And then the USMNT were done, eliminated in the group stage
Friday, June 23, 2006:
Even coming from Ohio, where we routinely suffer sporting disappointments, it's still tough to take a loss in the World Cup - especially when it was set up for us to advance. But despite the USA’s loss to Ghana, the experience of being at this event has been awesome, and it was even more fun being around so many people we know.
The night we got here, we meet up with Curtis and Brett at an Irish pub called Finnegans to watch the Argentina versus Holland game. Not much of a game, as I don't think either team cared if they played Mexico or Portugal.
The U.S. game was set to start at 4:00 pm on Thursday, and although you see thousands of Americans as you stroll down the neat city streets, there doesn't seem to be much energy. We find the USA bar, another Irish pub called O'Sheas. Now, this place was happening - full of Americans dressed in the colors and singing the songs. About an hour and a half out, the entire bar marches out, marching through the streets of Nuremberg on the way to the train station (yea, we had to take a train to the game). It was an impressive display, one that people would come out of their stores to watch...it looks like the U.S. fans are ready.
I wait for the Columbus crew to arrive via Munich on the platform, and we pile in the train on the way to the stadium. Man was it crowded and hot. Three of us get on one subway and the other three couldn't fit so they jump on the next one. We get in the stadium and the US clearly outnumbers the Ghana supporters. We’re in a lower corner and find space with all our friends from all over the place.
The nervous energy carries over to the stands - more people are chewing finger nails than cheering. Dempsey ties the game and wakes up the crowd. We had one guy near us getting text updates of the Italy game, so we know they are winning 1-0. We just want to make it to halftime, so the team can find out and know that one goal wins. Then we get screwed on a call right before the half, and everyone is deflated as Ghana took the lead.
We tried and tried in the second half, but even as the players couldn't seem to get it going right, neither did the fans. The chants were off with different sections starting different ones. It just didn't seem like everything, or everyone, was clicking.
The game ends disappointingly. We're out of the World Cup, so we take our group of 10 or so to the beer garden right by the station...and then we take the party to Finnegans...and then to the center square. Even in defeat, having a group of people that has seen their share of sports losses, we have a blast. I think the German people will be sad to see the U.S. fans leave...we brought life and energy, drank and ate, and drank some more.
Today we walked around some, and though physically we're here, mentally we're exhausted. The highs and lows of game days, the excitement of the games, the travel, the lack of rest, the trains - it does take a toll. You push along knowing there is another fun game coming, and now that is not the case.
So tomorrow Clint, Dani and I are heading back to Leipzig for the Argentina v Mexico game. Brett and Curtis are heading to Munich for the Germany v Sweden game. The rest of the guys are heading home. We will be too, soon.
