A soccer miracle in the Confederations Cup

The entire run up to this game had already been a Hollywood script (the U.S. by all rights being out of it and then beating Egypt 3-0 while needing a 3-0 win from Brazil over Italy and it actually happening to propel them into the semis) and the fact that they were facing Spain (the number one ranked team in the world aka a formidable foe) in their next game supposedly made the game's result a foregone conclusion.

Then something incredible happened. The U.S. won 2-0 over the world's number one ranked team, Spain, but let's keep it all in perspective shall we. I want to be even-keeled about this event. While I think this is a huge win for the U.S. since Spain fielded a full-strength team, I want to be cautious about the result. The stage will be huge when the U.S. visits South Africa again for the World Cup.

So for now, savor the win, revel in it because it is huge, rejoice and let the toasts fly high. But when the next game rolls around, leave the braggadocio behind, as nothing is as fickle as world class soccer is on the world's stage. Those stadiums suddenly feel awfully large and cold when you are facing a world class team bent on revenge.

Here is the New York Times take on the win. They dubbed it The Miracle on Grass.