USA 2 – 4 Mexico
By CONCACAF Gold Cup Final. I was unable to watch this one, as at our expansive Oregon estate we have the absolute bare minimum cable package. I followed along on ESPN game cast, which itself was not an enjoyable experience. It’s good that I couldn’t watch on tv. The USA will not be playing in the 2013 Confederations Cup, which is a shame as we had a good run in 2009 (losing to Brazil in the final), but honestly, with the shape of the side at present, it’s probably a good thing we’re not in the 2013 edition.
If any good came from this match, it was the emergence of Freddy Adu. Adu, a surprise call up, and an even more surprising starter, had by all accounts a fantastic game, our one true stand out. I had given up on him a couple years ago, so this is a pleasant surprise. Now, if he could only make something of his club career . . .
I do agree with James Martin that this lost could be a blessing in disguise (unlike Al Gore’s defeat in 2000, I think all of us on this side of wingnutia can agree that didn’t turn out particularly well). However, I’m not sure what lessons can be learned from this defeat; it would appear to me that the balance of power in CONCACAF has shifted back to Mexico in the near term. Oh, one lesson we can learn: don’t schedule the final, which was always going to be a USA – Mexico affair, in bloody Pasadena. 85% of the fans were supporting Mexico. Hold it in Columbus, or Seattle, or Fargo, North Dakota. Anywhere but the southern tier of the country.
To be positive, we have the Women’s World Cup to look forward to, where the USA has a decent chance (my predictions regardless) of winning the thing. So far, it’s going according to my predictions (a state of existence that is certain to be derailed soon) with France defeating Nigeria and Germany beating Canada 2-1. That Germany won in front of 72,000 partisan fans only makes it an uphill climb for the USA or Brazil to win the tournament.
