SO FIFA CHARGES HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS?   No doubt, that did not stop the eyewitness energy enthusiasm for the first World Cup soccer game in America in 34 years.  No one for sure knew what to expect, be they in their armchairs and sofas at home or on a Fan Fest park or designated area somewhere in the United States.  We all hoped for the best. 

       Did, the American team deliver? 

       Below is a recap, then the popular culture scene of energy delight.  This is the wonderful opening ceremony.  I was outside in my backyard thinking I had another half hour before it was to start.  Boy, did I blow it.  But, thanks to Fox Sports we can see it again.  

       The opening game for U.S. men’s soccer was definitely one for the books, and was very exciting; as a matter of fact, there was nothing boring in the first two days of the World Cup: all 3 hosts of the Americas did not loose, especially Canada which had played in 2 prior World Cups and had lost all their matches, but this time they tied when a ball ricochet off a Bosnia thigh and the ball went into the net.

        Historic World Cup Game
        June 12.  Over 70,000 fans filled up the stadium in Los Angeles to see the U.S. play against Paraguay who wore all blue.  Time was not wasted in the U.S. match.  And, how it started was nothing short of magical.
       Less than 7 minutes in the game, after the U.S. defense stopped the Paraguay attack, Freeman from the right made a stunning, precision pass to McKennie’s feet, who quickly took off.  He got past the halfway line with lightning speed, and without loosing a beat what happened next should be shown on all the highlights.  It was not just a normal run, for without loosing his stride, with two defenders in front of him, watch closely a replay.  McKennie with the ball below his right foot, did a quickie dance with his feet that is hard to describe, hardly noticeable.  With his right foot, it went behind his body and somehow propelled the ball to move forward.  He fooled both defenders in front of him.  He then cut to his left, and in under 3 seconds, made a perfect pass to Pulisic, up left ahead.  Pulisic drew 2 defenders ready to pounce on him, and for a moment Pulisic looked hesitant, then in a blaze of speed took off between the two in blue.  He zoomed his attack inside the box on the left, drew the defense, then he made a quick pass to McKennie in the center, and the ball as it was flying toward Balogun, the ball instead somehow landed in front of a man in blue that ricocheted off him, and the ball went into the net!   The stadium was jumping up and down as the U.S. led 1-0.  All over the United States from West Coast to East in all the watch parties held across the land, it was pandemonium, and this was only the first game of the team.  God, how I hope it is repeated in the following games.
       For the next 7 mins, the U.S. kept pressing and pressing, with no let up.  
       At the 29 min mark, #20 Balogun took a shot and scored but was called offside. Rats.  Not a minute later, Robinson made a quick pass on the left from our side of the field to Pulisic, who again ran like the devil with the ball, saw that his defenders were tucked in tight, broke free and ran and ran and made a beautiful pass to Balogun, who first time knocked it in with his right foot and scored.  No offside, and again everybody was jumping with joy.  Like I told you before, these boys play with instinct. They don’t just run with blazing fast speed.  What came next makes this team unique.  They acted with astounding speed and class throughout, however, if you study the whole game, they play like Brazilians of yesterday.  They showed flair and if I am allowed to notch in an observation, played S. American style, with rarely allowing the ball to be stolen.  This assist by Pulisic, actually gave Pulisic, his 21st career assist and tied U.S. soccer star of the past Clint Dempsey. 
        Before you knew it, the United States were ahead two to zero.  Many thought that was wonderful, and that was great to head into the locker room with such a score.
        But, nope, tall Richards beat his man and jumped with a high header around the 37 min mark, and barely missed.  
At 42 minutes, our defense held off a dangerous attack by Paraguay, reacted with a series of triangle passes, Pulisic made a pass to Sergino Dest who attacked quickly on the right line,  He charged, made a perfect pass to Weston McKennie, #7, a series of passes resulted in Tillman ending with a shot—but this time the 6'7 Paraguyan goalie stopped us cold.  Then, it went into a 5-min overtime.
        In the closing minute, the U.S. reached with a last minute energy surge.  The desire by the U.S. team was incredible. Tillman, using his instinct, did not do a long pass in the air which so many British like to do.  I've been watching World Cup matches so long, I know what I am talking about,  Tillman’s long pass was made to Balogun to his feet.  He ran and was able to get inside the penalty box. A Paraguayan defender tried to slide in and steal the ball with his tackle, but Balogun kept his composure, despite being clipped by the feet, by the foe.  Anyone else might have tumbled, but Balogun was too strong, he acted like if he was going to shoot it but cut to his left, without breaking his stride. That left the Paraguayan one step behind, who went the wrong way at first.  In his cut to the left, Balogun kept control of the ball and in the next step he hit it hard with his left foot that caused the ball to sail into the upper left corner of the net.   The goalie was too late to respond, and the U.S A. was on top at half-time 3-0!  Like forward’’s of past times with the highest caliber, like Romario, Ronaldinho, Donovan, Pele, he never lost his composure and made a precision kick that landed a point.
       Watch this beautiful link, one of many found on the social internet, that shows the wonderful game.  The rest of the half was relatively the same, even with changes in the team lineup.  You had the right guys for the right time, and nobody let up on the unrelenting pressure.  With a commanding lead, Pochettino even benched Pulisic.  I think it was a smart move.  Comments stated he was injured; slight calf hurt.  Before the match ended, Balogun almost scored again. Around the 76 minute, Pepi received a pass in front of the net, but he blew the shot.  Nevertheless, with the oldest man on the field, Tim Ream as Captain, he made sure our defense did not mess up throughout much of the game.  The U.S. remained relentless with their constant pressure and, about the 97th min, Gio Reyna delivered one more beautiful score.  Gooool!  What a gorgeous shot and beyond the reach of the 6’7, goalie.  The U.S. defense surprised the heck out of me in the way they shifted from a 5 back to a 3 back line when they attacked.  To me, it is like doing a General Patton attack and hit them where "they ain't."

