In one of the biggest upsets in professional sports history, the United States defeated the number one ranked soccer team in the world, Spain, 2-0, at the FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa today.
The Confederations Cup is a warmup tournament, held one year before the World Cup, which will be held next summer in South Africa.
Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey scored for the US, who now move into the final on Sunday against the winner of the Brazil-South Africa semifinal, which will be played tomorrow.
How large is this win for the United States? Spain had won 15 straight international matches (a new record) dating back to November 2006, and was undefeated in their last 35 internationals (an amazing 32-0-3).
It's one of the biggest wins in the history of U.S. soccer and it will largely go unnoticed here, as most Americans find the sport too boring and would rather hear about Alex Rodriguez' nightlife.
And that is a shame. Here's more about today's stunning win.
I have to admit something. I watched most of the match, and every time I hear the announcers say the first name of Xabi Alonso of Spain (who also plays for my favorite team in England, Liverpool), it sounds like they are saying "Shabby." It makes me think of this guy featured in the following YouTube clip:
I would bet that Mr. Alonso doesn't raise polecats.
Anyway, Go USA! Good luck on Sunday and bring home the cup!
Let's put this in some historical context: Was it the greatest win in U.S. soccer history?
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Probably not the greatest, as the US win over England in 1950 is probably still the best, along with the 1994 WC win over Colombia, and the two victories in the 2002 tourney. I'd also put the WC qualifying win over Trinidad and Tabago in 1989 that put the US in the World Cup for the first time in 40 years in there, too. But yesterday was a huge win, even if it was just in a warmup tourney. Ler's see if the US can carry that over to the World Cup next year.
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