Pinch Me

…for I am in a soccer dream.

If you have yet to realize, let me bring something to your attention. Right now, as I write, we are in one of the most monumental times in American soccer history. Take a second to soak that in. I’ll get to all of the parts that will be reviewed decades from now, but for starters let’s look at last night. The freshness is still present.

I can still feel the doubt over advancing as Uruguay struck in the second half. It was there in a big way. Steadily though, the USA began to toughen up. They tracked down balls all over the field, threw some numbers forward, and won some corners. Maybe all hope was not lost. A few bodies fly, a scrum in the box, and the ball is in the back of the net. Tie game. Unreal.

As the extra time dragged on, penalties seemed like the realistic end to this type of match. Although we don’t see it much, I feel like the Americans would just flat out suck at penalties. Maybe it was not having Seitz in goal, but for some reason I am scared that we are like England times a thousand. Well last night we did not have to find out. The pressure built up and the Americans started to maintain some possession in the second stanza of extra time. That was the key to the whole sequence, steady possession and aggressiveness.

One (now becoming signature) Adu corner later, a couple awkward touches, and a Michael Bradley finish put the Young Yanks on top for good. Big ups to Brian Perk by the way. He kinda sucked on the Uruguay goal, but came up with some out of his mind saves to seal it.

I don’t want to get to into it, but that was a real classy move by No. 7 from Uruguay to stomp (or sucker punch, depending on what Tivo report you like) on Bradley after the whistle had blown and the celebration had begun. That is all it took for Bradley’s alter ego Machine of Raging Death to come out and almost destroy everyone in the whole building. But in the end, after being restrained by about a million coaches, trainers, and players, the young man only needed a few fingers and his mouth to get the job done. “Two, One”. What an animal.

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And that’s just the first fraction of the epicness of the time we are in right now. The talent, heart, and pride that group of players have is tremendous, just imagining them maturing to the Men’s squad to intertwine with the likes of Landy and Bease is tremendous.

How about that Adu kid? He’s pretty good ya know.

The rumors have officially started. Today we heard of Celtic’s plan to line up a bid for the kid that is on everyone’s mind at the tourney in Canada. The ever growing reality of Adu going to a big club in Europe is amazing for the game in this country. In MLS he is in relative obscurity. There are thousands upon thousands of soccer fans in this country who watch the European leagues closely, and truly respect their play. To have an American go to one of these idolized clubs, and perhaps go on to some success, would make Adu the star he was always “supposed” to be and more importantly increase the interest, respect, and star quality that soccer really has in this country. Adu will become a bigger sports star and flag waver for soccer in this country in Europe than he could ever be in the MLS.

MLS you say…

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Tomorrow at 1 p.m. eastern time, David Beckham will be formally introduced to America. The man who is supposed to bring soccer in America to the public, and get this, have them embrace it. Call it maybe the biggest ingredient to (in a best case scenario…no guarantees) will be a series of watershed moments for American Soccer.

I don’t want to have to go through in large detail of the effect this man could have on all aspects of American Soccer. Let me just list a few things for you, just some words to read. Perception, attention, quality, infrastructure, youth, passion, respect. In a dream world a goal achieved. Your dream come true.

As the ESPN spot goes…”you say goodbye, and I say hello…”

Goodbye to Freddy Adu, Hello to Freddy Adu.

Maybe (but hopefully not) a Goodbye to the U-20’s from Canada over the upcoming days, but regardless a roaring Hello to the youth movement in US Soccer and continued success as these young stars move up to the senior team.

Goodbye to Obscurity, Hello to David Beckham.

Hello to your American soccer dreams