Mass Hysteria!!!

PRETORIA-- The cacophony of noise began an hour before kickoff.

The knowledge that the United States and Algeria had to go for the victory here brought the excitement into and around the Loftus Versveld Stadium. There was chanting and flag waving but most importantly there were people from both sides playing their vuvuzelas.

American fans far outnumbered their Algerian counterparts. The hope from those in red, white and blue was the result would be as lopsided as supporters of both teams.

With the South African sun illuminating the proceedings there was American optimism—which bordered on cockiness—that Landon Donovan and Co. would advance. It was considered a formality that the US would score a goal, or two, and move on to Rustenburg Saturday to play the winners of Group D.

My seats in the East stands were about 10 rows up from the field, just about 30 yards away from the goal the United States defended in the opening half. That meant , I saw the Algerian chances in the opening 45 minutes and the Donovan goal that sent many of the 35,000 people in the stadium into euphoria.

Algeria may be an African side, but most South African indicated to me that they are supporting the United States as their secondary team behind the Bafana Bafana.

The United States had a pair of golden opportunities in the first half. When Jozy Altidore missed from eight yards away in the first half my entire section put our hands on our heads wondering how on earth someone could miss from such range.

When Herculez Gomez’ goal was ruled offsides people were wondering aloud whether someone had an agenda against the United States. It was the second straight goal that was disallowed, after a howler of a call in the Slovenia match Friday.

The disallowed goal just set up the high drama that was to ensue.

Unlike the previous two contests American fans did not debate the changes Bob Bradley made to the team. The introduction of Benny Feilhaber, Edson Buddle and finally DaMarcus Beasley excited section NN of the stadium as there was the hope that one of the three would unlock the Algerian defense.

When the fourth official notified the crowd that the United States was four minutes away from potentially going home, the optimism in the crowd remained, but it was mixed with more worry than before. People were nervously hopping up and down—no one was sitting at that point—hoping, wishing and praying that someone would put the ball in the back of the net.

As the Algerians raced down the field in the first minute of extra time, my belief started to wane. But Tim Howard — the only American who was universally praised by fans in all three group contests—was there to start the attack.

When the ball left Howard's hand, there was a collective gasp in the East stands, as American fans hoped his outlet would reach Donovan. It did, and the No. 10 raced right in front of me before whipping the ball inside for the mad scramble in front of goal.

When Donovan got on the end of the ball that sent the US into the Round of 16, not a single person in red, white or blue was in their seat. Everyone was hugging people they didn’t know, shooting pictures of the scene, waving flags, shouting at the top of their lungs or playing their vuvuzela.

To the credit of the Algerian fans, they were not belligerent and gracious in defeat. If anything the Desert Foxes and their fans were in utter disbelief that the U.S. finally broke through their defense.

Those who went to the US-England game had little positive to say about Rustenburg, or its stadium. Then again those comments were made before the United States won its group, and a date in the Round of 16...in Rustenburg.

Casual Friday 2.0

JOHANNESBURG-- Friday was perhaps the longest day of my trip to date.

My day started in Durban at 4:45 a.m. and ended here a little before 2 a.m. In between I caught a flight, met a new friend, watched a tremendous soccer match at Ellis Park, got lost on the streets of Joburg and caught up with some Americans at my accommodation.

It was an incredible pace, but one that has made my adventures here in South Africa absolutely incredible so far.

After losing my cool at the airport, I ran into a woman from New York who was the most fun a person traveling could ask for. We went to the mall to buy warmer clothes, at lunch together and caught a taxi to Ellis Park for the US vs. Slovenia match.

Dominique and I were truly two Americans abroad. We laughed about our families, friends, and our love for the sights we have seen on our respective journeys.

As for the match, it was arguably the most exciting group match to date. Both teams attacked, both scored goals, there were crunching tackles, play acting from the Slovenians after being dispossessed, and an atmosphere that was unique to the World Cup.

Fortunately for me all the goals were scored on the north end. My seats were about 10 rows up on the East side of Ellis Park in an even line with the penalty area on the North end. (I was no more than 70 feet away from the pitch.)

With the United States in search of two second half goals, my perch was perfect for seeing the runs people were making off the ball, watching Jozy Altidore develop as a target striker and watch in pure euphoria when Michael Bradley scored the tying goal. (Had Altidore's goal counted, I would still be drenched in beer from the spraying that took place in my section!)

Unlike the game in Rustenburg, I didn't lose my voice after the match. I was too busy shooting pictures and videos to truly lose my voice this time. Plus, I was trying to watch my mouth because the referee from Mali was out of his depth in the match and it was evident to everyone in the stadium.

It took 90 minutes for me to set up my transport from the game out to my accommodation, but it allowed me to grab some food and speak with a few more South Africans. The longer I stay here, the more I think South Africans could be honorary southerners for all the hospitality they have shown me.

It would be fashionable to complain about the cold weather here, but I later found out that Johannesburg experienced record low temperatures during the first week of the World Cup. (For once, something here that FIFA had no control over, nor could they take the credit away from South Africa!)

Durban was billed as the "warmest place to watch the World Cup." It may have been a true statement, but the cold, dry air of Johannesburg is what got my blood going for a Friday unlike any other.

The Tweet that made my heart sink

I’m completely new to this Twitter game.

I used to find the short messaging service the most inane waste of time until my girlfriend convinced me it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to get an account to help my chronicle South Africa.

With few ideas about what to do and fewer people following me, I thought my foray into this social medium would be as gentle as the one I will have tip toeing into the Indian Ocean off the coast of Durban this month.

It didn’t take long for two things to come across my radar that made me change my mind and realize how fast word—and in these cases trepidation may spread.

