When a city gets behind its club, you can feel a tangible impact on the streets. When an entire nation does the same, it is transcendent. I have followed the U.S. Men’s National Team religiously since 2002. I had just graduated high school, had no job, and decided that waking up at 2 am to watch the red, white, and blue play in Korea would be the best use of my free time.
I was captivated by the dismantling of Portugal on three first half goals by O’Brien, Costa and McBride. My loyalty was forever cemented when Brian McBride and Landon Donovan each netted to eliminate Mexico in the knockout rounds, propelling the U.