USA - Brazil

Arrival...


Yet another off-key anthem...


America loses, but there are pretty fireworks...

Bra-Sil

Great work last night everyone, although it was a pretty disappointing result.

Pack your bags people:

WHAT'S NEXT?: The Americans' proposed friendly against Poland on Oct. 9 at Chicago's Soldier Field is almost set. Three days later, they will probably play Colombia. The venue has yet to be determined, but the highest concentration of Colombian-Americans are in Florida and New York. These are friendlies, not World Cup qualifiers, so the USSF is likely to go where it can sell the most tickets, even if it means relinquishing home-field advantage (i.e. Poland in Chicago).

Elephants Attack Part II

Incredible photo from a friend who was in the park a day or so after us. We saw this, but not from this close. Nor did we see a random hippo observing.

The Damned United

Everyone should see this movie. Not because it's a great movie, but because it's about a pretty interesting story from English soccer in the 70s. And it's discussed in Soccernomics, which everyone should also read. Also, it's not about Manchester United, which I stupidly assumed until reading Soccernomics.

Well, really dug this one out of the archives...

Was cleaning out my email draft box today, and found this half finished transcription of a text conversation Noah and I had during last years confed cup us-eqypt group stage match.... ah, memories.

in honor of this afternoons preposterous result, im going to share the text message exchange between noah and myself:

2:33, JF: God, we're screwed
2:33, ND: Why even bother
2:52, JF: Even the goals we do score are terrible
2:52, ND: Let's not get too critical here. Also, we fucking suck. And thanks to Egypt for deciding not to show up
2:53, JF: I hate the long balls. I hate the timidness in front of net. I hate the panic at the back. Even if we win, this is still terrible
2:59, ND: Well, Egypt woke up
3:01, JF: Why is dempsey on the field?
3:45, ND: Once again we are being handed a gift and failing to do our part.
3:45, JF: Seriously. Jozy, how do you not find a way to score that? He was paying rent he was camped out over the ball for so long
3:46, ND: it has to be a handball
3:47, JF: Deflection off the thigh into the arm? I don't hate the non call
3:48, ND: The ball is going into the net even after it hits his thigh
3:49, JF: Well, that was almost a nice goal....
3:49, ND: Egypt is dead tired
3:50, JF: They are not interested. Landon needs to take this home.
3:55, JF: I will take anyone over Dempsey. Where is Torres?
3:56 ND: I thought Dempsey was great in the early going. Feilhabers coming on
3:57 JF: Jesus. I hope your eyes are better than mine
4:00 ND: Thanks. I'll be here all night.
4:00 JF: Well, you were right. And I love it. Great cross from Spector
4:01 ND: Wonderful ball
4:01 JF: Also, I should have been nervous when I was agreeing with harkes
4:03 ND Guzan is terrifying. Don't take any pointers from him
4:05 JF: Haha. Also, I may be striking up my love affair with gooch again.... going to be a good final 15
4:09 ND: He doesn't lose balls in the air
4:12 JF: Davies needed off 20 mins ago
4:13 JF: Or 82 mins ago
4:14 ND: Yep. Although he ran hard. And then he started falling over
4:17 JF: Very little intent, or execution. Everyone loves energy, but that was a mess
4:23 JF: Wow.

Back to Gustrow for a Minute

Remember this song? Took me awhile to find the right version. Great music video too. Stand Up!

Oh, Joe Posnanski You're Perfect, Please Don't Change A Thing

"There have been people who have studied what is now known as “The Death Match” … and there are a few who insist that the death of the players had little or nothing to do with winning the game. Time blunts emotion and leaves behind vague hints. But the story is still told, year after year, and maybe to know the story is to understand soccer just a little bit more, to understand why it means so much to so many people all over the world. The stadium where the FC Start and the Germans played the match is still standing in Kiev — it is now called “Start Stadium.” There’s a monument in front to the players who would rather win and die."

http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2010/07/15/a-soccer-story/

From SI 2002...on how the U.S. Advanced to the Elimination Round

So decisive was Monday's victory that it was easy to forget how lucky the U.S. had been to reach the second round after its dreadful 3-1 loss to Poland last Friday. As the minutes ticked away in Daejeon, South Korea, midfielder Earnie Stewart would later admit he was certain of elimination. After all, South Korea and Portugal, which were playing at the same time in Incheon, had yet to score; each needed only a tie to advance from Group D if the U.S. were to lose. But not so fast. As U.S. assistant coach Glenn (Mooch) Myernick likes to say, "Soccer can be the most gracious lady, and it can also be the biggest bitch." On Friday it was both. The cohosts, thanks to a two-man advantage for most of the second half and Park Ji Sung's breathtaking goal in the 70th minute, beat Portugal 1-0—and the U.S. fell ass-backward into the Sweet 16, the only team to do so with a loss.

An hour into the Americans' quiet bus ride back to Seoul there was a scene reminiscent of the one in Almost Famous, in which the band members spontaneously break into Elton John's Tiny Dancer on their woebegone tour bus. After Arena offered the team muted congratulations, Frankie Hejduke and Cobi Jones cut the tension by launching into the chant they'd heard ad nauseam from the home fans all month. Heyyy...Ko-re-a! Heyyy...Ko-re-a! Soon most of the players were singing along and clapping—an entirely appropriate gesture of thanks. Said Arena the next day, "I spent the morning shopping for the Korean team and coaching staff."

That's how we draw things up...

Yes, I have just compltely stolen this from Noahs other website

Bocanegra: just so classy

Bill, Meet Carlos

I Enjoy This

Some Final Thoughts

Not to wax poetical, but I think it's incredible what we accomplished this World Cup. On May 5, 2006 I received an email from yatrick.cell@airindia.in confirming that I'd bought a ticket to London for $633.20. I have a vivid memory of Noah, Geoff and me taking a car to JFK, roaming middle-of-nowhere Brooklyn, trying to find the airport, and really just having no idea what we were getting into. We got from one airport to another in London, spent the night on the floor. I filmed for the first time. We got to Dusseldorf, got a car, drove to Gelsenkirchen, found Jeremy on a train, met Tom, and the rest is history. A few weeks later we were at the Ghana game, then we were living together in Bushwick.

