Momental victory for US National team, but what does it really mean?

The United States National Team scored a monumental victory yesterday in the FIFA Confederations Cup, defeating world #1 Spain 2-0 in the tournament's semi-final game. Spain had been on an amazing streak heading into yesterday's game against the U.S. Spain was riding a 35 match unbeaten streak, one short of the all time record, and was also riding a world 15 game winning streak. None of that made a difference yesterday as Spain and its roster of world class footballers fell to the U.S.

All things considered, yesterday was a fantastic moment for the U.S. National Team as they pulled off one of international football's most stunning upsets. Spain is loaded with talented players who play for some of the best teams, in the best leagues in European football. Iker Casillas is perhaps the best goalie in the world right now, Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol, and Sergio Ramos comprise one of the best defenses in the world, and Fernando Torres and David Villa might be the most deadly 1-2 combination up front. The U.S. on the other hand is a very young, very green team with little depth and few veteran leaders. The majority of the U.S. players play at home in the less impressive MLS, and those who play abroad play in some of Europe's lesser leagues or see little playing time.

Like it or not, yesterday's victory by the U.S. meant more overseas than it does here in America. Football, real football, is the World's biggest sport and in most countries it is the top dog. Only in America is football considered a 5th sport. In America, baseball and American football are the kings. Meanwhile, basketball and hockey fight for the attention of the remaining sports fans across the country. There are a proud few in this country, myself included, that grew up playing soccer and respect the game as being the greatest across the globe. Americans tend to ignore soccer because quite frankly, we don't have a very solid winning tradition. We haven't dominated the sport for decades, and it isn't appreciated because it is seen as a sport lacking in offense and bogged down in midfield passing. Never mind the fact that baseball can be one of the slowest games to watch and that hockey can be just as lacking in offense, soccer gets a bad wrap. Yesterday was proof however that the U.S. can succeed in soccer as well, and to the average sports fan it was an amazing game to watch and made you proud to be an American.

Overseas however, this game was much more devastating to Spain than it was glorious to the U.S. Europeans are well aware of America's disinterest in football, and it was a disastrous result to have the World's best team lose to the U.S. of all countries. Spain has been on top of the football world for 2+ years now, destroying everyone in their path and representing Europe along the way. It no doubt will eat away at Spain, and football fans across Europe, that the U.S. was the team to upset the World's #1 team.

Unfortunately, the U.S. win yesterday is not the sign of some great turning point in U.S. soccer that will launch them into the upper echelon of FIFA rankings. It was a win in a tournament which the importance of has been questioned against a team that had yet to be tested. Spain, unlike the U.S., had a cake walk to say the least through group stages. While the U.S. had to face perennial powerhouse Brazil and defending World Champion Italy, Spain faced New Zealand, Iraq, and host country South Africa. Spain rolled through their group stage untested, scoring 8 goals and allowing none. The U.S. on the other hand held a lead over Italy for 50 minutes before falling apart after going a man down, and proceeded to get trounced by Brazil. The Americans were able to regroup and thump Egypt to give themselves a chance to be in the semi-finals, and of course Brazil did the rest of the work for them by beating Italy. The U.S. came out with fire and passion, something Spain had yet to see from a team in this tournament.  The U.S. put forth a typical American effort, lacking world class footballers they played as a team, each man having the same desire as the next to win at all costs. Yesterday's game was about heart and perseverance.

Take nothing away from what the U.S. accomplished yesterday, it was truly amazing. It is a victory that should be remembered for a long time to come, but it is far from the greatest upset in the history of American sports, much less international sports. If the U.S. team wants to solidify their spot among the World's elite, they need to duplicate outcomes like this against other big teams, like Brazil, and in other competitions, like the World Cup. The U.S. can't just hang their hat on this victory few the next year and consider all well that ends well. They need to build off this victory and roll into next year's World Cup looking to prove they belong in the same breath as Brazil, Italy, and Spain.