
It was supposed to be a butt whippin, it was supposed to be like that supermodel that bitched Terrell Owens on the new NBC show, Superstars. The FIFA Confederations Cup semifinal between Spain and the USA would set US Soccer back 20 years. Everyone who watches football thought that La Furia Roja would embarrass the Stars & Stripes (including myself).
However, Bob Bradley and his crew were the only ones who believed and with body sacrificing defending and timely finishing, the United States pulled off the greatest win in US Soccer history. A 2-0 victory against the “world’s best team” that had all kind of world record streaks was a result of American grit.
The Americans began the 1st half pressing the action and aggressively attacking the Spaniards, something the European champs were definitely uncomfortable with. That early aggression paid off when Jozy Altidore outmuscled defender Joan Capdevila, held off Carles Puyol and sent a shot on goal that caught captain Iker Casillas leaning the wrong way and found the back of the net even though the Real Madrid keeper got a palm on it.

After the 27th minute the US led 1-0 and had breached a Spanish defense that hadn’t allowed a goal all tournament. From that point on the Spaniards pressed hard to get the equalizer but every time it looked like they would score a US defender was going to ground deflecting a shot, sacrificing bruises for a historic clean sheet.
Fierce defending and superior keeping by Tim Howard kept Spain at bay and eventually put the US in a position to seal a place in the final. In the 74th minute that place in the championship game was finalized when Landon Donovan’s centering pass was lazily handled by Sergio Ramos allowing Clint Dempsey to slide from behind and put the ball past Casillas for the back breaking 2-0 lead and win.

After 90+ minutes it was over, Spain’s world record streaks: DONE, Spain-Brazil Dream Final: NOT GONNA HAPPEN, Future underestimation of US Soccer in non-CONCACAF international competitions (US is never underestimated in CONCACAF Competitions): NEVER AGAIN.
Spain must be hating US sports teams right now. This Confederations Cup semifinal loss and the loss in the gold medal basketball match to the US in the 2008 Beijing Olympics have left Spain devoid of some major titles.
This victory was not the final, its important that the US refocus on winning the Confederations Cup trophy and make this victory last in the minds of their detractors. When Muhammad Ali beat Sonny Liston he loudly boasted that he shook up the world, after the 2-0 win over Spain, US Soccer can make the same claim.
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