At the time, saying we'd get to South Africa was something we all wanted, but it was tough to fathom the actual ability needed to make that happen. Hold down the fast forward button for awhile and you get to today.

There was a moment outside the stadium in Pretoria when I turned Geoff and said something along the lines of "How crazy is it that we're here." Other than beginning college with the goal of ending it four years later, the space between the two World Cups is probably the longest goal-followthrough-completion experience I've ever had.

I'll also add one more thing. 2006 was a novelty. Yes, I mean that for me personally - you all know I'm game to go see a juco college baseball game for no reason other than that it's there. I was a soccer fan and the World Cup was amazing, but I'm not sure that I was going for any reason other than to say I went. But I also mean that it was a novelty for the US. When I told people I went in 2006, people thought it was cool. But it was like going to a Final Four or a Super Bowl. Yes, that would be great, but everyone watched it at home and the atmosphere was pretty much exactly the same as it's been for 20 years. So in 2006, I sort of got a pat-on-the-back, vague oh-I-wish-I-was-there-too response.

But this time I think it's very different. This time people think, "Holy shit, you were there? What was it like?" This time I knew and understood that there is something about the World Cup that doesn't come across on TV - I think Nate put it best when he said, "The most best part... was the people."

Think about going to a Sox game. Do we ever talk to random other Sox fans? Do we care about them? No. Odds are, they are a bunch of massholes and we'd have very little to talk about. But the collective experience of the World Cup - people from all over the world and not from all over the Boston suburbs travel to these games - is incredible. A lot was captured in the lead up to the Ghana game. I talked to German journalist from Cologne. A South Africa guy who explained why there was a stadium in Rustenberg. A bunch of British fans who began the conversation by looking at my head and saying "I'm sorry, what's 1776?" An American fan who may have been on drugs and bought our extra ticket. A South African/Canadian/Red Sox fan who was epileptic and bought our QF tickets. And a British guy in full Monty Python regalia. I mean, shit, where else could any of that happen?

I love the World Cup. I can't believe it's over. I can't believe we have to wait until 2014.

We were there.

Final Recap Days 23-31

Missed a bunch of days here, but I'll do my best to recap...

Day 23
GER-ARG. Germany dominated this one. On the one hand, their scorelines benefited from being ahead and having desperate opponents late in the game. On the other hand, no one else did it. In fact only these teams won games by more than two goals: Germany (vs. Australia, vs. England, vs. Argentina), Uruguay (vs. South Africa), Argentina (vs. South Korea), Portugal (vs. North Korea), Cote d'Ivoire (vs. North Korea) and Brazil (vs. Chile). And only Germany and Brazil did it in the knockout round. Needless to say, Germany was the most exciting team to watch this tournament. They are also going to be stacked for 2012 and 2014.

PAR-ESP. The second in a string of elimination 1-nil victories for the Spanish. The Paraguayians were formidable and scrappy and proved to be tough.

Day 24
No games. I went to casino.

Day 25
No games. Not sure what I did.

Day 26
NED-URU. The Dutch were probably the second most exciting team to watch in the tournament, until they started murdering people in the final. Forlan makes things in real life because as exciting are they are in Jeremy's mind.

Day 27
GER-ESP. Sad end to the Germans run. I did not find this game superbly exciting. Jeremy did. Ask him.

Day 28
No games. Struggled with the fact that this thing was almost over.

Day 29
No games. Struggled more.

Day 30
GER-URU. One of the most open games of the tournament. Impressive the German B squad beat a tough Uruguayian team which may be remaned Forlania from hence forth. I have decided that we should buy tickets to this game in 2014. Ok? Ok.

Day 31
NED-ESP. The final. Incredible that it's come to an end. The game in itself was not particularly artistic or even that exciting, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. I will say this. Spain deserved to win. If not for that individual game, they were certainly the best team over the past two years. And while, arguably, the Dutch were the second best, the Spanish deserved their first World Cup title with this squad. The Dutch deserved their win in the 70s and didn't get it.

Pool winner: Josh and Jeremy. Really I'm too upset to comment about that though.

Other People, Stop Filming

Great moments with the Associated Press. Video really takes off when they let the unshaven kid in at the 1.06 mark. Maybe sit a few plays out, Champ ...



And before Slovenia at the 1.11 mark.

Control Tower

South Africa, We Love You

Untitled from Andrew Silver on Vimeo.

Elephants Attack

Bodog Odds from Awhile Ago

Bodog Odds

FIFA World Cup 2010 - Outright Winner

Spain 4/1

Netherlands 9/1

World Cup 2010 Finalists

Holland / Spain 22/1

World Cup 2010 - Tournament Top Goal scorer

David Villa (Spain) 9/1

Miroslav Klose (Germany) 25/1

Diego Forlán (Uruguay) 50/1

Róbert Vittek (Slovakia) 200/1

World Cup 2010 - England vs United States - First Goal scorer

Steven Gerrard 7/1

Will USA Qualify from Group C?

Yes -140

USA Top Tournament Goal Scorer

Landon Donovan 3/1

World Cup 2010 -USA Total Team Goals

Over/Under 4.5 Goals

World Cup 2010 - Group C Exacta

1.USA 2.England 6/1

World Cup 2010 - USA Group Stage Total Points

Over Points O 4½ (+120)

World Cup 2010 - USA Stage of Elimination

Second Round 7/5

Miscellaneous Odds

World Cup 2010 - Total Goals Scored in World Cup 2010

Over/Under 160.5 Goals

World Cup 2010 - Total Red Cards in World Cup 2010

Over/Under 19.5

Seen in Cape Town... Not really sure what to make of it

The Goodbye Video

Artifacts from South Africa

Dinner with the Davis' Brothers.

Great posts Andrew...after a lovely dinner with Steve Davis in Montvale during our visit, I felt compelled to post this article. Pretty good on Bradley's situation...would we still be in South Africa if the U.S. was playing tonight in Cape Town? I like to think so...

