USMNT performance just what World Cup needed | Opinion
Nancy ArmourINGLEWOOD, CA — Now this is how you throw a party.
The U.S. men’s national team opened the World Cup with a rollicking performance that will electrify fans across the country and erase a little bit of the stench that’s surrounded the tournament. Folarin Balogun was brilliant, Christian Pulisic was as exceptional as advertised and the USMNT's 4-1 win showed that maybe, just maybe, they can do something special in this tournament.
It doesn’t excuse the ugliness and greed that’s marked the lead-up to this World Cup, only the second men’s tournament on home soil. But it makes it a whole lot easier for U.S. fans to get enthused about the next five weeks — and get behind the USMNT.
After days of embarrassing headlines, the USMNT gave fans reason to cheer. At full throat.
"Being in America, having this crowd around us, seeing the red, white and blue, all our red-and-white striped shirts in the crowd, it's awesome," Pulisic said. "I mean, hearing the 'U-S-A' chants, it's really pushing us forward. So we just hope it continues like that."
Balogun had a brace in the first half, the first U.S. man to score two goals in a World Cup game in almost 100 years, and the Americans played with an assertiveness and creativity rarely seen from the USMNT. That’s not a knock. It’s just that grind-it-out is usually more of the USMNT’s style.
Not on this night.
The Americans came out flying, with Pulisic setting the tone. In the seventh minute, he split two Paraguayan defenders before deftly crossing to Weston McKennie in front of the goal. McKennie’s shot deflected in off Damian Bobadilla.
That it was an own goal didn’t matter. For soccer to have another explosion in growth from this tournament, the people who don’t know Lionel Messi from the mess in their kitchen need to be entertained. That means goals and "did you see that?" plays.
The USMNT gave them both.
"We have the ability to play and do the things that we do on the ball, score goals, but today just the effort, everything was there," Pulisic said. "So to me, not a huge surprise, but the things were definitely clicking and it's really nice."
With the exception of a Paraguay goal in the 73rd minute that was probably a loss of focus more than anything, the Americans dominated this game. They easily could have scored another six or seven goals. And the ones Balogun did score were a thing of beauty.
Balogun, who chose to play for the USMNT over England, had a goal in the 28th minute waved off because Pulisic was offside. No matter. Three minutes later, Antonee Robinson made a nice run up the sideline before dishing to Pulisic, who found Balogun in front of the goal. Balogun didn’t hesitate, sending the ball rocketing into the net off his instep for a 2-0 lead.
His second goal was even more exquisite. He briefly lost the ball on a challenge by a Paraguayan defender, only to get control of it again and bury it in the upper corner of the net.
"It's a dreamy night," Balogun said.
Dreamy, indeed. If this kind of performance doesn’t excite you, and if that doesn’t make you want to see more of this group, then you’re just never going to get it.
"They might have gotten spoiled if they watched the game tonight. Usually we don't get five goals in a game," defender Chris Richards said with a laugh. "But, regardless, if we can keep playing like that, keep putting a lot of goals in the back of the net, we're going to be a tough team to play this tournament."
The USMNT probably won’t win the World Cup. Though, as coach Mauricio Pochettino likes to say, why not them?
But the USMNT rescued the tournament, bringing back the wonder and fun that makes the World Cup so special. That's a victory in itself.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
