First came 66 minutes of frustration and the reliving of old, painful memories. It couldn’t happen the same way again, could it?
Then, relief. A goal. A ball moved from a Spaniard to an Italian and then to an American. A left foot did the final damage, driving the ball one way while the seemingly unbeatable goalie dove the other way.
No, it wasn’t going to happen again. At least not the same way.
Finally, 27 minutes later, utter elation. History was not going to repeat itself at all. Instead, it was fireworks and confetti and players hugging one another on their home field.