Artigo do Miami Herald (eu editei) pq tem alguns paragrafos interessantes... (sobre o Jogo...)


Even judging by fans, U.S. deserves cheers
By GREG COTE
Miami Herald

The robust attendance of 35,211 drawn by international futbol featured an amarillo sea of Brazil national-team jerseys and lemon-lime colored flags interspersed with substantial renegade pockets of Stars & Stripes led by a far-flung but tightly knit group of U.S. soccer fanatics that calls itself Sam's Army.

The small army roared and chanted ``U-S-A!'' on Wednesday as the Americans seemed ready to seal a 1-0 triumph before succumbing to a last-minute Brazilian goal and then an overtime penalty kick following a desperate, deliberate U.S. hand ball.

Once, America out-soccering mighty Brazil would have drawn every possible allusion to David with his sling shot or Rocky with his ring shot.

No more, though. That's the best progress of all.

America's near-victory-turned-near loss verified what Kasey Keller, the brilliant U.S. goalkeeper, said, ``The fear of playing Brazil isn't what it used to be for us. We know we can compete now.''

The result verified the future of Brazilian soccer is in good hands - rather, on good feet. The nation sent its under-23 team here, a bunch of stallions whose speed and flamboyant artistry make their relative inexperience on a big stage seem trivial. The splendid, if unfortunately named, Kaka especially made a night's work for Keller, and the final was justice even as it required desperate late luck. Brazil fashioned the best chances, twice hitting the post.

(CONCACAF had invited Brazil as a guest in this hemispheric championship for North and Central American and Caribbean teams. Which is a bit like asking Noah Webster to compete in your spelling bee. Your hospitality invites your defeat.) - ui

The result lent proof as well to the U.S. side, which made available 10 of 18 players from its full World Cup squad. The lesson is moral victories don't work any more. Close doesn't count, even against Brazil. That's more progress. Olha é muito ressentimento...os americanos ganharam na raça contra a Alemanha na copa do mundo...eu vi~! mas o juiz robou fazer o q ne?

Those who decline to embrace U.S. soccer are officially absolved of guilt if they aren't certain what CONCACAF stands for. They are pardoned for thinking Bruce Arena was an individually funded facility, not the name of the U.S. national coach.

Those devoted soccer outsiders don't know what they're missing, though.

No matter who's watching, or isn't, U.S. soccer has passed most of the world and just about caught up with the rest of it, with the best of it.