​SANTA CLARA, Ca. — This is the kind of gritty victory that will drive the country wild for the U.S. men’s national team, especially for those who haven’t already been hooked. Playing with 10 men for the final 36 minutes after a red card to Folarin Balogun, facing a feisty Bosnia and Herzegovina side and an overmatched referee, the USMNT displayed the moxie Americans crave, particularly when it’s worn on a chest that reads U-S-A.
With a 2-0 win on Wednesday, July 1, the USMNT earned its first World Cup knockout-round win since 2002 and only the third in the team’s history. They advanced to the round of 16 to meet Belgium on Monday, July 6 in Seattle. Officially, the victory came from a lockdown defensive effort that stymied Bosnia and Herzegovina, plus Malik Tillman’s 82nd-minute beauty—a free kick curling into the upper corner—to provide a cushion. But it’s the tenacity that will carry them forward and possibly tip the nation’s sports fan base over the edge.
This is a holiday weekend, the Fourth of July looming. By Sunday night, this win could become the lore of the season. They fought as underdogs, with visas home already punched in, while opponents towered over them. That’s the American sports fan creed: when we fall for a team, we go all in. A public already swept up in World Cup fever will likely embrace this squad as if they were family members. Just look at the reaction in Levi’s Stadium. The USMNT spent about five minutes roaming the field to salute the fans as “Country Roads” and “Free Bird” blared. The stands stayed packed, fans on their feet, applauding and cheering. The team had promised to do something special at this World Cup, and, for many, that request has been fulfilled. This editorial originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA just won the kind of game America can’t resist | Opinion