U.S. Soccer Team Advances to Final in FIFA Confederations Cup

On June 24, 2009, the United States Men's Soccer team did the unthinkable, the unimaginable, the impossible. They beat Spain, the best soccer team in the world, and advanced to the finals of the Confederations Cup.

"They were very quick in attack and caught us by surprise," said Spain's coach Vicente del Bosque, according to Reuters UK.

The Americans won off scores by Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey, according to Allheadlinenews.com. These players are not household names, not yet anyway, but they will be soon enough.

Huge Upset

How big of a win is this? For starters, prior to the game the Wall Street Journal ran an article that described a potential win by the U.S. team against Spain as being the fourth biggest upset in the history of professional team sports in the United States. Sure enough, the U.S. men's team and now that game is firmly ensconced in the record books as being one of the biggest top-five wins.

The U.S. team will now play in the final of the FIFA Confederations Cup and will most likely play Brazil, having previously lost to them 3-0 in the earlier rounds.

World Cup Effect

The FIFA Confederations Cup is regarded as second in prestige to the World Cup, according to The Times, and though it only has eight participating teams, it is considered a dress rehearsal for the World Cup.

It is highly likely that the U.S. men's victory over highly regarded Spain will be taken into consideration when the World Cup seedings are announced in 2010. Regardless if the United States wins the final of this tournament, they have already accomplished one of the greatest soccer upsets ever.

The United States men's soccer team did the improbable and are now in the final of the 2009 Confederations Cup. Though soccer is still not the manic craze in the United States that it is in the rest of the world, you can bet this win will stir a frenzy the likes of which you have never seen before in the United States of America(n) soccer.

Sources

Mark Gleeson, "U.S. caught us by surprise, says Spain coach," Reuters UK.

AHN Sports Staff, "Sizzling U.S. Shocks Spain to reach the Confederation Cup Finals., " Allheadlinenews.com.

David Biderman, "Beating Spain would be another U.S. 'Miracle,'" Wall Street Journal.

Rahul Vaidyanath, "U.S. Back from the dead at Confed Cup," The Epoch Times.

Raf Casert, "United States beats Spain 2-0," Associated Press.

Confed Cup gains prestige, TheTimes.co.az