CBC-Sports

Americans Spark Spanish Inquisition

June 24, 2009 08:48 PM | Posted by   Nigel Reed  

Once in a while, endeavour triumphs over quality.

Every now and then, commitment prevails over skill.

Occasionally, honesty gets the better of expectation.

But This! The US beats Spain at soccer! This is scarcely believable!

I'm very fortunate to get paid to commentate on and talk about this wonderful sport, but I am almost speechless at what I witnessed in the first semifinal of the FIFA Confederations Cup.

How could this possibly happen?

How could a team which lost its opening two games and was seemingly on the next flight out of Johannesburg make it all the way to the final at the expense of the European champions, who had hitherto won a world record 15 straight games and conceded just two goals in the process?

Here are some thoughts which I believe shaped the upset of the year.

The Americans' work rate was phenomenal and was combined with a never-say-die attitude, inspirational goalkeeping from Tim Howard and an ability to execute the few chances created.

They caught their opponents on an off night to be sure.

The usual Spanish flair was largely absent, the build-up play was over-elaborate and the finishing wasteful.

Their flow was badly disrupted by a tireless US performance which denied the world's No. 1 ranked team time and space to operate effectively.

In addition, the Americans had, arguably, overachieved simply by reaching the semifinals and therefore had nothing to lose.

By contrast, Spain, having avoided Brazil or Italy in the knockout stages, must have expected to complete a routine victory, but failed to handle the pressure or the physical U.S. tactics and were guilty of defensive lapses on both goals.

The U.S. thoroughly deserved its win on the night.

Spain can have no complaints about the result, but let's get one thing straight.

The Spaniards will remain one of the World Cup favourites in a year's time – the Americans will not.

One swallow doesn't make a summer and one shocking result does not change soccer's world order.

But it does make you think.

Could Spain be returning to their old ways and choke again at the critical moment and does this also suggest the Americans are good enough to go deep into the World Cup finals themselves?

Before soccer's cynics write off this stunning scoring line as a one-off in a largely irrelevant warm-up tournament, let me assure you it was no fluke.

It was truly competitive game in which the U.S. game plan worked to a tee.

Don't disregard this as a freak result – the Americans' work ethic was hugely impressive - as it had to be to withstand wave after wave of relentless Spanish pressure - particularly in the second half.

Vicente del Bosque, coach of Spain, expressed "surprise" at how well their opponent played and credited the US for showing "tremendous heart."

They had it in spades and despite a sizeable gap in technical ability the Americans ultimately believed in themselves and their ability to defy the odds.

My Dad used to tell me about a black day for English football.

At the 1950 World Cup played in Brazil, England, packed with legends of the game such as Finney, Mortensen, Wright and Ramsey, lost 1-0 to the U.S. in one of the biggest upsets of all time.

The result was so shocking it remains, to this day, a yardstick by which all England disasters are measured.

My fervent wish is simple.

I hope what we saw in Bloemfontein is not viewed in similar vein 50 years hence.

If it is, it will mean American soccer failed to step up to the next level and build on a modicum of success.

The U.S. will have returned to football's badlands – unable or unwilling to seize the moment and truly embrace the global game.

This remarkable victory over Spain should be celebrated from sea to shining sea, and used as a launch pad for a serious assault on the FIFA World Cup 2010.

America – Pay Attention!

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