The US Soccer Team is in the same group [Group C] with England, Algeria, and Slovenia. It is predicted that the first game between the USA and England will attract more attention than the games against Algeria and Slovenia.

The USA and England are two countries that have been united and divided by the same language. There is also a difference in sports background with regard to football [soccer]. England has a large tradition of football [soccer] while the USA is enjoying its new found interest in the game after a prolonged dormant period which ended with the World Cup in 1994.

The underwriter has read comments about how football [soccer] has progressed within the last 15 years in the USA. He also read a note of historical interest for the English that ocurred in the year 1950. In the year 1950, the USA surprised the English by winning one of their games in the World Cup that was held in Brazil.

It occurred when Joe Gaetjens kicked a ball into the net after a cross by Walter Bahr during their encounter in the Estadio Independencia in the beautiful city of Belo Horizonte. In spite of this historical note, there have been detratcors of US Soccer.

The underwriter was recently interviewed by a journalist from Manchester, England. The journalist asked the following question to the underwriter:  How can football [soccer] survive in the USA? The journalist based his question on his experience in the USA during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.

The response of the underwriter was to recognize that while American Football, Basketball, and Baseball were to dominate the sports arena in the USA, there is an increasing interest in football [soccer]. He told the journalist about the Manchester United supporter who journied from Arizona to Washington State and then to Illinois to see his beloved Old Trafford Team.

The journalist was also told of the football [soccer] academies that have flourished and how the US Soccer Foundation has helped inner city children. The underwriter talked about Miami FC and other local clubs in Florida and other parts of the country.

The journalist received more comments about teams like Real Salt Lake, Galaxy, and Chivas USA that have been formed as part of the MLS [Major League Soccer]. The underwriter continued to talk about the bids by those who support US Soccer to have the USA host the World Cup for 2018 and 2022.

The journalist finished the interview by saying that he admired the underwriter for his «down to earth» response. While the underwriter wishes the best for all of the teams that are participating in the 2010 World Cup, he reminds people not to underestimate the US in the World Cup.

http://my.nowpublic.com/sports/do-not-underestimare-us-world-cup