The stream of World Cup matches, once coming at such a beautiful breakneck pace, has slowed to a crawl. So the soccer lovers' quadrennial Shangri-La is nearly done.

But there will still be plenty to talk about, especially around U.S. Soccer, where a reckoning is near.

U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati has a few more days in South Africa to soak up the atmosphere -- and possibly to seethe and stew about a tournament that could have gone further for the United States. Indeed, a bright opportunity was squandered with a Round of 16 loss to Ghana, a fact U.S. Soccer's top decider surely considered during two days of weekend quarterfinals.

He's not alone. Back here in the States, where Gulati will soon return and begin sorting out the U.S. program's future, there is a lingering melancholy over what might have been.

While the pain will ease over the next four years, the task ahead will not. There are big-picture issues to consider; identifying and cultivating the collective talent pool foremost among them. It's a complex, multilayered matter that deserves careful examination and then decisive action.

Of more immediate concern is the question of whether U.S. coach Bob Bradley is the right man to oversee those efforts. And though the wounds of World Cup 2010 are still fresh, it's becoming difficult to see any outcome that doesn't involve a change being made.

Start with the fact that precious few World Cup managers survive to complete the next cycle. Change is almost always deemed the way forward. Only two managers from Germany 2006 made it to South Africa, and those were the two who made it all the way into the final in Berlin four years ago.

ESPN analyst Alexi Lalas said he believes there will be a change -- even though he doesn't believe Bradley has performed poorly. He added there is no question that the U.S. coach moved the program forward in his four years. But Lalas likened it to a relay race, where different sets of strengths are required for the various legs of the race.

"Every part of a relay race is important, and they probably all have different strengths that are important in that specific time period," Lalas said. "But you might have to use different people at different times to get you there."

There are clearly pluses and minuses with Bradley. But the temptation to reach for more, to stretch the program further than it went in South Africa, is likely to be overwhelming, especially with such an easy out; Bradley's contract expires in December, which means that a change will cost U.S. Soccer very little in economic terms.

Gulati certainly seems to be leaning toward a change, judging from his comments last week. He described "mixed results and mixed emotions" when asked about the Americans' South African campaign -- but there was nothing mixed when he said flatly that the team did not meet his full expectations.

"I think the team is capable of more," he said. "I think the players know it. I think Bob knows it. At that level, we are disappointed we didn't get to play another 90 minutes, at least."

Particularly distasteful is the missed opportunity to extend the public awareness bonanza. Nothing inflates domestic soccer's profile like a deep World Cup run. In the U.S. case, the warm PR afterglow of second-round passage was unfortunately brief, with just three full days between a Wednesday win over Algeria and a Saturday-afternoon elimination against Ghana. A win over the Africans would have kept the U.S. team front and center in the news cycle all week. In terms of opportunity cost, that was priceless.

"It is a missed opportunity to stay in the American public's eyes for another four, five six days, maybe 10 days, when interest is at an all-time high," Gulati said. "I have no doubt there will be people still watching at bars at strange times, the TV ratings will still be good, but what the ratings might have been for a quarterfinal game or dreaming beyond that?"

Does that mean Gulati is blaming Bradley? No, but the coach bears some responsibility.

Bradley got a lot from a side with limited depth in some spots and big, gaping holes in a couple of others. Still, Bradley's fingerprints are on the loss for some starting selections that went wrong, notably the Ricardo Clark pick against Ghana. Neither will the choice to start Robbie Findley be recalled as a master stroke.

And the propensity for slow starts must be considered. Bradley's strength is in dutiful organization and creating structure. But questions will linger about whether he can summon the passion from the opening whistle.

So, with that structure in place, does the United States need a coach who can draw emotion from the first minute, not just when pressed into a corner? Additionally, does the United States need someone better at identifying what each individual match requires from a personnel standpoint? Bradley made halftime changes in three of four South African matches; it's a red flag when the prearranged game tactics need tweaking that regularly.

Thus, there is every chance that Gulati could decide Bradley was the best person for the job four years ago but not necessarily going forward, just as Lalas said. That's hardly an unreasonable position to take.

Those shortcomings shouldn't completely overshadow the job Bradley did accomplish. He had two interconnected missions all along: to qualify for the World Cup and then get into the second round. Everything else was always a bonus -- or it was, at least, until the bracket broke open so invitingly.

Shaping much of the decision regarding Bradley's fate will be about other choices available. If Gulati surveys the landscape and doesn't see anyone within reach, someone who could complement and improve on the progress made since '06, then he might opt for caution. That scenario seems unlikely, however.

Which brings us to Jürgen Klinsmann, a name that will certainly come up. And it should.

Gulati wanted Klinsmann in '06 but finally walked away from the bargaining table when the German legend asked for too much control over player availability. His desire to have more time with the players (in summer months, when they would be taken away from MLS sides) now seems to be justified. Or, at the very least, it seems like a reasonable request. Gulati is a thoughtful man, and he will surely wonder in his quiet moments if Klinsmann was right, if perhaps he should have remained at the table a little longer. Would the American team still be in South Africa if Gulati had?

Klinsmann wasn't necessarily talking about Bradley when he discussed the U.S. loss two days later on ESPN. But Klinsmann certainly wasn't being complimentary to the team's overall mental approach. He said it took just 10 minutes of watching the timid U.S. side against Ghana to conclude that the Americans were in big trouble. He suggested that the United States failed to properly manage the understandable intoxication of such a dramatic win over Algeria.

"What I mean is that they didn't recover mentally and physically from that win," he said, mentioning how the U.S. players were obviously still stuck in the moment, snared in the euphoria and the excitement they had stirred back in America. "Suddenly Bill Clinton is coming by, Mick Jagger is in the stands, and all that takes you away in a World Cup. You can't allow that. It's about now and tomorrow; it's not about what happened an hour ago. So once you win this tremendous game against Algeria, an hour after the game, after you do your interviews and then get all that stuff done, then you start to actually prepare for the next game."

