Cheer at last from Bradley after thrilling win
Reuters - Wednesday 23 June 2010, 19:03
LONDON - United States coach Bob Bradley,
who has scowled his way through much of the World Cup, allowed
himself a rare smile on Wednesday when he contemplated the
impact his side's success was having on the sport back home.
In his most animated comments following his side's last gasp
1-0 victory over Algeria which sent them through to the next
round, Bradley said his players had been moved by their fans'
strength of support.
"One of the nicest things tonight was when we were coming to
the stadium, the street was lined with U.S. supporters, waving
flags, dressed up, chanting USA and knocking on the bus," he
said, with a slight smile on his face.
"We don't always have that. To have that in the World Cup in
South Africa, I think I can speak on behalf of all the players,
that was a really special feeling.
"And to finish tonight with a great win to go hand in hand
with the kind of support we do have, it shows that we are making
big steps."
Soccer is still a growing sport in the United States, having
to compete with the more high profile basketball, baseball and
American football, but viewing figures during the month-long
tournament are almost double those who tuned in four years ago.
The U.S. soccer team's opening game against England drew
almost 17 million viewers between English and Spanish-language
channels, making it the country's most viewed first-round World
Cup match ever.
The match on Wednesday was followed by thousands of U.S.
fans in the stadium dressed in red, white and blue, who chanted
throughout the match, making themselves heard over the din of
the vuvuzela trumpets.
Landon Donovan, for years the pin-up boy of U.S. soccer,
said the reaction from their fans would change forever the way
he looked at the game.
"I used to see this game we played as just a game and I
think I've realised, particularly at this tournament, that it's
more than that," he said, after scoring the injury-time winner
in a match watched by former President Bill Clinton.
"It's an opportunity to inspire, and not only inspire other
people but inspire yourself. I think tonight is going to do a
lot more for me and other people than maybe we realise."
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