SPEED FOOTBALL

 In the rest of the world it is the game commonly known as Football, and to be fair, the rest of the World laughs at how those from the states refer to it as "Soccer". It has also been known for other World nations to take delight in the fact that the USA are traditionally not very successful at World football, after all everyone fears the outcome that is more than possible if they start to take the game seriously...would anyone else have a chance in future World Cups? Would the trophy ever go anywhere else? 20 years ago you would have been laughed out of town at the suggestion that the United States may become a World force at "soccer" but are there now signs than this is a realistic suggestion?
The 2010 FIFA World Cup being held in South Africa will have opened up many eyes to the soccer revolution in the States. The team known as "The Stars and Stripes" topped their first round group, finishing ahead of the much fancied England after an opening match draw against said fancied team, a second draw against Slovenia and a late win when faced with Algeria. Undefeated qualification and top of the group, can you ask for more than that?
Should we really be surprised at their fortunes? The United States do have some World Cup pedigree. At the inaugural tournament held in 1930, the Stars and Stripes finished a creditable third. It is well documented that this early feat was succeeded with some real wilderness years during which time qualification to the finals was extremely rare. The change in fortunes came when the USA hosted the 1994 World Cup. Spirited performances in that tournament in front of large crowds began the rebirth of North American soccer. That rebirth did not take to come to fruition with a fourth place finish at Copa America in 1995, a quarterfinal appearance at the 2002 World Cup and significantly a 2009 Confederations Cup final appearance. On top of this the USA can boast four successes from their ten ventures in the Concacaf Gold Cup, a record bettered only by Mexico.

At the end, soccer is a beautiful game. It's much like life, it takes teamwork. There is acting involved, to try and build ones reputation. Trying to pretend like someone hurt you worse than they did to get sympathy. Most of the game is spent in toil. Most is spent seemingly running endlessly. Most of the shots are misses. It's a defensive game. People protect their prized possession, their own goal, with everything they have. In life, we all find more failure than success. Success can sometimes be a great individual effort, sometimes be being in the right place at the right time, and sometimes be a mistake by an opponent, like helping us score without doing a thing. The goal builds slowly, but happens suddenly. When it happens. It takes time to process. It's never an immediate reaction. There is shock involved. There is surprise that it actually worked out. There is jubilation and at the end you celebrate with the people that made it happen.