Klinsmann mentioned he had been at the same place with Germany four years earlier, navigating highly emotional moments and dodging the big potholes along the road of success.

"You have to bring down the players right way, back to the ground," he said. "You have tell them, 'Forget about Algeria. It's done. It's all about Ghana.' I had a feeling they were not really prepared for Ghana for this battle."

No one could hear that and feel great about Bradley's chances. Not when the words are being spoken by Gulati's first choice all along.

Bradley might have been a good choice four years ago, but may not be the man to carry the baton from here. It's getting harder to see this thing going any other way at this point.

Why have so many things changed since I left?

1) The entire Sox lineup is on the DL.

2) The V train became the M train?

I Traveled Far

So I decided to calculate how far I traveled during my entire around the world sprint.

Here it goes:

JFK to SFO: 2,580 miles
SFO to ICN: 5,620 miles
ICN to SIN: 2,890 miles
SIN to JNB: 5,380 miles
JNB to CPT: 790 miles
CPT to JNB: 790 miles
JNB to DKR: 4,170 miles
DKR to IAD: 3,970
IAD to EWR: 211 miles
EWR to PHL: 79 miles

Total miles traveled between 6/17 and 7/2: 26,480 miles.

Also, the length of the equator is 24,860 miles. So basically I went around the world and then flew from New York to Denver for good measure.

Recap Days 11-22

The last time I did this was June 20, before I embarked on my jaunt to South Africa. I will now, game-by-game, provide you all with some insight.

Day 11
POR-PRK. Complete demolition of the North Koreans. Apparently their hired-Chinese fans weren't enough. Still hate C. Ronaldo though.

CHL-SUI. This game was dirty. I think a Swiss guy got red carded in a questionable game. Right about this time I was driving in a car to Fedex to drop off clothes that I couldn't fit in my carry on bag.

ESP-HON. My passport arrived during this game. That's all that's important. Honduras did not rep CONCACAF well.

Day12
MEX-URU. Completely missed this game. I was somewhere between San Francisco and Seoul.

FRA-RSA. See above. Geoff, Nate and Noah were in a super market when bafana bafana scored. It was awesome. (Hey, remember in the URU-GHA QF when John Harkes said "baghana baghana"? He sucks.)

NIG-KOR. Saw a couple minutes of this game while running to my gate in Singapore. Along the way - in the airport - I saw a Red Sox bar. That's all I know.

GRE-ARG. I know nothing.

Day 13
SLO-ENG. All I know is that when this game was going on I was orbiting another planet. The closest I came to experiencing this game was when I was trying to get my fucking smartphone to tell me if Slovenia scored. At that moment, Donovan scored. Thank you smarthphone?

USA-ALG. Emotional high of a lifetime. See many other posts on this subject.

GHA-GER. Something happened in this game, I'm sure. But I was smoking a Cuban.

AUS-SRB. See above.

Day 14
DEN-JPN. I was rooting for the Danish because I like small central European countries. But the Japanese were actually exciting and I later joined their bandwagon.

CMR-NED. Love the Oranje. They won.

SVK-ITA. Hate the Italians. They lost.

PAR-NZL. My favorite team in the tournament may have been the Kiwis. I had to continuously fight myself to avoid buying a New Zealand jersey in the airport (which is, amusingly, basically just a white t-shirt with "New Zealand" in the corner; I really wanted it.) In any case, the Kiwis - completely written off - drew three games.

Day 15
POR-BRA. Brazil tied nil-nil. Really Brazil? I bet you are going to lose in the QF. Great work Dunga.

KOR-CIV. Really wanted something miraculous to happen with the Ivorians so they could advance. Not much more that you can ask than 3-nil. Pretty sure the 2010 World Cup was wiped off the North Korean history books. (I wonder what those looked like to begin with.)

CHL-ESP. Noah went to this game. Nate, Geoff and I got emotional over beer, scotch and a lot red meat.

SUI-HON. Remember the Swiss border patrol in 2006? That was funny.

Day 16
URU-KOR. Really joined the Uruguaian bandwagon here. Diego Forlan is pretty awesome, as is Suarez. This period of my life was spent preparing for the following four hours. Or, as Nate put it, preparing to yak later.

USA-GHA. Another incredibly emotional moment of my life. Please see elsewhere in this blog. Remember Ghana. Fuck Ghana.

Day 17
GER-ENG. Read the first chapter of Soccernomics. It explains everything that took place in this game with remarkable accuracy. I love Ze Germans.

ARG-MEX. Pretty exciting game here. No CONCACAF teams advance to the QF.

Day 18
NED-SVK. Dutch defend their unofficial world title again. Around this time Geoff was extremely close to killing: the GPS, the entire population of Sun City, an elephant (that was already dead) and several South African drivers.

BRA-CHL. Listed to this game on the radio after dropping Geoff and Nate off at the airport. It was a sad moment. I also liked Chile much more than Brazil.

Day 19
PAR-JPN. Boring 120 minutes. Exciting shootout. Rough way to get eliminated. No Asian teams get to the QF.

ESP-POR. Spanish win in a game that they dominate possession. I dislike C. Ronaldo. Every first place team won their R16 game... except us. No stars from the Write the Future ad reach the QF.

Day 20
There were no games this day. It was weird.

Day 21
See above. Noah left. I went to Cape Town.

Day 22
BRA-NED. HELL YES ORANJE. Caught the two Dutch goals while running through the Newark airport in the midst of my IAD-EWR-PHL connection (don't ask). Really excited for this team.

URU-GHA. Karma's a bitch ain't it? I hate Gyan. Can't believe that he missed that penalty at the end of time. Incredible. Fuck Ghana. Love that Uruguay gets through. Would be pulling for the Dutch anyways, but I don't think the Uruguaians can't get through without Suarez.

Pool leader: Guess who's back on top? ANDREW! (And Josh too). But seriously, I picked the Dutch upset of the Brazilians with the correct score. One of the top moments of my life.

chatting with katie....

