, the score stood frozen at 2-1 until the U.S. manager’s son struck.
Midfielder Michael Bradley received an excellent head pass from Jozy Altidore as Bradley trailed toward the goal. The coach’s son, who looked like a born leader on the field Friday, slid through the box and knocked the ball into the back of the net for the most clutch goal in U.S. history. To say U.S. fans went nuts would be an understatement. The other U.S. fans in the Slovenian section almost knocked each other down in excitement. Others stood on the rigid Ellis Park seats and violently waved American flags in the wake of the comeback.
The phantom 3rd goal, just moments later, robbed by seemingly poor officiating, sent the stadium into a frenzy. But it didn’t matter, the Malian official called a foul, and the rally was stifled and so we’re the U.S. fans.
But the constant firing of the offense and the passion shown by the U.S. players in the second half (Dempsey seemed to be one of the most emotional, slapping away a Slovenian player’s gesture of a handshake after being knocked down in stoppage time) unveiled a much fiery, resolved U.S. team than in years past. One that would not give up even in a two goal hole, no momentum and only 45 minutes to play.
Whatever Manager Bob Bradley did at half-time can now be deemed ingenious as it salvaged the U.S.’ relevance at World Cup South Africa. U.S. fans walked out of Ellis Park bitter at officiating but in pure relief. The Americans still breathe “life” at this wild tournament.

—Philip Deutsch

Argentina in South Africa to Make Big Impact

JOHANNESBURG – Argentina may have the best team and fans at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.  The players in blue and white pinstripes peppered the South Korean goal in a 4-1 win on Thursday at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.  Fans of the “Maradonians,” the nickname given to the squad coached by football legend Diego Maradona, have been in full force at every setting during this tournament and the constant celebration of their brilliant team continued all throughout Thursday’s game.

In group play, the other football giants have been sleeping: France has a measly one point after being embarrassed by Mexico, England played flat in a draw against the U.S., Brazil did not show their normal championship form against North Korea and Spain dropped a shocking game to Switzerland.

Though, as another favorite to make a deep run, Argentina beat Nigeria 1-0 in their first game and Gonzalo Higuain’s hat-trick, the first at the World Cup since 2002, sparked the team to a dominant victory against a good South Korean team.

I sat smack in the middle of a sea of blue and white.  Argentines, wearing blue and white afro wigs and painted up in their team colors, incessantly sang countless different songs.  They rose to their feet on almost every relevant occasion.

From the beginning, Argentina fans cheered loudly as they knew the onslaught was on and was never going to stop.  Runs by stars Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez set the tone, and it did not take long for this stacked team to strike first.  Messi’s cross in the 17^th minute led to an own goal by Park Chu-young of South Korea.

Argentines danced, chanted – they could feel something special brewing at this World Cup.  Maradona stalked the sideline below hundreds of posters and banners that praised his name like a saint.

Argentina continued to move the ball on a string and dashed through every opening on the pitch.  Shots rang wide of the goal all throughout the first half.   One Argentine stood up and yelled, “This is Argentina football!”

Then, on a free kick, Maxi Rodriguez crossed to Burdisso who headed the ball perfectly to Higuan for the second goal of the game.  Argentines’ eyes opened wide with enthusiastic shock as they witnessed the magic before them.

However, 90 minutes of World Cup action proves again and again that the entire game can be changed in an instant.  Lee Chung-yong fortuitously stole the ball at the ’18 line and chipped in a goal right before half.  The other side of the stadium rumbled – South Koreans went crazy, banging on their drums.

The Argentines’ boisterous passion turned into nervous shivering in the cold – but only temporarily.   Higuan’s special day continued when Messi’s second shot by the corner of the goal almost impossibly deflected in the goal off the post.  Higuan rushed in cleaned up to make it 3-1.

