Football Fan Feels Heartbreak Of Fútbol Fans

I have a confession.

Today, I watched soccer.

I'm not proud of it, in fact, I haven't told any of my friends yet. I was bored. 

Really bored.

I had seen on ESPN.com that the US was to be playing Brazil for the Confederations Cup.  I figured that I would just tune in for a quick second.

I ended up watching the whole thing.

I have watched soccer about as much as a fully rule-abiding Christian has tuned into the Playboy channel. Maybe they took a quick glance, but they knew something just didn't feel right, and they turned the channel.

That was me and soccer. It still is. In fact, today I chose my favorite USA Soccer player, Landon Donovan. 

Why? 

His first name rhymes with my first name.

True soccer fan right there, huh?

I tuned in at about the 5th minute of the game, and took a bathroom break at about the 8th minute. Of course, while I'm in there, the US scored.

Now, with my limited knowledge of soccer, I know that goals come as often as Halley's Comet, so I figured I would be watching a bunch of passing with little to no excitement.

I was right, until the 26th minute.

My newly minted favorite player, Landon Donovan, put in a goal that gave the US a two goal lead. I was a little excited, I guess, but nothing overwhelming.

Half-time arrived, and the US was leading.

Awesome.

Then, the first minute into the second half, Brazil scored a goal. 

Believe it or not, it actually sparked some emotion in me. After all, while I am not a soccer fan in the least bit, I do want to see my country win in everything and anything, whether it's soccer, chess, or knitting.

More time goes by, it feels like half a century or so, and Brazil scored again. It's tied, and I'm starting to feel the game slip out of grasp for the US. 

Then, in the 84th minute, Brazil scored again. 3-2 them, with little hope of an American victory. 

When the game was over, and I saw the Brazilian team celebrating their victory, I actually felt a bit sad. I was surprised that I felt this way, but I actually wanted to see the US win the soccer game. 

Before today, I wouldn't have given any thought as to whether or not the US won a soccer game.

I wouldn't have cared. 

But now, after seeing the Americans come so close, I want to see them beat Brazil and win something. I don't know what comes next, but I want them to win it.

Will I watch it? Probably not, I'll stick to football over fútbol. But in my heart of hearts, somewhere in my core, I will be rooting for US Soccer to take home the victory.

United we stand, together we fall. 

Even in soccer.