Katie: i gotta root for africa now
me: i would like to be able to do that
cannot
which is why i think im not watching
Katie: plus, don't you want whoever beat us to beat everyone? so we can think we were almost good enough
3:35 PM me: yeah, ive heard that line of reasoning
Katie: they are the only hope of an entire, impoverished, corruption ruled continent
me: i mean, it makes sense
im just still upset
all of these things make sense
im just still upset
3:36 PM Katie: i'm upset, but i'm also proud of that us and i don't particularly feel like they deserved to go much further
3:39 PM me: i mean, i agree
but the disappointment is still too raw
im not actively rooting against ghana
i just..... i just cant handle it right now
Katie: haha okay fair enough
but they are a fun team
me: i mean, i liked them a lot in the group stages
3:40 PM Katie: and besides, we still have america as our country
me: ha, valid
but, i still feel like i was dumped by my girlfriend
Katie: haha
me: and its just going to take some time
3:41 PM Katie: i feel more like i was dating someone who looked good on paper, but the spark wasn't there, and we've broken up. i miss the idea of him, but not actually
that was this u.s. team for me- heart for sure, but passion and skill and grace, not so much
me: ha
see, i started dating them 2-3 years ago
ive stayed up late at night with them working on their problems
and while understood the limitations, didn't think they'd go crazy on me like this so quickly
i mean, we were never getting married/they were never winning the world cup
3:43 PM Katie: haha
me: but, i just thought it would end better
Katie: haha fair enough
3:44 PM fuck uruguay scored
3:45 PM me: ha
im not even happy about that!
Katie: good
3:46 PM me: bah
wish the germans and argentina were not playing each other so soon
i can root for both of those teams
the germans play like i wish we played
sum better than the parts
Katie: i cant root for the germans
i like the way they play, but don't root for them
and argentina has my future husband on the team
me: yeah, it is difficult to root for them, i agree
Katie: so it's no contest
me: ha
i just wish we were the germans
knew how to win
organized
thoughtful, purposeful passing
ability to finish
scrappy, everyone likes each other
Katie: yeah they play like such a team
3:48 PM me: they are the girl at the coffee shop i wish i was dating, but is out of my league
Katie: oh goodness
3:49 PM me: she's got some banker boyfriend, who does something fantastically interesting at night, like write short stories, or on the side graphic design
or, maybe build furniture
he's in shape, is funny
i've got nothing
except this damn girl who has a ton of problems, but i loved anyways
bah

Mara's just delivering the goods

Dutch upset of Brazil + beignets + cafe au lait + bloody mary's = happiness.

Who needs new orleans?

Favorite Quotes from South Africa

"There is nothing to do now but yak later."
-Nate, before the USA-Ghana game

Geoff: "I couldn't have done this trip then."
Andrew: "I couldn't do that trip now."
(general agreement)
Comparing the 2006 and 2010 World Cup trips

P.s. I got the Nederland-Brasil game correct, with the correct score. Fuck yeah.

More verbal goal scoring

Have come to really like the michael davies and roger bennet blog/podcast on espn through this cup, and found another good one today. this summed up a few things:

"When did I last feel this bad about a loss? England's 1990 semifinal defeat to Germany, perhaps?

But I am not talking about England's 4-1 battering. It was the U.S.'s ouster that left me devastated this weekend. England's failure was, regrettably, all too predictable. We are a nation that has long mistaken fame for skill. But the U.S. team created a sense of endeavor, nobility and optimism -- all too rare a commodity in sports and rarer still in American soccer. We will always have Landon's goal, a totemic symbol that will be played and replayed, even as we debate how or whether America's fascination for the big-event nature of the World Cup will translate into a more lasting passion for the sport of football itself."

all from some englishmen too... god, miss this team still.

Simmons just putting the ball in the back of the net

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/100701

Favorite part:

"I hate how teams milk leads in the last 15-20 minutes by faking injuries and taking forever to sub players. When that Ghana player had to be carried off on a stretcher at the tail end of the America game, then hopped off like nothing ever happened as soon as the stretcher was out of bounds, I thought that was appalling. Actually, it made me want to go to war with Ghana. I wanted to invade them. I'm not even kidding. That's another great thing about the World Cup: Name another sport in which you genuinely want to invade other countries when you lose."

and of course:

"Rasheed Wallace loved to say "ball don't lie." YouTube don't lie, either. We will always have the Algeria game. Always."

Why I Still Love the World Cup

On my flight back from Cape Town, a group of 10 Uruguians (spelling?) were really rowdy. Then the loudest one got up and walked all the way down the plane taking a poll to see which passengers were rooting for Ghana and which for Uruguay. When I said Uruguay I got an applause. Ghana was favored about 2 to 1 though.

Then I struck up a conversation with the guy next to me. Turns out he is a Brit who is at his fourth World Cup. His first was USA '94 and he stayed at the Sharon Motel. Unlike Swansea, Sharon is in Massachusetts, but I still thought that was hilarious.

As far as Cape Town, I have a few thoughts:

1) Holy crap is it a beautiful city. Infinitely nicer than Joberg. Lush, green, on the water. I was really unprepared for it.

2) Had we stayed there, we would have died. I don't think it's any more dangerous than Joberg, but the problem is it feels too much like home. Long Street is the "Bourbon Street of South Africa" because it is lined with balconies with bars. While enjoying a beer on the balcony we saw a ridiculous scene take place about 20 feet away that included three police cars, two ambulances, a fight, a gate used to keep people out of an ally, several people on their knees with hands against the wall, a guy getting into a moving cab, and general confusion. The woman standing next to us said she saw a guy come out of the ally with a stab wound and get into a cab to go to the hospital while his friends yelled at police to do something. Overall, I could see some issues arising for us.

3) I also, for the first time in RSA, felt like a jackass for wearing my USA hoodie. The scene that I witnessed was very Euro/hipster and - although it could have beeen because it was the first day without a game - I did not see any World Cup spirit around. Except for the Uruguains. I love the World Cup.

