Previous first hand account thread - US vs. Czech Republic: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=369167 Magnificent support for our boys, can't wait to hear your first hand reports.
Without a doubt they were the 12th...err...I mean 10th man out there today. You sounded great boys and girls. Bravo.
I have a coworker who was at the game and will be back on Monday. I'll try and wring an account out of him.
Ok, I’ll jump in here as the first person who was actually there. It will be short though since I just got back to Würzburg and am exhausted. First things first – Hands down the best experience at a soccer match I have ever had. It even beats out Portland 1997, where I was in the front row of Sam’s Army, on crutches, to witness Ramos’ goal to put us through. The crowd was rocking from start to finish and the chants are still ringing in my ears. The only time you could really hear the Italians was after the first goal. Of course, it was hard to hear much of anything between our folks and the loud clapping sound of Italian bodies flopping around on the field. I am glad to hear that we came through. I’ll try and post some pictures and maybe some sound files I tried to take at the game later after some sleep. I will share the funny anecdote of having to translate a particular chant to a nearby Italian fan…. something about where they could insert Totti around their posterior. Our team displayed an amazing amount of heart and its probably more than what was seen on TV with all the off-the-ball runs in offense and defense after we went down to 9. Now THAT is how my team plays! Frankly, whatever happens versus Ghana and beyond (and I am going to be screaming away there too) this game made my world cup. Thanks to pretty much the whole US team for coming over with their appreciation after the game and for putting out an effort where you could show your faces to the crowd! Crashing… will write more later!
Let's see, it's now a little after 1 in the afternoon in Germany. Some of the hangovers from last night's celebrations should be softening. Maybe some more first hand accounts coming??? bump
I was there and agree wholeheartedly with this. Great night in the Fritz-Walter. The only time the Italians really made any noise was after their goal and after Pope's red card. At one point in the 2nd half, Italy had a corner kick attacking the goal right in front of the USA fans end. Gattuso (I think) came over to take it and the USA fans were roaring and jeering at him as he appoached. He responed by imploring the Italian fans sitting on the sidelines near the corner to get up and make some noise for Italy, and some of them appeared to rise but were quickly drowned out by the Americans. Definitely the most tension and emotion-filled USA match I've ever attended. The Italians diving and the refs performance only made it all the more passionate. It was pandamonium when we all thought Pablo scored in the 1st half and then Beasely in the second. For both the fans and the team, I think it was critical that they got back to 1-1 quickly. There was some frustration in the 2nd half when the USA had committed to bunkering, as many were vocally suggesting the insertion of Eddie Johnson to go for the winner after every long ball to McBride. I think we all got caught up in wanting to 'punish' Italy for their cynical play. But I think most eventually realized that the US was gassed and were hanging on for dear lifee, so we cheered them hard onto the end. Best USA fan outfits: Capitan America Harlem Globetrotter group Lots of Uncle Sams Minutemen Barechested twenty-something w/ 'Patriot Missile' painted on his chest with accompanying arrow pointed downward.
Ok...I'll be next. Absolutely incredible experience...made you so proud of the team and our fans!! Just woke up after a 6 hour train ride back to Dortmund. First - the stadium was probably about 60% Italian fans...and I think that is conservative. I talked to about 5 Italian fans before the match, they all said...sorry, we like you, but you will lose 3-0 today - Toni, Totti and Del Piero will just be too much for you. My reply was that they will remember two new names that night: Dempsey and Onyewu.... glad to see that Clint got the start, but I digress. Kaiserslautern Hbf (train station) is VERY small...one narrow hallway and you basically walk to the stadium from there, while probably visiting the main piazza where they had the fan fest going on. The place was absolutely packed, the train station was actually a little scary it was so crowded. However, the Italians were walking around, waving their flags, singing their songs and actually significantly outnumbered us yanks outside the stadium. On a small world note - among the thousands of fans I ran into someone from my hometown of Avon, CT (not exactly a bustling metropolis) who I play soccer against in an Over 40 league - just incredible. Inside the stadium - before the game, the Italian team actually came out onto the field and watched the last of the Ghana-Czech game on the wide screens that they had up around the pitch. When they started to show the Italian team on the screens everyone started whistling and so the reverted to the game. The only US player who came out was Convey and only for a couple of minutes. Also, I would say that the Italians seemed to be in full throttle before the game with their chants and songs, I was actually worried that we would have a tough time being heard during the game. Once the game was underway it was just absolutely electric. The team just carried the play for the first 25 minutes plus and more - even given the Italy goal. The Italian team was telling each other to calm down, they had trouble clearing the ball and the US fans were in full throat and the Italians were not to be heard from much. The drums and horns in the stands helped us all keep the beat on the chants and even though our chants might lack some imagination, we never seemed to tire (I was telling myself in the 20th minute that I better pace myself a bit here, though my 16 year old son helped keep me going.) Never heard the Italians except after their goal really. I had the opportunity to travel 4 of the 6 hours with two Italian fans on the train back. They sat opposite us in the stadium, I had to ask them if they heard us cheering - since I was among the cheering, you are