Live from the Cup

Monday, June 14, 2010

Kansan sports writer Clark Goble is writing a blog about the World Cup from South Africa. Read his other entries at Live from the Cup

Well, it was certainly the most exciting draw I've ever seen in person.

It's an interesting aspect of soccer: you can win, you can lose and you can tie. I've been to two World Cup matches and seen two ties. In both cases, one side was happy to draw (South Africa and U.S.) and the other was frustrated to draw (Mexico and England).

Nonetheless, it's a good result for the Yanks and sets up a huge game against Slovenia.

Our journey to Rustenburg started at noon. We swooped up fellow American fans from the surrounding hotels in Jozi and climbed up a rural highway to Rustenburg, at an altitude similar to Denver. We arrived there around 4:45. Following a flock of English fans, we ended up at a pub that mixed the rowdiest American and English fans in a small plot of land. Chants came one after another.

We got a beer at the pub and watched a few minutes of Argentina-Nigeria projected on a side wall. It was everything you could want the U.S.-England pregame to be.

After surviving a ridiculous line to enter the stadium, we went to our seats: second level, but almost perfectly on the midline. For the South Africa game, we couldn't really see the game like you can on television. For U.S.-England, we were in ideal position.

And then, the stark differences between American fans and English fans became apparent. The British brought flags and draped them over the seating decks. For every 100 England flags, there were probably 20 star-spangled banners. The English had several chants that rang throughout the stadium. Our go-to chant was "U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A". Repeat again and again.

Oddly enough, the game paralleled the fanbases. England scored a pretty goal just four minutes into the game, and the American goal came on a goalie miscue.

No matter.

In soccer, the score is all that matters. You can't look at the statistics and completely tell how the game went like baseball. Sometimes you get lucky, and sometimes you don't.

But I'll tell you one thing: I'm not complaining.

We have a "day off" today before going to Netherlands-Denmark tomorrow. I can't wait to see Netherlands' attacking style up close.

Don't tread on this,

Clark

/weblogs/live-cup/2010/jun/13/us-mexico/

/weblogs/live-cup/2010/jun/11/south-africa-mexico/

/weblogs/live-cup/2010/jun/08/a-brief-introduction/

/weblogs/live-cup/2010/jun/15/netherlands-denmark/

Morning Brew: U.S. lucks out in World ...

Lottery draw lands United States in group with England, Algeria, Slovenia.

/news/2009/dec/07/morning-brew-us-lucks-out-world-cup-draw/

Morning Brew: U.S. Soccer's luck changed

After three major players suffer injuries, things seem to be turning around.

/news/2010/jan/29/morning-brew/

Morning Brew: Sports enter another dimension

3D is taking over sports world, so get in now.

/news/2010/apr/16/morning-brew-sports-enter-another-dimension/

Wiebe: Major League Soccer benefits from South ...

South American recruits bring talent, excitement to MLS.

/news/2007/sep/12/wiebe/

/weblogs/live-cup/2010/jun/10/day-one-in-jozi/

U.S. could make sixth straight cup appearance ...

The U.S. team hopes to rebuild after a disappointing appearance in 2006.

/news/2007/nov/28/wiebe/

Holtz: Patriotism and soccer go hand in ...

How many U.S. victories will it take for Americans to catch on?

/news/2010/jun/21/holtz-patriotism-and-soccer-go-hand-hand/

Wiebe: Let future team play now

Check out Kansan columnist Andrew Wiebe’s thoughts about the U.S. national soccer ...

/news/2007/oct/10/wiebe/

Wiebe: Wizards’ fan base started at University

Kansan columnist Andrew Wiebe traces the roots of the Kansas City Wizards’ ...

/news/2007/oct/24/wiebe/

Blog: An American guide to European soccer ...

Sam Kovzan compares Europe's more notable soccer clubs to American sports franchises

/news/2011/oct/04/blog-american-guide-european-soccer-clubs/

Good Afternoon Mrs. E

One-hundred-and-thirty-seven buildings occupy the 1,000-acre Lawrence campus and more than 100 are ...