Goodbye Harties

Now, just replace "Horses" with "Harties" and you're in business. Some final thoughts:

We will miss RSA, as scary and dodgy as it can be. We will miss Harties despite its electrical fence and echoes of apartheid and Anglo-Dutch repression. We will miss the moment in the supermarket when South Africa scored their second goal against France and everyone, black, white, American, Afrikaner, went ballistic with joy. Beyond all the guardhouses and running of red lights and poverty and fear, there is hope here. The people were wonderful and we were better for having met them.

Thanks to Noah, in a plagiarist but no less meaningful echoing previous posts. This would not have been possible without his planning and administrative voice. We can be disasters. So can Noah. On this trip, we remained confused and disoriented and he was well-versed, aware and prepared, all amidst the churn of thousands of words of journalistic copy everyday. Like the end of a public television broadcast, he gives full meaning to, "This was made possible by ...;" So we offer our thanks and continued admiration.

We will miss this US team. My teller at the bank today was from Ghana. He looked me in the eye and said, "It was joy to see Ghana win but it was sad to see USA go. They had real heart." Then he opened a credit card for me. I told him that Ghana's win was good for Africa but nonetheless crushing for us. He shook my hand and said, "We have so much here; we will be back." This statement was tough to read but reflected just how much "we" this US team engendered here. I don't know who he'll be rooting for in four years but, we will be back, hearts still full. See you in Brazil.

Goodbye, Harties, Goodbye

Today is the last full day in Hartbeespoort - pronounced har-teh-BEERS-port, as we learned from the Canadian/South African Red Sox fan who we sold our QF tickets too... but more on that below.

As with the 2006 trip, we've taken it upon ourselves to "experience" this great country after the U.S. was eliminated.

Saturday night was an incredible low point for everyone, but as I mentioned in an earlier post, we shared some beers with nice guys - one in full British soldier regalia - and by the time Noah got us home at 4am, our spirits were reasonable. Sunday was spent recovering.

Monday it was time to see Africa. A two-plus hour drive back towards Rustenberg saw us arrive at the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. I'm not sure what our expectations were going in, but after about 5 minutes Geoff, gazing out into the brush, nearly drove us into an elephant. The elephant was enormous. Completely disregarded the road he was on. Geoff: astonished. Nate: in Noah's arms. Noah: in Nate's arms. Andrew: still filming. Incredible.

From there we spotted some hippos from afar, some zebras, giraffes and warthogs from quite close. But then after a friendly South African boy told us that there was a pride lions devouring a dead elephant, we raced back to the other side of the park. The image is difficult to describe. The elephant was enormous, but it's middle was missing. Lions were lazily sitting on its front and back leaning over a gaping hole in the middle. Really, really cool. Until the wind shifted. The stench that took over was a mix of garbage and death (not that I know what death smells like, but I'm guessing and I'm sure I'm right.) Thus concluded our trip to the game park.

From there we drove Geoff and Nate to the airport via two failed entries into Sun City and a stop at Nandos for dinner. During this time, Geoff fell out of love with both our GPS and South African drivers, but we nonetheless arrived safely.

As I write, Geoff and Nate are probably about 3 hours from landing in New York. I'm spending one last (chilly) afternoon on our sun deck. Noah is inside reading a book. For the record it cannot be emphasized enough what a goddamned hero Noah has been on this trip. Not only planning everything - EVERYTHING - but also working all day while we jackasses certainly did not. Noah, I love you. I'll handle Brazil.

Noah leaves tomorrow. I also leave tomorrow via an 18 hour stop in Cape Town just because. After a lot of hassling I managed to book a flight through Dakar that gets me home in 12 hours faster and 2 days earlier. Thank god.

This morning we sold our QF tickets, which was an amazingly bizarre experience. After accidentally showing up at a place where the ticket buyer was, he met us at Cinnabun. He then awkwardly stood with us while Noah waited for a terrible drink and told us how he had an epileptic episode after the Ghana game and blacked out in his bathroom, dislocating his jaw, cracking a few teeth and needing stitches. Then he took us up to his wife's high-end perfume shop where she made awkward/racist comments and gave us champagne. Great work everyone.

That's all from here. Probably the last post from Harties. Good luck and god bless.

I still have no words

I almost cried watching that video. There was so much emotion leading up to that match, and to see us just get beat, flat beat, continues to be really tough pill to swallow. I actually thought this opening paragraph from nymag summed up this emotion pretty well:

"I woke up yesterday feeling a little like I got dumped. Watching the tournament without America in it was like being the one left behind in the apartment you used to share with your ex. You just keep walking around looking at spaces that seem to have grown larger and more empty somehow, driving yourself crazy with thoughts like, "I remember when Landon was kneeling at that spot. Things seemed so grand and full of promise then." Or, "It was just yesterday when Benny and Jozy were over there in the grass kicking the ball around. Why can't we go back and make it all right?"

I just have this really immense feeling of loss right now. While the reality always was that the 2nd round was an expectation, and everything after that gravy, that somehow still doesn't console the the harsh reality that this team, that we poured so much energy into, no longer exists.

And on top of that, we really deserved to lose. We fucked up on the first goal, and were outclassed on the second. For all the fight and effort we put into the 2nd half, when we did play well enough to win, coming away with only a penalty is a bottom line that can not be escaped. We have no one to look to but ourselves for that - no one can finish a breakaway or put a quality shot on goal other than the players, and the blame for that starts and ends there. And the real slap in the face came with how Ghana got that 2nd goal - almost the exact same play that Jozy could not finish in the 2nd half was the shot which they could. They did it, and we didn't. And that really sucks.

And so, the break-up process begins. I'm sure in the coming months this feeling will dissipate, and we will remember the amazing come-backs, the quality goals, and the heart that every player left on those fields. While we can question landon and clint and michael and tim's ability to come through under the heaviest of pressure, we cannot question their fight and spirit. Dempsey, Donovan and Bradley ran themselves dumb in that game, and they deserve credit and praise for that. Landon Donovan - you were our emotional leader, and you did it in South Africa. I'm going to miss all of them - Boca's play in the center, Demerrits heart, Bradleys work ethic, Donovans streak routes, Jozy's thuggery up top. Hopefully we can still be friends.

