But it was still pretty cool to be watching the game in one of the few countries where Americans are popular. They have blocked off two blocks downtown for outside game viewing. I am here with a bunch of Danes that I met climbing the Pyramid of Tirana. They have all become USA fans based on my ability to spout trivia about the players and videos of my boy in a Team USA uniform.
Still, a win would have been better. Now we have to watch Portugal and Ghana praying for a tie, which is almost as bad as watching Ghana and Germany knowing that a German win would be better for the USA. If my friend Gabe gives me permission, I will publish our texts. They show two Americans trying and failing egregiously to root against the Black Stars. (Playing somebody else, that is. We had no problem wishing them ill when they played the Yanks.)
Anyway, it has been a helluva Cup so far. I am stunned and saddened at the rapid ejection of the Furia Roja. I am thrilled at the way the Yanks keep scrapping. (In that last match with Portugal, we simultaneously played crazy rough and mastered the art of the dive.) I love the way Italy might fall along with Portugal ... ¡Viva Chile, Colombia y Costa Rica!
And seriously, you gotta love that Messi goal against Iran. Almost as much as you hate that last-second Portuguese goal against us.
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