Comments on: Still looking for U.S. Soccer’s miracle moment

By: tylerbetts

tylerbetts — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 03:37:45 +0000

Isn’t it much more likely we see a “miracle” moment that we’re on the wrong side of? Some tiny CONCACAF Nation winning a Gold Cup or securing World Cup passage at our extent? A ragged band of low level players who shock our team full of those playing in Europe?

This is especially true when you look at the political landscape that went into the Miracle on Ice. We don’t have a Russia that gives us a soccer rival. China? Not a big enough challenge on the soccer pitch – they’d get the miracle on grass from beating us. Brazil? Spain? Germany? Not the political tension.

But within CONCACAF? Where we’re viewed as the “big bad boys” on the pitch and in politics? A team could pull off a true miracle.

By: wesbadia

wesbadia — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 20:46:56 +0000

Very good point about the Soviet team. Remember that those players were technically apart of the Red Army, having the job of representing their country by playing hockey. Soldier-athletes playing against college students. It’s like the Spartans falling to the Athenians in battle.

By: randomhookup

randomhookup — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 20:14:34 +0000

One of the reasons the hockey win was such a big deal was that the Soviets were _the_ power in the hockey world (all their best players were “amateurs”) and the US team was a bunch of college kids. The USMNT may be beyond that point. It would be like the “Camp Cupcake” team or the U23s beating the full Brazilian team in a competition.

By: randomhookup

randomhookup — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 19:17:41 +0000

And doing it with a team of amateurs (none of whom ever amounted to much in the NHL). The Soviets were essentially pros and had beaten an NHL all-star team the year earlier 6-0 and beaten this team by 7 goals in an earlier friendly.

By: kevindlindstrom

kevindlindstrom — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 18:06:42 +0000

You have to admit that the ’10 Algeria game was pretty exciting, but you are right, a massive part of the “Miracle on Ice” was knocking off the big, bad Soviets on the huge stage of the Olympics on the way to Olympic Gold.

I do think a similar situation could happen in the Olympics to capture much of the non-traditional soccer fans in the US, but for the ultimate magic, yeah, it would have to be beating Brazil/Spain/etc. on the way to winning the World Cup.

By: berlintexas

berlintexas — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 17:34:47 +0000

In fairness, the US had medaled at the Olympics many times before Miracle on Ice, including gold. It was before my time, but I imagine the context (vs. Russia during the cold war, at home = more media coverage, in the Olympics) played into it far more than the quality of teams. It would be like the USMNT losing the World Cup final 7 times, winning once, and THEN upsetting a higher ranked rival in the Semis before going on to win it again. Wouldn’t have the same impact with out the context. I agree we can’t have that moment because the USA doesn’t have that rival. Winning the World Cup would be it’s own kind of miracle. The women had their moment in Chastain against China.

By: buckyball77

buckyball77 — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 17:24:56 +0000

Yes, a crazy miracle to win Brazil 2014, knowing how long it took high level soccer powers like France and Spain to triumph.

But, without the geopolitical factor it couldn’t match 1980. The world’s soccer powers aren’t also our fearsome political rivals.

By: mkbryant3

mkbryant3 — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 16:56:54 +0000

The toast may be on the couch, but I agree with the man. Winning the WC in Brazil would, indeed, be a huge miracle. I think bigger than the Miracle on Ice.

That 94 victory over Colombia got very close. That game was miraculous, in my opinion, as well. What memories.

Speaking of 94. Man, do I miss me some Hagi. Just starting to watch international soccer back then, I had yet to see such magic from a #10. The guy had an amazing tournament.

By: couchtoast

couchtoast — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 16:36:58 +0000

I think winning Brazil 2014 would absolutely count as a miracle, regardless of the fact that we have some players in the top leagues in Europe and our own domestic league. If you look at any previous World Cup champ in the modern era, the roster, from top to bottom, is comprised of players playing at the best teams around the globe, bar none. I mean, Spain is basically a combined version of Barca and Madrid, with a few players from the EPL’s top 4 teams sprinkled in for good measure. Winning a World Cup with MLS players and some Europe based players who are on mid-table teams would be astonishing and totally on par with the Miracle on Ice.