Chill Sports

The dream is over. At least for now, the “it’s called soccer” rallying cry has been put to bed. It was always going to be far-fetched, of course, but our beloved United States team is officially out of the 2022 World Cup after a 3-1 loss at the hands of the Netherlands. There’s still so much to be proud of, and even more to be excited about in the future, but man , does this loss sting. No, not because of the scoreline-- but because we actually played well! It’s one of the most frustrating things as a soccer fan to watch your team play good ball -- as the United States did in much of this game with an energetic press, quality movement, and multiple dangerous chances created -- but for the scoreline to reflect quite the opposite. At the end of the day, though the Dutch by all intents and purposes did not dominate the match, with less possession, shots on target, and pass accuracy than the Americans, they were lethal in front of the net and walked away with a convincing victory. One can...

A single beer on a Tuesday afternoon could never have been enough. With no food yet in my stomach since waking up with a sickening mixture of childlike excitement and unbridled cynicism, I had hoped my lager would steel my nerves. Still, watching the second half of the USMNT’s triumph over Iran was, with no exaggeration required, one of the most stressful experiences of my life; the nine minutes of stoppage time tacked on at the end of the second half may have been another 90, for all I was concerned. The American defense dropped deep and absorbed pressure from their opponents for most of the second half, and with each shot from a white-shirted player the pit in my stomach lurched to new lows until, at long last , that final whistle blew. I, like many other USA soccer fans, came into their pivotal final group stage match against the Iranians expecting my country to win based on their quality of play so far. Unfortunately, I know this team well, and so running through my mind all day wa...

Amidst a surge in popularity of soccer (yes, that’s what it’s called) in the USA, expectations have never been higher for the United States Men’s National Team. Heading into the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the foundations are in place for the start of a “golden generation”. Together with a group draw that gives a realistic path to the knockout stages, and with the squad -- and the country at large -- hungrier than ever for success in the sport following their embarrassing failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, there is potential for this November to be a real watershed moment for the world’s most popular sport in America. Still, those who have been paying close attention to the USMNT in recent months have good reason to temper their expectations. Led by Gregg Berhalter, a manager with an uninspiring résumé, questionable tactics, and a stubborn willingness to select players that fit his system regardless of talent, the team has been sputtering all calendar year. After a red-hot 2021 th...