The stadium roared and the flood gates opened when Higuan stabbed a header past the battered South Korean keeper Jung-Sung Ryung to make it 4-1.  Argentines jubilantly waved their blue and white, fabric top hats in the air to celebrate a rare World Cup hat trick.  Argentina seemed like they were here to take the tournament by rush.

Last week, at the fan park, in Pretoria, during a dull, irrelevant moment, about a hundred Argentines rambunctiously danced and sang in a circled mob.  Everyone around could tell that Argentina came from all the way from South America to make a huge presence.

Their team certainly delivered on Thursday, and there seems to be no question that the fans of the “Maradonians” make the best World Cup game atmosphere.

- Philip Deustch

Bafana Bafana Still Spirited after Miracle Run Crashes

PRETORIA – Before the Uruguay vs. South Africa game in Pretoria, South Africa on Wednesday, I huddled in the cold alone, draped in a South African flag, amidst thousands of South African fans. Together, with fans of Uruguay and many nationalities, we anticipated what we thought could be the biggest game in South African football history. Yet, we could not converse about the big event above the deafening noise of vuvuzelas blaring in (and out of) unison. The crowd noise made the PA announcer’s starting lineup introductions inaudible.

During the World Cup’s opening match of Mexico vs. South Africa in Johannesburg, us Americans joined together with South Africans at the Pretoria fan park to cheer Bafana Bafana to an unexpected 1-1 tie. This time was different.

Bafana Bafana and the game came to Pretoria. All day leading up to South Africa’s second game, security guards at the hotel, vendors selling RSA flags on the street, all football fans and even the homeless chattered about Bafana Bafana and the excitement surrounding the game.

When the 8:30 P.M. kickoff time approached, I was no longer in a group like at the fan park. This time, as we scrounged around the stadium looking for tickets, the masses had already separated us. Thousands of South Africans, granted free tickets by FIFA, flocked to the stadium, waiting eagerly for kickoff. Fortunately, a South African with an extra ticket gave me one.

At around 8:27 P.M., with the stadium already full, I walked along the field with hundreds of security guards conveniently decked in Bafana Bafana yellow protecting the field. I looked up, and the scene was unreal. No seat was empty – nobody who even lived miles from Pretoria would miss this game.

I barely squeezed into my section, which definitely had more people than seats. I glanced around, and I was definitely the only American within sight. It didn’t matter because I was there with a South African flag to support Bafana Bafana. Just as every South African, ecstatic about hosting the world cup, has done since I got here, the people in my section kindly embraced my presence and my loyalty to Bafana Bafana. This was an event and a game for a lifetime.

I recalled what the South African shuttle driver, April, told me on the way from the Johannesburg airport to my Pretoria hotel: “Kindness is the key. We (South Africans) are trying to make an imprint on the world. People are going to want come back.”

The South African national anthem played, Vuvuzuelas (noisemaking horns) blared, the yellow and green colored flags waved and fans of Bafana Bafana sang until their lungs burst.

Unfortunately for a band of local club players, ranked 84th in the world, who tied Mexico in an epic opening match draw, the miracle run toward the second round screeched to a halt. We watched in frustrated silence as Uruguay took control of the game and eventually closed out the game in the final seconds with a 3rd goal, making it 3-0.

Emptiness finally met the constant enthusiasm head on. But, for a country racked with so much past hardship, a disappointing result would not ruin their spirit in the spotlight.

Eighty-seven minutes in, one man began to sing an inspirational song about saving men from Johannesburg mines. Then, everyone seemed to know the song and joined in. Of course, the friendly South African people filled me in on what was going on. A lot of people came to South Africa scared of mugging and sex slaving. All I see is kindness even as the dream run came to a crash

—Philip Deustch

R-e-s-p-e-c-t: American soccer looking to spell it out for the rest of the world

CAPE TOWN – American soccer has come a long way since the States hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

The event itself was wildly successful, drawing millions of football fans and shattering all of the previous World Cup attendance records. It also led to the formation of Major League Soccer in 1996 after FIFA mandated that a national league be formed as a condition for hosting the international show. The MLS has even begun to attract major international superstars like David Beckham and Thierry Henry.

