The Giant Awaken?

For a decade and a half I have lived under the allusion that the United States men’s soccer team was a potential giant in International futbol. There have been pretenders, Ghana, South Korea, or Japan. I just figured that increased exposure to the sport via the World Wide Leader in Sports, a stable domestic league, and advertising money would build the USA into a powerhouse. Now in terms of Concacaf this has been accomplished. Stomping Mexico here at home has become routine. Beating them in Mexico has proven a different story. The Mexican national team does not lose at home. This is a hurdle I would have hoped to clear at this point. It is strange how expectations change.

This has been made more complicated during the Euro 2008 championships. It has been a great tournament. However, with the emergence of Russia to the Semi-Finals, the international futbol fan must take a great warning. The current Russian squad is well coached, and more importantly, the youngest team in the tournament. They have looked uneven and outmatched at times, particularly against the Spanish. However, their dismantling of the Dutch was a masterpiece. They forced the Dutch to resort to their all too regular tactic of aborting teamwork in favor of individual glory. I very impressed by the Russian attack. If that nation continues to progress, consider them the next great power. Despite the weather in Russia, they seem to have the size and certainly the willingness to be a futbol powerhouse. Money has flooded into Russia since 1991, and soon it will be the world’s most dominant oil producing power. Only time will tell, but this tournament may be the coming out party.

Its time for the Americans to step up....

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