never sure if you are really being heard. She said, 'oh yes', all game and that she was very disappointed in the Italian fans who seemed to have no heart!!! BTW - the way they sit the most rabid fans (not sure how they determine that) in opposite corners of the stadium from each - catty-corner so to speak. Kaiserslautern doesn't really allow that , so we were on opposite corners of the stadium, but on the same side of the field. Once we went down a man, the fans as one decided that we would not let the team down...I think the chanting was virtually non-stop from that time forward ESPECIALLY near the end when it was obvious we had NO more legs out there besides Damarcus. Landon made a couple of great runs, but by then even he was holding back a bit. McBride was coming all the way back to the 18 yard line (and was needed there). Some of the people around me (and me) were wondering why Eddie didn't come in for McBride near the end around the 80th minute. However, when I look back and saw who Bruce had out on the field, it was our most experienced seasoned group of veterans (except Conrad maybe) who knew what it would take. The kicks by Keller were frustrating, but it was clear near the end that was the best we could really do. Hence, we wanted them to know we were still with them...how many ways can you say it was an incredible experience??!! After the game - after the team was able to pick themselves up they came over and applauded the US fans, very nice! The Italian team did not do that for their fans, and that is the first time I have seen the National team not do that (third game for me here.) During the game again - I had a conversation on the train going to the game with a fan about how the US fan hates the grabbing of the leg and the rolling around on the ground for no reason. We were just ALL OVER the diving, whining Italian players. Hoots and whistles to the max. While I realize some of the Italian players probably did get hurt, the flopping of Toni at the begining and the calls the ref gave him were stupendously ridiculous. I wonder how that reaction will play on FIFA?? I can't remember one of our guys doing the same thing! The stretcher had to come on the field about 5 or 6 times for Italian players, and only once was it really needed. Just crazy. A couple of random thoughts. The player how elbowed McBride, I think, was trying to pay him back for a perceived knee to the butt on a corner kick several minutes earlier. Keller booted one of his punts right into the group of people attending to one of the Italian players who went down like he was shot. This after we were all hooting and whistling when the guy was rolling on the ground and Keller was clapping (not really sure if he was applauding us or telling us to cheer rather than boo...but the kick, kind of made me think he was applauding us!!) Really the punt hit one of the stretcher bearers in the shoulder on the sideline near our bench right near the Italian player. Of all the places for a punt to go..... Once again, I guess I don't see the same game the foreign press does, but Landon was not giving us what we needed in the first half. His couple of runs in the second half were spectacular and his laying off of the shot for McBride that McBride missed with his left was great. But at that point, there only 17 field players and so all kinds of space. However, he passed up a shot in the first half from eight yards to make a tough pass in traffic that resulted in an Italian clearance. Plus, McBride seemed to be making the runs to get balls that I wanted Landon doing; i.e. the speed balls down the wings to the forward. Brian doesn't have the speed to beat the defenders, Landon does. Not sure if that is Landon, Brian's or Bruce's issue, but it troubled me. The Kaiserslautern stadium set up for exiting the game is DANGEROUS!! The worst I have ever been a part of. You literally had to walk a half a mile or more in very crowded conditions even stopping at times. As I said to people around me if this was Poland vs. England, or two angry fan bases, it would have been a deadly combination. The worst part is that right to our left was an open area behind a fence for VIPs!! FIFA NEEDS TO CHANGE THAT. And from what I hear, we didn't have the worst, the other side of the stadium had to go much further under those conditions and down steps. While they try and separate out fans from each other that is not a perfect science. They should fix that before the round of 16 game there. Anyways, kudos to all of my fellow fans, the drum beaters, the horn blowers, the passion of all of us certainly carried me along last night and it will go down as one of my truly fantastic experiences. The only way to have made it better would have been to get a win, a win, that I truly think we were the more deserving of if you looked at grit, courage and, yes, soccer! The determination of the players from the start was super incredible!! They deserve all the praise as their play and determination also carried us forward, you could NOT be there and NOT see that the US had more heart and passion and (until we were reduced to 9 men) were carrying the play to the Italians. NOW all of that said, here's to hoping the Italians beat the Czechs!!! PS. I do have some tape of the evening (not during the game, but before the game anyways). If someone can tell me where and how to upload it, I'll be happy to do that! It will be a bit sporadic, but it covers up until the teams come out and then after the game showing the crowds leaving the stadium (I think, if it's not too dark.)
P.P.S. I don't know if it was strategy or luck, but having the US goal near us in the second half just made us soooo much a part of the action at the end. You too could see the Italians bringing the ball up, the players were so near you when they had to quickly cover spaces, the Italians open in various places were just so obvious, the desparation and determination of the team was so close, you just couldn't help but be a part of it. It became almost visceral, it really did. As I've told so many other US non-soccer sports fans, you don't need a lot of scoring to have an absolutely riveting game. The best games in fact are those that you know, just one mistake will spell the difference between success and failure. We had 40+ minutes of non interrupted, nail-biting suspense last night.
