We dug deep.

No matter what happens vs Belgium I'm proud of this group.

soccer growing up. My biggest memory is getting a card for a handball:)

So I do not know a lot, but what BS that handball was.

Tuesday night I watched Mexico v. Ecuador at my local Mexican restaurant. I was the only white dude in the place. They are all friends from going there - probably 200 peeps. That was a fucking blast. So loud.

Awesome post HCE. I am glad it has come this far.

Watched the game with my family at a bar patio next to the harbor with 100 other lunatics from the neighborhood and some tourists who wandered by and jumped in the scene.

Wonderful to see this team have the talent and fortitude to finally grab hold of the opportunity and capitalize on what has been a ~30 year project. I only dip in and out of soccer, but I couldn't believe my eyes when an American player actually scored off a free kick at a pivotal moment to close the door in a WC knockout game.

I'm jealous as my own sport still has five years until its potential 1994 moment when the US hosts the Rugby World Cup. I hope it follows a similar/faster trajectory, although the u20s losing by 60+ to Argentina and likely more than that today to England (while simultaneously basically GoFundMe-ing their trip) has me less than optimistic.

EDIT: England scores less than two minutes in, could be shipping 100 today. Honestly, if you ever want to see what would really happen if you put "superior" US athletes into a sport they have limited familiarity with (a la LeBron James in soccer), fire up Paramount+ or turn on CBS Sports.

EDIT 2: Losing 68-40 a better showing than anticipated, but England was basically just screwing around for most of it.

This is the best US team that has ever been, and that's with Tim Ream at CB. It's such a joy watching us play competent soccer under a competent manager.

If we get that far, France will blow our doors off, but they're going to do that to everyone. But if we get there, build the Arc du Poch.

Took the girls to Wembley to see Harry Styles, and they had the England-Congo game on the big screen finishing up before the show started. Pretty wild in the stadium when England went ahead.

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The support for soccer in the US today, is worlds better than it was when I grew up. The 1994 World Cup helped jumpstart US interest, but today’s World Cup clearly shows a legitimate US soccer audience has evolved. Gen X for the win here imo.

And I hate the red card on Balogun, but Belgium is a very beatable team, even with Balogun out. It wont be a gimme, but its definitely winnable.

So I’m saying there’s a chance.

And regardless of the outcome, watching Messi play and that dominant French team … both will be great to have on US soil for this WC. Gonna be some pretty damn good entertainment this next few weeks.

Lastly, I picked up some BBQ for dinner tonight … the spot was jumping with reserved tables packed … all for people to watch this match. Massive improvement in soccer fandom in my lifetime in the US.

PS. I googled the TV numbers … this World Cup is blowing the numbers out the window. Monster numbers. Its a huge success.

The wilderness of the late ‘70s and 1980s USMNT coming out of the folding of the NASL is a long, long ways in the rearview mirror.

My child self will love Hugo Perez and Kevin Crow, but this is so, so much better.