I'm also really fucking tired of losing to Ghana. That needs to stop.

So, I'm looking forward to your stories when you get back, having a passport again, hopefully not losing our shirts on the QF tickets, seeing if Holden and/or Torres can become a dynamic presence in the midfield, and if anyone wants to finish a goddamn chance on net up top next to Jozy. Also, can we start playing like the germans? While we do not posses their touch, their organization, especially on the break, is amazing. Quick passes with purpose, multiple moving parts, true teamwork. More of that. Less of this.

I love all of you.

Although maybe not ricardo clark.

A.G. (After Ghana)

B.G. (Before Ghana)

Remember Ghana

USA-Ghana from Andrew Silver on Vimeo.

It's Over ... It's Never Over

Echoing Andrew's post from last evening, the World Cup is over for us, it continues for others and it is certainly alive in our hearts. This has been an amazing journey and one that perhaps has only further laid the foundation of Americans who travel, a wonderful group of friends, and forever loyalty to the Red, White and Blue.

The emotions are complex. Luckily, we were not England, blown off the world stage by a hated rival. But then again, these are the same arguments people use to reduce all First World suffering; "Remember, there are starving children in Africa ...," turned to, "Hey, you could be England, France, Italy, Ireland, etc." Well, last night was uniquely and especially miserable, but fear is also the heart of love.

There is no glory without pain and no cheer without misery. Hopefully US fans can remember these facts and this team. We were not disgraced; we just lost. We will be in Brazil in 2014. We will continue to love these team and all these people. This was a wonderful ride. Thank you South Africa, all our friends, all the strangers we met and shared time with and all the football fans the world over. To everyone here and those carried in our hearts, our thanks, our commitment and our promise to return. USAmerica.

See you in Brazil

I can't put everything into words yet.

But this trip has been an incredible experience.

Last night's loss was terrible. The hatred that I know have for Ghana is solidified in a way that it wasn't in 2006. They spent 30 minutes diving left and right. Terrible. That being said, we didn't finish; we didn't possess in the midfield; our back line got beat; and Tim Howard didn't show up in a major way. Crushing defeat.

We were in the stadium until they kicked us about 45 minutes after the game ended. But the experience was summed up by our time at the bar/cafe across the street, where we spoke with Germans, South Africans, Brits, hundreds of Americans, some Ghanians. Incredible, global experience.

As I sit here, delirious and exhausted, my heart is still very full.

A beautiful email from Tom

Dudes,

Couldn't figure out how to get on the gustrowharties.blogspot. You probably won't get this email till after the game, but I just wanted to send what collective footballing luck I can summon from the banks of the Ohio (more than you'd think) on to the match today. Although Forsythe and I didn't make it this time, we're more than there in spirit--dying a thousand deaths with each cross bar clanged, and screaming volley shanked (seriously Jerry may have broken my ribs with his bear claws after lando's goal). Whatever happens, you're doing us more than proud (by the by, I am continually amazed by the sheer volume of prose Noah has churned out on Goal.com while in that vortex of fandom--I'm also amazed by how (relatively) healthy you guys still look).

It's go time. Reverse curse the Black Star.

America. -T

Hopefully today ends differently

Remembering US's Loss to Ghana in 2006

In Which We Briefly Enjoy Nature

Your wish is my command

I am so fucking emotional right now.... I think I've been avoiding really dealing with what tomorrow does and can mean, but I think there has been dust in my face almost hourly today... this video, 1812 overture, listening to all my friends, your posts (pure's especially after the game). Basically just almost losing it at all times. Have been listening to a hate mix pretty much on repeat for the last 2 days, and even 'lose yourself' gets me emotional, and forget the 18 fucking 12 overture - lord. I just can't stop.

We are on the precipice. Of something great? Or something disappointing? Is this beating the Indians in '99 (sorry pure) only to get smoked by the yankee's? Or is this Ortiz hitting a single in the bottom of the 14th to send us back to yankee stadium? I honestly have no idea. And maybe thats what so great about it. I think the pressure is off now - we've met our expectations, we've shown heart, resolve, determination. The only question is how far can that heart take us? I am borderline in physical love with this team - all the way from Landon (he is someone! he is somewhere!) and Timmy down to Demerit and even Bornstein (never thought I'd say that). And I don't want this relationship to end.

The reaction back here has been amazing. I mean, anytime Ann McGinnis is emailing USA youtube videos around to all the girls we know, you realize something special is happening. But the bonding - with friends who you never thought could care, to strangers, to conversation with my doormen, staff in my coffee shop, even the guys I had a meeting with this morning for work. Hell, I've talked to friends from college for the first time in 3 years over US soccer. This is amazing. This is happening.

I love how uppity we've gotten with each other about sharing all of this on the blog. I think its because we really fucking care. And I'll tell you what - with the reality finally setting in that I am not there, and not having to hide in my defensive emotional bunker over not being able to go, I am so heartbroken I am not with you it kills me almost by the minute. Have had a number of long talks with myself, and this cash flow problem will never happen again. Putting the cost of my cigarettes into the Brazil '14 fund is already under works. But, just know that every scrap of written word, even second of video, every hastily posted picture rocks my world. The one webpage I always have open, and always refresh, is this blog.

And, lastly - my heart is fucking full right now. Even if we lose tomorrow, everyone has shown up, everyone has gotten after it, everyone has poured their heart out. Thats true for landon, jozy, clint, jayjay, cherundolo, etc but its also true for us, for our fans, and our friends. Whatever happens tomorrow, this is our moment. You traveled. We cared. Now, everyone cares, the world is watching, and its game fucking ON.

Where are my friends tonight?

South Fucking Africa.

Damn Straight.