/news/2007/feb/01/good_afternoon_mrs_e/

Regional matchups make league recognized, respected

The Hispanic fan base in the U.S. takes interest in international games ...

/news/2007/oct/03/regional_matchups_make_league_recognized_respected/

Letter to the Editor: Don't degrade Rock ...

Chant is full of tradition and should be respected.

/news/2010/feb/24/letter-editor/

KC Wizards to play Manchester United

English team Manchester United will bring some of the world’s best soccer ...

/news/2010/jul/19/kc-wizards-play-manchester-united/

Davis: World Cup has power to convert

/news/2006/jun/08/davis_world_cup_has_power_convert/

Who's who at KU

English student adjusts to different kind of English

/news/2009/jan/20/whos_who/

Brew: Soccer leagues entice fans to keep ...

Soccer leagues around the world use a format that keeps fans watching ...

/news/2012/jan/30/brew-soccer/

Group seeks to reform the Rock Chalk ...

An Facebook group of almost 1000 people is organized to take the ...

/news/2012/jan/10/group-seeks-reform-rock-chalk-chant/

Poll: Should the "whoo" be included in ...

Listen to the Rock Chalk Chant and tell us whether you want ...

/news/2012/jan/17/poll-whoo-chant/

Dwyer: When sports can break barriers

Sports can not only shape people’s lives but also break racial, sexual ...

/news/2011/may/10/dwyer-sports-lives/

Brew: Victory a token title for Tigers

Students storming Norm Stewart Court shows misguided priorities of Missouri fans.

/news/2009/feb/11/tigers/

Applied English Center helps non-native speakers

Group discussions center on acclimating international students to American culture and the ...

/news/2010/nov/02/applied-english-center-helps-non-native-speakers/

App helps advocate for peace in the ...

Falling Whistles visits the University, introducing its new app "FW+Faces" on Wednesday.

/news/2011/oct/24/app-advocates-congo/

Youth propels National Team

Coach’s son could be most important player in Saturday’s game

/news/2007/nov/14/youth_propels_national_team/

Journalist shares experiences from South Africa

Journalist Tom Baxter spoke to students at Pizza and Politics on Tuesday ...

/news/2011/sep/20/journalist-shares-experiences-south-africa/

Saints Pub & Patio

They'll even pick you up.

/news/2011/sep/14/saints-pub-patio/

Morning Brew: Review in haiku

A poetic look back at the men’s basketball and football seasons.

/news/2010/apr/23/morning-brew-review-haiku/

Goble: Rock chalk reminiscence

Take some time out of your day to remember your favorite men’s ...

/news/2010/mar/12/goble-rock-chalk-reminiscence/

Podcast: The Give 'n Go

After a long hiatus, the Give 'n Go is back with new ...

/news/2009/jan/13/podcast_give_n_go/

Blog: MLS Preview

Preseason rankings for the entire MLS

/news/2012/mar/08/blog-mls-preview/

Al Jazeera English chief discusses U.S. media

Will Stebbins answers questions about international perspective and American news coverage.

/news/2009/apr/22/al_jazeera_english_chief_discusses_us_media/

Behind the Beak

/news/2005/aug/17/behind_beak/

DeOliveira: Soccer deserves another look

The poetic justice of soccer is somehow missed in the eyes of ...

/news/2007/apr/11/deoliveira/

The Hog vs. The Phog

Clark Goble answers the question: Which team has the better advantage at ...

/news/2009/apr/28/hog_vs_phog/

USA could look to 17-year-old for future

New York Red Bulls all-star Jozy Altidore has what it takes to ...

/news/2007/aug/29/wiebe/

Podcast: The Give and Go

The guys talk about Kansas' extreme need to play a complete game ...

/news/2009/feb/03/podcast_give_and_go/

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.

Sign in to comment

Or login with:

OpenID