Slowly soccer (sometimes referred to as football by Americans who think they know a lot about it) is growing in popularity in the land of the free and the home of the brave. The United States men’s national team has qualified for an impressive six consecutive World Cup competitions. The team reached the World Cup quarterfinals in 2002, and just last year it defeated European champion Spain 2-0 in the semifinals of the Confederations Cup before losing 3-2 to Brazil in the finals.

The United States is ranked a respectable 14th in the world by FIFA. It sits in first place atop the the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football, ranking it ahead of other World Cup qualifiers like Honduras and Mexico.

Watching the USA battle England last weekend in the downtown Fan Fest area was a thrill. The spectators were almost evenly split between England and USA fans. There was some good-natured banter over beers before the match. When the United States scored on a soft goal by Clint Dempsey, the African fans in the back of the park jumped up and cheered with our contingent of American supporters, clearly reveling in the misfortune of the English colonialists.

My Johannesburg correspondent, featured here as Philip from Greensboro, N.C., braved it out in front of a far more rabid English crowd. But in the end, the match ended in a 1-1 draw. A tie was surely a respectable result for the States, a sign of equality, of having matched England on the international stage.

But not in the eyes of many here. Most of the casual fans I’ve spoken to didn’t even realize the U.S. had a national football squad.

“England blow it to draw with U.S.,” declared the front page headline on the next morning’s Sunday Times of South Africa sports section. The story chronicling the match yielded several similar gems:

Where England had the hapless [goalkeeper] Robert Green last night, their opponents had the fearless Tim Howard. [England coach] Fabio Capello could field better players than US coach Bob Bradley in practically every other position.

However, the American team did garner some respect from the Times for bouncing back from England’s early score:

[England's first goal] was easy—but it was never going to stay easy. Bradley’s troops can play a bit and Landon Donovan can play much more than a bit. He caressed a sumptuous cross to Jozy Altidore, who nicked Clint Dempsey’s chance at the far post by glancing his header haplessly wide.

Indeed, Donovan seems to be the only American player who gets any credit from the media here. Perhaps the fact that he has spent most of his career in the MLS makes him something of a mysterious commodity to most international fans. The States’ players who do play in Europe are generally not major contributors on their club teams. But of course, the match itself was characterized in the Times not by the American skill but by one horrific blunder by the English:

With halftime beckoning [goalkeeper Robert Green] committed a galactic clanger—one that echoed all the way to the cliffs of Dover and beyond. He knelt to scoop up Dempsey’s feeble drive, only to scuff the ball past him, either through an attack of the jitters or a passing reverie about the natural beauty of the Pilanesberg Mountains. As [the ball] dawdled happily over the England goal-line, Green’s universe crumpled into a small, mortifying hole.

But this outstanding article ends with a more glowing prognosis for the American team, which it had early labeled as soft and better suited to spelling competitions than soccer:

The Americans, it turned out, are not spelling-bee champions. Centre backs Jay DeMerit and Oguchi Onyewu are a pair of hard mothers who contest every ball with desperate commitment. What they lack in finesse, they compensate for with sheer will. They did it against Spain, they did it against England, and they will do it again.

So there you have it. In the end, the American team did win the respect of the South African news writer. His praise may have been backhanded and begrudging at times, but it’s definitely a start.

Meanwhile, the U.S. team still have plenty of work left to do. Slovenia lead Group C with 3 points, and they are no pushover, having come a long way since the days of Zlatko Zahovic (and not much else). The Slovenes upset Italy before the 2006 World Cup and knocked out Russia on their road to South Africa this year.

A loss Friday would be devastating for the U.S. But a win would virtually assure the Americans of a trip to the Round of 16—that fateful promised land that attracts all footballers who seek to earn international respect.

—Will Robinson