Chip Shots: Stay Tuned

The U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) was eliminated Monday evening.

So… Chip out?

No.

I recorded Tuesday afternoon’s Egypt-Argentina match so I could watch it extremely late Tuesday night… like, well, it became Wednesday-morning-kind-of late.

I am a very casual soccer fan, and I’m never at a match unless I’m announcing it. I’ll watch televised matches, though, and when the final score flashed on my phone during my day (that actually ended a few minutes after midnight) at the office, I downed two shots of espresso at my desk before heading home to watch the match.

I stayed tuned.

I smarted briefly following Monday night’s very convincing 4-1 USMNT loss to Belgium’s side, but I have seen enough of France and Argentina make their way through the group and knockout stages (in different styles), that now I want to see a 2022 World Cup Finals rematch.

The Balogun red card saga created enough controversy to keep three cable networks busy for a week. But when the match reached full time, Belgium emphatically settled the argument among pundits and fans the old-fashioned way by scoring more goals than the USMNT en route to its convincing victory.

Based on match reports, for those who have not checked the results from more than 100 hours ago, Belgium beat the USMNT soundly because they were the better team on the pitch, not because of the Balogun controversy. Belgium outshot the U.S. 15–7, put 7 shots on target to the Americans' 2 with their arguably strongest player dominating the match with two goals and an assist.

I don’t think the reversal of the red card elevated the Belgian side’s quality of play, but I do believe the U.S., who did almost everything on the pitch opposite of the way that landed them in the round of 16 in the first place, showed the match’s fans in attendance, and its streamed/televised viewers, what the USMNT’s limits are.

Belgium was the first side the USMNT faced in this tournament with some consistent big-time footballers capable of playing at their highest level when the games really counted, and they didn’t take themselves out of the match… *ahem*

Well, each remaining nations’ sides can say the same as Belgium can.

I’m not going to pile on the USMNT anymore because – casual an observer as I am – I also realize I don’t know enough to even be dangerous, so I’ll get back on track.

The best part of this tournament since I began to spend time watching it has been this.

Once your team is gone, you're free to enjoy soccer without checking your blood pressure every five minutes. Suddenly every match becomes a chance to appreciate brilliance instead of worrying about it eliminating your nation’s side.

I’m used to this because I followed Cleveland sports teams growing up, so I knew it was only a matter of time before my carriage turned back into a pumpkin throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.

France, Spain, England, and Argentina (among the quarterfinalists), are sure to be an interesting watch.

Add Norway’s Erling Haaland, whom Colin Cowherd loosely labeled “soccer’s Gronk,” and we have some fun viewing. Did this guy come from a lab? Make sure you watch Norway face England this afternoon.

America's tournament run ended sooner than we hoped, but the World Cup rolls on.

Stay tuned.

Root for great goals, dramatic upsets, and whichever country’s current title run is giving your neighbors and coworkers the most agita. The beauty of the knockout rounds is that every fan eventually becomes neutral, and as any sport’s playoff or tournament title run moves deeper it’s often most enjoyable when you're just along for the ride.