       Tyler Adams unfortunately got a yellow in the second half. Paraguay tried all kinds of tricks to get people to get into a fight by fouling us, but it did not work, but they did score one.  So ended the Friday game 4-1.

       This tournament match was reportedly seen by almost 16 million fans on television-video; not bad.  AND, in the match, Chris Richards had a 100% accuracy rate, 83 out of 83, the most passes with a 100% accuracy rate of any player since the 1966 World Cup.

       Mr. cool takes us to what it was like in the screaming glee, and merriment.  Sharing the wonderful victory from coast to coast.  What began in Mexico, was nothing to what followed in the U.S.A. next day.   Philly, Pennsylvania.   Party in Boston, Massachusetts.  In Houston, Texas.  Denver 7 Colorado.  Hundreds in St. Louis, Missouri.  At the Museum of Pop Culture (Seattle even had a special barge, not shown.)  San Francisco and the Bay Area of California.  Yep, even in old Alabama.  With NBC and like they said, it was a piece of history.  Not only did they win their opener, this match became the highest scoring U.S. game. CBS at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, with a couple of thousand.  To be exact, over 40,000 paid 10 bucks.   Going bananas in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  The match when Messi played at the Kansas City covered Power and Light District, an eight block entertainment area.  One of hundreds of Fan Fests, this one in Dallas, Texas.  The electricity flowed in Houston, Texas. Plenty of outlaws in Phoenix, Arizona.  And, there were no stupid riots.  I think over in Europe, they too are sensing something.   I am happy to state the team did not choke whatsoever. 

        Game two in Seattle, the Emerald City, June 19 was against a fast Australia team, who had fast counterattacks, but do you know what?  They loved for you to attack slow and methodically, so they can form a careful defensive wall.  The United States never allowed the Aussies to set up their defensive walls, for the U.S played South American style, or a precision German style, call it what you will, and generated an American style of their own with lightning passes.  DId you see the Argentinian or Columbian game?  They can tear you apart with the passes that zing to their feet, not long air lobes. The coach in charge of Australia is used to playing English style, lobing air balls, and that is a plus for us who did not concentrate on air balls. Australia has a very tall 6’6 back, named Harry Souttar who can beat you in air balls and headers.  If you attack in a slow mode, that is to the advantage of the Socceroos.  ESPN on the U.S. performance (11 mins, careful it has a delay.)   2-0 win over Australia.

         A caveat, in terms of S. American play, Argentina is weird, as in one of their long kinda-air balls, it was so accurate, it allowed Messi to score, on June 16.   They are that good.  Pretty close to a packed house.  Incidentally, you may not know it, Messi celebrated his victory on June 16 with the Sign of the Cross in the stadium.

        Messi scored 3 goals that night and also made history.

        June 16, he moved up the ladder and tied the highest scorer, which was the German Miroslav Klose, at most career goals in World Cup.  Messi's hat trick over Algeria gave him 16 on June 16, and he needed just one more to surpass him.  Earlier that same day, the great Kylian Mbappé of France had score two goals against Senegal and for a while was #3 highest with 14.  Mbappé had been tied with Pele at 12, although Mbappé had done it in 14 games,  Pele in only 6 games scored 12 goals.  Then again, Mbappé scored 12 in 2 World Cups, Pele in 4 World Cups, however, the rules were different, and less protective, and many players got away with murder and were rarely called with a penalty or red card.  One such play led to Pele getting so injured, he was not able to continue in the 1962 World Cup, and was forced out. 

       [Edit. Note: While outside in Arlington, Texas was 90˚F. and hot, it was the day Messi, who has more goals in World Cup after the age of 35 than Maradonna had scored in all his World Cup games combined, drew another record for the books: June 22 Messi scored in the game vs Austria (indoors was comfortable) and with 17 became the top scorer of all the World Cups in History. Double note: He has now scored in 6 different and consecutive World Cups, and added one more making it 18. In the last minute of the match, he scored again but not just any old way, he cut to his left faked a shot against the Austrian goalie of all people, not even a man's length away, maneuvered to his left and then unleashed his shot and scored against 4 red shirted Austrians, plus the goalie.  Overall, he has won 18 games in World Cup and has tied a record for goals in six straight matches.  Alexis Lalas said in a postgame interview, "He is an alien.  He is not from this planet."  Messi had 7 total goals in 2022, now in only 2 games he already has 5.  There is plenty oil in Texas, but you cannot find anymore Messi shirts, all sold out.]

        Regards the U.S., it is the lone breakaway of any team that will get through our defense net, that our defensive backs must out hustle them, that still worries me.  We contained the Australian Soceroos in the midfield, and outsped and outsmarted them.  We never bunched up in both first games when we had the ball.  We were fluid and made accurate passing with speed and flair.