The team had great things to say about the fans: http://www.soccertimes.com/oped/2006/courtney/jun17.htm
I think you are underestimating the hangovers - both from the alchohol and the game! 4:00 PM and I just woke up! Unfortunately, most of my sound recordings did not come through, but I do have a mpeg of the pre-game in Gelsenkirchen that is worth something. I'll try and get it posted once I figure out how to do it!
"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to goussoccer again." Great post! Very interesting that the crowd was predominately Italian. Watching from here it sounded like an American home game. I'm sure the players really appreciated your support.
Don't have much time to write but I must say it was one of the most incredible things I have experienced. As to the match, I was behind KK's goal in the second half and we were going absolutely crazy. The effort of the fans in my section screaming their lungs out was bested only by the effort of our squad on the pitch. I was so happy and proud to be a US Soccer fan yesterday. What an effort. Oh, one negative note. It seems many of the Italian fans who attended the match missed the memo that the world cup was about `a time to make friends`. So many Italians consistently made classless and annoying comments and chants befor the match it was surprising. Especially after the very, very positive experiences I'd had with the Czech, Croatian, Brazilain and Dutch fans at other matches I'd attended. It was quite annoying. I'll certainly root for the Azzuri on thursday, but never again.
I'm not judging the whole Italian nation on the acts of a few, the Turin Olympics was very good for all of mankind; I'm not judging either because I don't live in their "culture" of football; but dang, if you watch the National Anthems, I think, there were some trying to give the Fascist salute; I don't want flak for that. It just seems like it was there. That same "culture" of football; puts an awful lot of pressure on their players; though a different "culture" with Brazil; likewise, against Croatia, I saw worry on some of their players faces. Too bad, time to make friends, but it is very competitive and my objection to the World Cup over the years, very evident with the US's predicament, is that each game is too important.
Man I just dont know what to say. I've never experienced anything so up and down, so patriotic, I was almost crying and the game wasnt even over yet. I was the bare-chested nut climbing the fence/net after the goals. The only negative part of the night was the beer tossing... just my opinion, but that's not cool to throw any sort of object at linesmen or players... we aren't the english. But I'll try to get pics up at some point. If anyone has video, Youtube.com that B!
I was there!! and thank GOD I was there!! Thanx USMNT for playing your guts out!! like somebody posted above, this game alone made my WC. I have TONS of pix and some small videos taken so I can post here, but have no idea how to add attachements. Not under my additional options... A complete 180 degree spin from the 1st game!! this time we stood up the WHOLE game and we were LOUD! the fact that the stadium was kindda enclosed, it trapped the sound and it made it very very loud! The passion that our team had on the field, made us even louder, I think. I've seen some post of people complaining about the fans using the reg. U-S-A chant, but many people don't know the "Everywhere we go" chant so they won't sing, and besides no chant can or will ever be as loud as your standard U-S-A. Something is better than nothing!! If my team can hear my reg. USA chant, than that's all I care and belive you me!!! they sure heard us last night! Keller was awesome w/ the crowd!! at one point (during the game, before a goal kick) he clapped at our side to say "thanx" cuz I KNOW our chants were getting all players pummped up!! THANX TO ALL FANS AT THE STADIUM!! we showed our team and the world that futbol is growing and growing fast in America!!! Any help with attaching video files or pic will be appreciated! thanx!! EDIT: I was recording as we scored yesterday!!! so have "live footage" of our goal! it's on a MiniDV so will have to convert it or something so I can post!!
I thought we rocked the house and the team busted ass to represent US SOCCER as it should be. Very proud of the effort,pity a stupid foul by Pablo prevented us really pushing for what could have been a great win. The only downside was the stadium egress and train station was a dangerous clusterfcuk.There was a serious danger of being trampled. Why do we have less trouble emptying 80K stadiums than this 42K one???
I was at the game with a couple of friends and it is the greatest thing I have ever been apart of. Who could imagine that we would have close to a home game in Europe. Only the players deserve more credit then us, who bleed out there for the USA. I echo the previous post, they are spot on so I wont repeat it! I know that they played hard against the Czechs bthe other night but we seemed inspired. From talking to a bunch of Eurpeans on trains, cabs, and at the Fifa Fan Fest, they feel that we are one of the best teams (and we are)! All gave us high praise. I think we are going to give Ghana a thrashing, whether we go through or not is another question, but at least we restored our dignity. We will be ready for Ghana and outnumber them in the stands. Second in the group means Brazil, but they have looked less then impressive. Bring on Ghana, Bring on Brazil!
just got back to the states this afternoon. was at the game last night and it was a breathtaking experience. it may sound like an overstatement, but it felt like we (the fans) really helped the team pull through. they were dead tired the last 10 minutes and you couldn't help but think that the louder we cheered the longer they were able to keep going. keller kept urging us to cheer - it was great. when we thought that beasley scored the place just about imploded with joy. of course, that was subsequently followed with incredible dissapointment. i cant think of anything new to say - im a bit jetlagged. ive got some photos of fans and what not, will post some time later. bottomline: our team represented, our fans represented and everyone who witnessed it won't soon forget. can't wait for thursday!