Oh, how far we've come

There Is A Light That Never Goes Out :: USA vs. Ghana

In 2006 we walked from the stadium after a shocking defeat to Ghana. This has been well documented in the past; no one spoke for three on-foot miles. It was living in chains. It was horrifying. We were shell-shocked. We had all spent our entire financial holdings on the trip and hadn't even seen the $6,000 bill for totaling a car. It was an ugly '06 June. Fast-forward four years and it's a slightly different cast of characters with some major additions and some major (emotional) absences. This time we generated an enclave in South Africa, survived a death sentence against Slovenia and experienced a divine Landon Donovan goal against Algeria. It's 2010 and we're drawn against Ghana again and we promise, we swear, we're going to give our very sporting souls in the breach tomorrow.

It's impossible to exactly explain the events after Donovan scored 48 hours ago, but it is useful to know where it led. We collapsed into joy in the moment knowing full well what it meant. In the velocity of the World Cup, it gave us one more game, another three days to grow our scraggly facial hair and another chance to silence critics, prove we travel and get ourselves (nay!), our team towards the promised land.

Tomorrow, against a familiar foe, against a team that reduced me to tears when Dempsey drilled the net in '06, we have a chance for greatness and a chance to think about changing our flights and trying to stay here to the end. We are on an absolutely miraculous run and one that we don't want to end. Don't look down, USA. We've run off the cliff and we swear up and down that we can walk on air. Or, at the very least, we refuse to walk home from this stadium. America, find your Delaware River, find your last fortitude, find your passport, locate Trenton and attack. You are Americans and goddammit, you are free.

Miss...Maam...Algeria...Ghana.

So, there are so many things to recap. Silver traded his U.S. flag to an Algerian in exchange for an Algerian flag after our victory. We were sauced, we were emotional, it was the greatest. THE GREATEST. we wrote about it...we filmed it until we accidentally had the camera recording for fourteen minutes and then the camera died. We went to the bar, I fell asleep at the table. We had weird food that we couldn't identify but enjoyed. We tried to stay above the fray but they were just so happy. So went downstairs and had shots and a cigar that Silver procured. We hugged strangers, Americans...we booed the British. We booed anything that wasn't Red, White, and Blue. In hindsight, we love the red, white, and blue of Slovakia. See you in Hell, Italy...slash in Brazil in four years.

So here we are Ghana. Geoff is asleep most likely. He quit on the whiskey and beer. But he's a hero. Slash, I yelled upstairs and he's awake. Hooray. Tomorrow will be a trying day. It's Rustenburg. It's like three hours on a one lane road. It'll be a long, emotional day. We'll be ready as we were vs. Slovenia, and Algeria. I am nervous but calm. I like our chances. Let's go Cribbs...slash Browns...slash America.

Harties Cribs

The Video You've Been Waiting For

USA - Algeria from Andrew Silver on Vimeo.

Algeria Celebration

It should be noted that after our victory over Algeria, we celebrated. There is no footage or photographs from this endeavor, because every documentation device that we owned had died. That being said, we had a great time.

The venue: Eastfield's. Cover charge was 300 Rand, which I skillfully negotiated down to 250. Many beers were shared. As was some sort of BBQ food platter. Shots were involved. At one point I decided it was incredibly necessary to find a cigar. Which I achieved - and actually acquired a Cuban. It was delicious.

The American crowd was great, and as we saw our next opponent determined, many friends were made.

Eventually Noah showed up. More merriment was exchanged. And then we departed (see three grown men asleep in a car below).

This post is random; winning is great.

From the Sun Deck

Wednesday: Victory.
Thursday: Recovery.
Friday: Relaxation.

We managed to get up early and get down to the Apartheid Museum in Soweto. (A quick stop at KFC for breakfast was made. Try the "a.m. Riser". Delicious.)

The Apartheid Museum was a pretty powerful experience, although the timeline of the country's history was difficult to follow. That being said, it was definitely the "Never Again" moment of 2010 - paralleling several moments from 2006.

Problem: Apparently they also have issues with car theft from the museum. Solution: When you drive out of the gate, they have you turn your car off and then back on. If you can turn it back on, you have the keys. Therefore you are not a their. Therefore you can go.

Currently, I'm sitting on our sun deck, enjoying the afternoon warmth and sitting in some strangely uncomfortable chairs. Around me are three men I love. They are warriors. And Ghana is coming up next.

Saturday: Back to battle.

I just think this is hilarious

New Zealand - just looking for reasons to party

Police confront New Zealand fans

POLOKWANE, South Africa -- Police confronted celebrating New Zealand fans after their team played its final match at World Cup.

Although New Zealand failed to advance to the round of 16 after Thursday's 0-0 draw with Paraguay, the fans were still happy with the team's third straight point at the tournament. But police were seen confronting Kiwis fans as they were leaving the area around the stadium.

Police spokesman Motlafela Mojapelo said there were no major issues, however, saying "police escorted the fans to the city center without problems."

"Inside and around the stadium, no violence was reported with any of the police posts in operation," Mojapelo said. "Police escorted the fans to the city center without problems."

Another police spokesman, Colonel Hangwani Mulaudzi, also said it was a peaceful confrontation.

"A group of New Zealand fans were singing inside the stadium after the match. They were happy that their team had drawn," Mulaudzi said. "Police told them to move on, that the game had finished and they obliged. Everything was friendly."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

God that got me emotional

And, perhaps because I just find it ironic and hilarious, here, for posterity, is my email you guys roughly an hour before all this showed up:

From: Jeremy
To: Noah, Andrew, Nate, Geoff
Date: Thu, Jun 24 2010 at 5:08PM
Subject: hey assholes

so, was just talking to phoebe, and:

4:53 PM Phoebe:There was a family of four south africans behind us at the game. Two little boys, maybe 8 and 4 and the two parents...and after we missed another close opportunity with like fifteen or 20 minutes left, the little african boy grabbed us on the shoulder after we were going nuts, cursing our luck. We turned around and he said, don't worry, it's coming. It was amazing.

thats part of another email

4:55 PM me: wow, thats awesome

jesus

if they dont fucking update our blog soon im going to explode

if i hear a story from her like that again, and not see it on the blog, im going on strike.

internet problems or not, last i checked noah has filed 5 storys since that game ended, with two of them coming today. get your heads out.