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TagsBY DAVID WALDSTEIN
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
Giuseppe Rossi appears to have picked the wrong team, after all.
While his Italian team is back home being ridiculed by its fan base for an abominable showing in the Confederations Cup, Rossi's fellow Jersey natives Tim Howard and Jozy Altidore and the United States just pulled off one of the biggest upsets in U.S. soccer history, with possibly one more to come.
Less than a week ago the United States was foundering badly – thanks in part to Clifton's own Rossi – and was on the verge of another humiliating exit from an international competition with questions raging about its lack of readiness for next year's World Cup.
But after a simply stunning 2-0 upset of Spain on Wednesday that puts the U.S. in its first ever final of a FIFA competition, there is no reason to think that an even bigger victory could be on the deck for Sunday.If they can beat Spain, which came into the game as the hottest team in the world, why can't they beat Brazil on Sunday – provided Brazil doesn't get knocked off by the hometown South Africans in the other semifinal Thursday?
If Howard plays the way he did against Spain, using his cat-like reflexes and shot-stopping abilities as well as his expertise in controlling the box the way he did, the U.S. can definitely beat Brazil for the second time.
If Landon Donovan plays with as much resolve, if Altidore and Clint Dempsey, who scored Wednesday's goals, play with as much opportunism and penetrative zeal, and Bob Bradley designs another successful game plan, then yes, the U.S. can win.
Of course it will also help to get a little of what they enjoyed against Spain – some good ol' luck.
"I can't explain it any more than you can," Howard told reporters after the game. "Sports is funny sometimes, but when you put your mind to something, you can achieve it."
The Spanish defense was certainly flawed – goalie Iker Casillas definitely should have deflected Altidore's shot wide on the first goal. But the U.S., picking its spots to go forward according to Bradley's plan, applied pressure and then took advantage of the cracks. So the boys deserve full credit.
The U.S. struck in the 25th minute off of the foot of Altidore, who was born in Livingston, New Jersey. The striker received a pass from Dempsey a few feet outside of the box, turned and escaped a Spanish defender. With free space in front of him Altidore sent a right-footed rocket at the net that deflected off of goalkeeper Casillas and into the near corner to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead. Altidore was so ebullient that he earned a yellow card for his celebration.
If the U.S. plays Brazil Sunday, and if they go about it in the same way they did against Spain, packing it in and absorbing a relentless attack, then much will depend on Howard to monitor the last line of defense. But based on what we saw Wednesday, he suddenly seems up to the task, especially after getting a few days of rest after he didn't play against Egypt.
Howard had been playing a lot lately, and not altogether brilliantly, either. But his instant turnaround, after allowing three goals to both Brazil and Italy while registering only 10 total saves in the first two games, coincides with the U.S.'s quick turnaround.
Howard, a North Brunswick product, saved all six of Spain’s six shots on goal, and directed traffic during nine Spanish corner kicks.
“Anytime you come out with a shock win you need to take your chances in front of goal – we did – and you need some guys who are defending like bandits, and you need your goalkeeper to come up with some saves and sometimes you get lucky on certain occasions,” Howard told reporters after the win. “We rode our luck today, but Spain is unbelievable – I don’t need to tell you that, though. They are No. 1 in the world.”
Spain came into the game winners of 15 straight matches, and unbeaten in a record 35 straight games. But not anymore.
“We’re proud that this group is the one that is going to represent the U.S. in the final,” said Howard. “We are scratching our heads the same way you are, but it goes to show you what hard work and commitment to each other can bring.”
All of this came after it seemed that the U.S. would need a miracle simply to advance from the group stage. It appeared the Americans' tournament was over and done prior to the Egypt encounter, as they needed to win by three goals. But they did it.
Then, to beat a top-flight team like Spain playing at its best is a remarkable achievement, especially for a team still trying to barge its way into the international soccer scene. Spain hadn't lost since Nov. 15, 2006 when Romania did the job.
As for where this victory ranks in the history of U.S. soccer, it's definitely up there, but it's too early to put it in its proper historical perspective.
But say this much. Although this wasn't the World Cup, it looks a lot better than the over-hyped victory over Colombia in 1994, despite what John Harkes said on TV after the game. That famous came during Colombia's very brief period as a so-called soccer power ("power" isn't even the right word. It was more of a brief period as a soccer entity).
Colombia has never really achieved anything on the international stage the way Spain, holders of the European championships, has. Besides, that victory over El Pibe and the Colombians was on American soil.
The wins over Portugal and Mexico in 2002 were impressive and important, but again, the days when Mexico held dominion over the U.S. in soccer have been over for a while, now.
The big victory was, and remains, the upset of England in the 1950 World Cup. And for some reason, people ignore the fact that the U.S. beat both Belgium and Paraguay (3-0 both times) in the first World Cup in 1930 and finished first in its group before being slaughtered 6-1 by Argentina in the semifinals.
Beating Brazil, or even South Africa, on Sunday will give the U.S. its best showing ever on the international stage, and will vault it into an elite group of footballing nations.
Strange, after the way World Cup qualifying has gone lately, and the way this tournament started, but it suddenly seems so possible.
- MIKE VURKONOV CONTRIBUTED TO THIS REPORT