In just the kind of fashion that most old-world American sports columnists and editors had to love, last week the World Cup briefly pushed soccer to the forefront of water cooler conversations everywhere for all the wrong reasons.
When the United States was denied a would-be game-winning goal against Slovenia, the nation had a good ol’ controversy on its hands, and it was called the best thing that could’ve happened to the sport in this country.
Not so fast.
The best thing ever to happen to soccer in United States came Wednesday, when Landon Donovan wrote the latest chapter of his fairy-tale career with a stirring goal in second-half stoppage time that gave the Americans a 1-0 victory over Algeria, sent them to first place in Group C and clinched a berth in the knockout round of the World Cup.
Of course, this is the place the Americans had to reach to prove their journey to South Africa was worthwhile. Just imagine the piling on that would’ve ensued had they failed.
But under more media and public scrutiny than ever before, the stunningly compelling manner in which the U.S. has played — coming from behind in each of its first two matches and coming up short so many times against the Algerians before Donovan finally broke through — is the kind of drama that attracts sports fans of all walks.
“We embody what Americans are all about,” Donovan said on ESPN immediately afterward, brushing aside bad officiating and nullified goals with the same composure he showed in front of the net when the rebound landed at his feet in the 91st minute.
The best field player the United States has ever produced, Donovan is the embodiment of soccer in the country he represents. Just as his magnificent stint with Everton over the winter proved he could play in Europe after failing so many times before, Donovan made good on his promise to play well for the United States in South Africa after an underwhelming showing in Germany in 2006.
“When you try and do things the right way,” a teary-eyed Donovan said later, “it’s good to see it get rewarded.”
It’s not bad for the sport itself, either.
