Very bummed about the World Cup exit, but the team simply didn’t look good. They may have ‘outplayed’ Italy and Ghana in those games, but it’s hard to argue that they don’t deserve to be heading home after this round. It’s pretty clear the US still has a few more years of catching up to do. I had a ton of stuff going through my head during the past couple weeks that I think could make for good blog posts later down the line. For now, I just have to leave you with some photos since we are busy packing to catch a plane back to Seattle in a few hours.
By the way, Nuremberg is a great little city. Of the handful of cities I have now visited in Germany, Neremberg is at the top of the list of places I would recommend visiting. We would have liked to stay another day, but it just wasn’t possible. Cologne was a very cool city as well, but I think the soccer revelers helped that city look livelier than it usually is. Nuremberg seemed like a great place to visit regardless of what was going on around you. Don’t bother with Munich if you ever have to make a choice between these cities.
For the US v Czech game, we had a very difficult time getting to the stadium on time. It wasn’t our fault. We were just trying to use the public transportation to get to the stadium from the city center (4 miles). We gave ourselves over two hours to make this trip and we barely got to our seats before the national anthems were played. When I recounted this story to Chiz, she got worried and made me promise we would give ourselves plenty of time in Nuremberg to get to the stadium. It worked out really well because the Fan Fest was being held about a 25 minute walk from the stadium, so we chilled there for a few hours and took in the scene which Chizzy described as “mini America”. If any of you ever find yourself in a situation where you are trying to defend American ambivalence toward soccer you might remember these photos. I’ve never seen such an enthusiastic patriotic display in my entire life.
A lot more photos...
Saw a ton of families in the US fan ranks. I suppose FIFA likes that.
The entire stadium grounds in Nuremberg were situated on the former Zeppelin Field. It was a huge parade ground that was actively used for Nazi propaganda rallies between 1934 and 1937. US troops blew off the enormous swastika from the top of the grandstand four days after the fall of Nuremberg in 1945. A father paints his son’s chest on the steps of the grandstand.
Just really liked the beard on this guy.
I might be the only person to have captured a photo of these guys.
US had a larger presence, but Ghana fans made a fantastic showing as well. Of course, they also had much better songs and chants than the US. The US has a few in the repertoire, but you rarely get to hear anything other than the U.S.A, U.S.A.
The view from our seats. The overhang was a bit off-putting at first, but it was easily tuned out once the action started.
US corner kick action.
US team members thanking the fans.
Ghana celebrating the victory.
World Cup 2010 is being hosted by South Africa. Start saving some money now and let’s get it done!
US Soccer...it just hurt.
I could write a paper on where yerz trooly thinks we should go with this. But I won't I'll just grind my teeth. I'll just go to a pub with another jersey and pretend that I'm happy. Tears of a Soccer Clown.
I wear my Platini France 10, just cuz I speak un peu, comme un enfant. And Zizou is my age and I've always beena fan. So there
Allez Les Bleus. I guess.
I'm happy that you were able to experience all the WC pagentry Bryan. Must have been something.