The critics of American soccer will always be there. Its too easy for them not to be. For decades the United States has snickered at the rest of a world going bonkers over a boring game with a running clock, no commercials and even less scoring. You like that? Fine, take it. We will just take our homeruns and touchdowns and slamdunks and umm, we are fine thank you.
Critics have even more ammunition after the Americans 2-1 defeat at the hands of Ghana Thursday, eliminating the U.S. from the World Cup after a dismal three-game showing. Most Americans cant even locate Ghana on a map (speaking to both our countrys lofty educational standards, as well as the previous insignificance of the African nation on a global scale). If Ive never heard of them and they beat us, we must really stink. Now let me watch the Yankees game.
Columnists have already written that coach Bruce Arena needs to be fired. Others have cried that Arena is just an easy fall guy for a team that played tentatively for two weeks. And still others have screamed that soccer had its chance and fumbled it in the backfield, so please shut up and let us go back to our fantasy baseball teams.
Ironically, the fact that Arenas job security, FIFAs rankings and Thursdays result is national news means the largest battle has already been won. We didnt even realize it had happened. American soccer, as disappointing as this World Cup was, became relevant. Thats all we need to know.
The United States qualified for its first modern World Cup in 1990, a mere 16 years ago. Since then, the Americans have qualified for every one, including a dazzling Elite 8 appearance four years ago in Japan. In comparison, superpowers Brazil, Italy, England and France have been playing elite soccer decades before Freddie Adus parents even knew how baby Freddie Adus were made. In 1990, just getting to the WC was an enormous achievement. In 1994, getting a win on home soil was an epic upset. Four years later in France, getting discarded like a Euro Disney stock option in three games barely blipped on the nations sports radar. Thats whats supposed to happen, dude. Whatever.
The Americans Cinderella ride four years ago, however, changed perception. The U.S. was a legitimate threat internationally. Beating Portugal? Advancing past group play? Topping archrival Mexico in the Sweet 16? Holy crap, we were legit. Add FIFAs top-5 ranking of the U.S. and national attention for stars like Landon Donovan and this was our year to make big noise.
So the abysmal 0-2-1 record, pathetic goal haul and early exit obviously gives every critic another can of lighter fluid, right? Wrong. The mass media talked and wrote and pontificated on it because it mattered. Television ratings were higher, coverage more extensive and expectations loftier than ever before. Front page of the New York Times? ESPN.com filing daily blogs? Lead story on local sportscasts? Soccer became relevant. Yeah, the result was awful. But the games filled bars, newspapers and airwaves. It may well be American soccers darkest moment, but only because the light shining on it was so bright.
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The critics of American soccer will always be there. Its too easy for them not to be. For decades the United States has snickered at the rest of a world going bonkers over a boring game with a running clock, no commercials and even less scoring. You like that? Fine, take it. We will just take our homeruns and touchdowns and slamdunks and umm, we are fine thank you. 
