Look what the run of the American team has done in the US:
www.dailysoccer.com
Tired but happy, US fans say goodbye to World Cup dream
COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 21 (AFP)
Red, white and blue clad, flag-waving fans came to Columbus Crew Stadium early and stayed to the bittersweet end Friday as supporters across the nation saw the US dream run at the World Cup come to an end.
In Columbus, where first hundreds, then thousands turned out at the local Major League Soccer club's ground to watch the match on giant televisions, the ovation was sincere despite the 1-0 defeat by Germany.
"I'm disappointed now that it's over," said 41-year-old Columbus resident James Lewison.
"But if you look at the last time (France, 1998), we were dead last. We would have dealt with the devil to get this far."
The first fans arrived in the stadium parking lot nearly 19 hours before the 0730 kickoff. By midnight, the area was filled with tailgaters, pick-up soccer games, alcohol and, of course, chants of USA! USA!
By game time, an estimated 7,500 people were on hand. The turnout topped the 4,000 who came at 0230 Monday to see the US beat Mexico.
"This is just insane," Crew coach Greg Andrulis said from his spot on the lawn outside the stadium where he watched the second half on a 15 by 17-foot screen.
There were at least 30 people at the ground for every match, no matter the early-morning hour. Crew officials had no idea what to expect when it opened the doors for the World Cup's first match May 31 between Senegal and France.
They were surprised when 250 showed up. As the crowds grew for the US matches, changes were made.
At least six big-screen televisions were added to the Stadium Club and a giant mobile TV was placed outside the club. Also, the overflow could watch on the stadium's video board.
That's where Matt Neighbor, 29, and his sister-in-law, Marri Andrews watched the game unfold. They drove more than an hour from Lancaster, Ohio, after getting up at 5 a.m. to paint the Stars and Stripes on their faces.
"We had to be here," Neighbor said. "We heard about the great crowd and the great atmosphere."
For the unexpected quarter-final, the scene was mirrored in Washington, where RFK Stadium -- one of the venues of the 1994 World Cup -- was packed with some 4,000 raucous fans.
In Columbus, Crew striker Brian McBride and ex-Crew goalkeeper Brad Friedel drew the loudest cheers, but the crowd fell silent when Germany took a 1-0 lead and let out a collective gasp when a Tony Sanneh header just missed being the equalizer in the 89th minute.
"This was an experience I'll never forget," said 30-year-old Ryan Dolan. He and his father, Chris Dolan, 57, and friend Nick Lewis, 23, drove 1,200 miles from the Fort Meyers, Florida, area just to share the moment with thousands of soccer fans.
"To see this many people together to watch a soccer game is more than I could have imagined. This is the place to be."
In New York, all-night bars and early morning eateries catered to those eager to treat their football fever, even if the bug was recently acquired.
"I'm not familiar with soccer, but I got caught up and I wanted to watch the game because it's historic for the United States, going so deep into this tournament," said stockbroker Allan Isenberg, who stopped in at the Third and Long sports bar on his way to work on Wall Street.
Crowds at many bars included England and Brazil fans who stayed on after watching Brazil's 2-1 win in their quarter-final. While the odd US jersey was in evidence, they were usually outnumbered by English and Brazilian colors.
At the One and One bar, Irish owner Terry Dunne had to close for an hour between the two matches to clear up after disgruntled England fans.
The place was packed for the US match, both with diehard football fans and the curious.
"I don't know anything about soccer, but I've gotten myself involved in this over the past two weeks and I just wanted to be here to watch the quarter-finals," said Veena Jain, a nurse from Brooklyn.
Accountant Bruce Carter has long followed the fortunes of the US side and was disappointed and encouraged at the same time by the American showing.
"I have played soccer from my early days at school, and I am so proud of how far the Americans have got in this tournament, where the best in the world compete," he said.
"I thought we had plenty of chances to either level or win the game in the second half, but our inexperience showed when the ball got into the box and we didn't have the experience to finish it off."
Some of the fans at RFK had pulled an all-nighter to catch the quarter-final double header.
"We saw Brazil at The Diner, in Adams Morgan. We drank some whisky and kicked a ball in the parking lot here to stay awake," said Simeon Stancioff.
"I've watched 80% of the games, the rest I recorded. It has really been a waking up issue, since most of the games are at 0230 and 0730. I usually take a nap when I get home from work. I've only taken a sick day off work so far."
Steve Easley was thrilled to be able to watch the match with so many other supporters.
"Most people here haven't missed a single game, they didn't hop on the band-wagon like some have, ever since the US has been doing well. There's a lot more of a following than you'd think. It's a great thing the city finally provided a place to see a game. I've been watching most of the games so far at a soccer bar in Arlington, Virginia."
State Department employee Patrick Murphy was also happy not to be tip-toeing out to a bar in the wee hours to see the big match. After cheering on the US with his wife and kids, he was heading off to work.
"I've got my suit in the car," the shorts-clad Murphy said.
strs/ger/bb/dj
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this WC has had a huge benefit for football in the US and for the US NT
congratulations
