Wear your colors, show your support on June 26

I watched as major disappointment showed on the faces of Americans on the screen.

When I attended Fenton high school back in the late 1960's we had no tennis, swim or soccer team. Sometimes I wonder if today's students realize what the tax payers have done to help them. But I digress.

Now my home is in a country where soccer, or futbol as they call it, is almost a religion. Things have changed some in my life.
I now join almost four billion other viewers in watching the World Cup. And there are two teams to excite me and wish the best to, the USA and Colombia.

This is the first time since 1998 that Colombia has made it to this prestigious match, and they have already qualified for the quarter finals.

"Grupo de la muerte," was coined by Mexican journalists covering the 1970 World Cup. The expression did not become popular in English journalism until about 1986 as the translation to "group of death." Basically it means that in one group playing that all the teams are very good. If any one of them had been in another group they probably would win it. But because of the grouping a team better than many others in the tournament will be eliminated early.

This very competitive position is where the USA found themselves this year. On June 16 we beat Ghana in a very tough match that saw much aggressive play. June 22 we played Portugal. That country had previously lost big (4-0) to Germany. 

In that game with the European nation our American team played exceptionally well 95% of the time. It was that 5% we were off that Portugal took advantage of. They scored their first goal against us less than five minutes in. But with excellent execution the USA earned two goals to pull ahead. As time to end the game ran down U.S. fans in the stands, and I, were enthused. We were going to make it to the round of 16 with this win. Then with about 30 seconds left in the game Portugal scored to end the game in a tie.

This is probably the best team we have ever sent to the World Cup. In my opinion they have what it takes to make it all the way.  Many announcers from other countries have stated that our team is the most physically fit of any there. 

The U.S. group is enjoyable to watch. Goalkeeper, Tim Howard was named Budweiser's Man of the Match, and rightfully so. His athletic ability shown in the saves he made is nothing short of phenomenal. The players themselves are interesting. For example one midfielder, Michal Bradley, is bald. Also playing the same position is Jermaine Jones who sports a Rastafarian look.

It may sound like I am trying to get you interested in watching. Well I am. On June 26 the USA goes up against Germany. A win or a draw would guarantee us a spot to continue a run for the cup. This is a very critical game.

Here in Colombia when the team plays about 50% of Bogotanos wear the bight yellow jersey of the team. Almost every bar, restaurant and coffee shop has a TV setup. Big screens, some as large as 12 feet are set up in parks for the people to watch the game. Taxis have covers for the back of their outside mirrors with the colors of the flag. People have the colors painted on their cheeks. Women have their nails done in the yellow, red and blue of the country. Basically everything shuts down during the match.

In Brazil the American group goes all out with dress, painted faces and banners expressing who we are. The red, white and blue congregation shows their pride and cheers on the team.

However, I know that many still back in the USA are not the fanatic soccer fans of those Americans in Brazil watching the game, or people of many other countries. However this next match with Germany is a very important one. This is where we show billions of people we can win this thing, or we go home. Please join me this coming Thursday, game day, by wearing something red, white and blue to show your support for our American players in this very crucial match. Go USA. 

Joe is a 1968 graduate of Fenton High school and freelance writer living in Bogotá, Colombia. He and his wife write about that South American country and other parts of the world on their blogsite of www.michaelandgraciela.com