First it was news that American forward Jozy Altidore sprained his right ankle in practice earlier this week. The 20-year old is listed as day-to-day with the injury and few people expect him to miss his team’s opener against England.

First it was news that American forward Jozy Altidore sprained his right ankle in practice earlier this week. The 20-year old is listed as day-to-day with the injury and few people expect him to miss his team’s opener against England.

The other news, which I found more depressing, despite being an American, was the arm injury to Cote d Ivoire captain Didier Drogba. There are conflicting reports about his condition. The Ivorian football federation has not ruled out the possibility the forward, and Vanity Fair cover model, will play in the tournament while other outlets are reporting he is done for the World Cup.

(Then again, how can one trust either source when it was originally reported the Ivoirians opener is June 13 instead of June 15?)

Drogba is the heart and soul of a team that some say have the talent to make the semifinals—or beyond. What was more heartbreaking to me was he was suspended due to yellow card accumulation for the Elephants only victory in the 2006 World Cup.

There are other teams whose captains will miss the tournament, but when one thinks of soccer in England or Germany Rio Ferdinand and Michael Ballack are not instantly the first men to come to mind. The two are very good players and may be in the conversation, but they do not mean as much to their team and their country as Drogba.

British media have castigated the 32-year old forward as a brooding brute on occasion, but there is little denying that Drogba is a predator in front of goal. He’s the type of person who can not only score goals, but win games—attributes many managers preparing for the World Cup would envy.

Of course I have a highly selfish rooting interest in Drogba’s health. I have tickets to see the Ivoirians opener against Portugal—and this guy.

An appetite for Turkish Delight

Soccer is a sport where there are not time outs or opportunities to regroup after one’s gameplan is shredded—and quite easily.

Thinking must be done on the fly, or during half time, and adjustments must be made just as fast. Some teams are adept at this without too many tactical changes, while others need an infusion from the bench to get the winning concoction.

The United States victory over Turkey was an example of the latter as the Americans recovered from a 27th minute goal to win 2-1 in the last match played in the States before the team travels for South Africa May 30.

Throughout the first 45 minutes the Turks used the counterattack to deploy the counterattack and exploit the lack of American pressure. Using a 4-4-1-1 formation the Americans allowed too much space for midfielders Tuncay, Hamit Altintop and Arda Turan to possess the ball and run at defenders.

American captain Carlos Bocanegra and right back Jonathan Spector could only do so much to keep those three from getting opportunities on goal. In truth Turan and Tuncay missed golden opportunities in the fifth minute, and the 14th before the Galatasaray man put the ball past Tim Howard on the counterattack.

Spector went forward with a heavy touch only to be disposed at the box. A couple touches and Turan was off to the races in the space Spector voided. The goal was a deserved and one that likely grabbed the attention of the Americans that they had to track back defensively.

The pressure improved dramatically in the second half, thanks in part to the speed and skill brought on in the second half.

Second half goals from Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey secured the victory. Both men started the contest, but it was the four substitutes introduced at halftime that changed the balance of the contest.

Veteran Steve Cheruldolo provided better cover at right back for the United States. His performance was the type that showed why he has started in 56 of his 59 caps.

Oguchi Onyewu still did not look completely healthy, but he was not asked to do much in defense. It was also a nice sight to see he could recover 96 hours after playing 65 minutes Tuesday.
Jose Torres provided the flair starting left midfielder Benny Feilhaber could not in the midfield. Though he came on for holding midfielder Ricardo Clark the Texan was someone who kept the ball and allowed Michael Bradley and others to get forward.

Robbie Findley, the man so many people—at least in the soccer circles I hang out in—thought did not show enough to deserve a place on the final 23-man roster showed his worth. The Real Salt Lake forward allowed the US to revert to a 4-4-2 and threaten the Turkish defense with his speed.

Findley’s delicious chip to Landon Donovan in the 58th minute set up Altidore’s goal, which left most of the 55,000 fans in Philadelphia hoarse. The most encouraging factor about the goal was that it came from the run of play, the first time in three games the US scored outside of a set piece.

The defensive pressure allowed the US to play a very high back line. Turkey was not able to exploit that, gaping hole between Howard and central defenders Onyewu and Jay DeMerit, but other teams may.

There was the presumption that the 11 who took the field in Philly would largely be those who take the field in two weeks. Saturday’s victory, the first against Turkey in three meetings, proves there are a lot of questions to answer in the fortnight before kickoff in Rustenburg.

Where is the representation?

There are more than 100,000 Floridians who play organized youth soccer.

For years the number of participants in Florida grew, especially since the 1994 World Cup, as the game has become more mainstream and discussed by people beyond the parents and players themselves.

However, the current recession has put a crimp on many family budgets—and by a smaller extension their ability to pay for registration fees. But as the New York Times recently noted the global recession has yet to hit the realm of professional soccer.

Once again it may be up to the professionals to bring more attention to the game here in Florida.

If people thought a run in the Confederations Cup brought attention to soccer, just imagine the possibilities should the United States replicate, or better, its performance in the 2002 World Cup.

However, it may take more than a World Cup run to get Florida in the same conversations as Texas, California and even the Atlantic seaboard when it comes to producing talent that will play on the U.S. Men’s National Team.

Of the 59 players in the Player Pool, only three are from Florida. Of those three only forward Jozy Altidore has a realistic chance of being on the 23-man roster that will head to South Africa in five months.

(For what it’s worth, Altidore is from New Jersey and moved to Florida as a youngster before starring in Major League Soccer and since moving on to the English Premier League.)

For a warm-weather state with so many soccer players—albeit far lower than the number of people who play football—it’s perplexing how few people from the Sunshine State feature for the national team.

Laughs and Liveliness,

-Wb