Go Ahead and Celebrate!

Yes, Algeria is ranked 30th in the world according to FIFA, and the USA is ranked 14th. The USA, along with England, were favorites to advance out of group play. We as a nation expected, rightfully, that we would move on. But now there seems to be a dilemma regarding the appropriate response to the United States' 1-0 win over Algeria. I say: get excited, but make sure it's for the right thing.


Getting a win in the World Cup is a difficult task, no matter the opponent, but certainly there are games that you should win. The US should have won against Algeria, and they did. They fulfilled expectations, and for that I am excited, but not ecstatic. I expected the US to win, and I expected them to move on. Advancing to the knockout stages is more of an accomplishment than defeating Algeria. I'll go pretty crazy for that, because it's a pretty big deal. But bigger deals are yet to come, so that alone shouldn't elicit the emotions that poured as a result of the game.

The result isn't the reason -- it's how. A breakthrough goal in the first minute of stoppage time, after so many near-misses and (another) goal taken away. The drama in that moment is what brought out the response that is filling the television and radio airwaves. Had Dempsey's goal been allowed and the US gone on to win 2-0 or something of the sort, you would see more of what I described before: excitement, but nothing over the top. The US would have fulfilled the expectations laid out before them, and the public at-large would be proud. But after the thrilling tie against England, the gritty second-half comeback and outrage over the disallowed goal against Slovenia, and the other disallowed goal and constant pressure with no breakthrough for so long against Algeria, it was time to let all of those emotions loose on Wednesday.

So revel in the moment, celebrate the drama of the goal, rejoice that the United States of America is moving on in the World Cup, but get ready for Saturday. Advancing in the knockout rounds is an even greater accomplishment. And if you thought the drama today was good, get ready for something else. No draws allowed, there's going to be extra-time goals and penalty shootouts where we're headed. It's going to be fun, and in the words of American Hero Landon Donovan, we're not done yet.