Even detractors of the United States soccer team have got to admit that the squad made a good showing in the 2009 Confederations Cup.
The Americans were poised to shock the world in the championship game against Brazil.
They scored two goals in the first half by Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan to take a 2-0 lead at halftime against Brazil, a country that routinely wins World Cup and Confederations Cup championships.
Brazil, no doubt the better team on paper, woke up in the second half to post three goals to take the game away from the Americans 3-2.
But supporters of U.S. Soccer feel that their appearance in the Confederations Cup final represents a turning point for the team and the sport in the country.
Soccer still a minor sport in United States
When the national soccer team plays a game, all action stops in that country.
Not in the United States.
There is no doubt that the U.S./Brazil soccer final got good ratings on ESPN.
But most Americans were watching Major League Baseball on television or NASCAR motor sports.
Either one of those sports dwarf soccer in popularity in America.
That doesn’t mean that people didn’t notice what was happening.
ESPN Sports center highlights made sure the public knew what was going on. When a U.S. team wins in any sport, it brings on a curiosity.
U.S. needs to made impact at World Cup
MLS, the major soccer league in North America, is still a niche sport but it is growing and will be up to 20 teams in few years. The cities of Philadelphia, Portland and Vancouver are adding franchises.
The league appears to be here to stay, but it will need the United States and Canada for that matter, to make an impact on the international scene.
The U.S. should qualify for the World Cup next year in South Africa. But the team has to advance far in order for the sport to make a difference at home,
Americans love a winner, no matter what the sport. The U.S. women’s soccer team proved that in its World Cup victories.
The United States isn't through playing for the year. The team will resume its World Cup qualifying later this summer. The team is currently in second place in the six team group in CONCACAF region. The top three teams qualfy for the World Cup while the fourth place team will go to a playoff against a South America team to qualify for the World Cup.
