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Now, Yanks Are On to the Final

In what was a most improbably but well deserved upset of the number one team in the world, the US men's soccer team took out Spain 2-0 Wednesday in a Confederations Cup semifinal in South Africa. The US played with unaccustomed spirit for 90 minutes, taking the game directly to the Spaniards in sharp contrast to the Americans earlier somewhat listless efforts in losses to Brazil and Italy. Goalie Tim Howard was stunning in making eight saves against the best offense in the world; clearly the man of the match.

This game was an upset for the ages, ranking right up there with with the US hockey win over the Soviet Union in the 1960 Olympics, the US soccer defeat of England in 1950,the upset of number one Brazil in the 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the defeat of Mexico in the 2002 World Cup. While this match gives the US its first FIFA men's final since starting play in 1916, its real benefit should come in the draw for the 2010 World Cup. In recent World Cups, the US has been seeded below Mexico despite finishing ahead in qualifying. After this tournament, and with the results of CONCACAF qualifying, it will be extremely difficult not to seed the US as the best team in the region, giving it a chance to only play only one highly seeded team in group play rather than the two it has been facing in past World Cups.

Full post as published by Sports Biz on June 25, 2009 (boomark / email).