Landon Donovan authored the American sports moment of the year just hours ago when he scored the game-winning goal in stoppage time against Algeria, leapfrogging the U.S. team from World Cup elimination to first place in Group C two minutes before the referee blew the final whistle in the last of their group play matches.
Some fans may dismiss that assertion given their proclivities for the Olympics or American sports leagues, but the international impact of Donovan’s follow-up is undeniable: with their backs against the wall, the U.S. team was facing four years of platitudes, of “tough lucks” and “too bad about the refs.” But with the victory and England’s 1-0 victory over Slovenia (useless bastards), the USA will face the second-place team from Group D this weekend, an opportunity to reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup for only the second time (the first was in 2002 following a victory over Mexico).
As for Donovan, it’s long past the time when American fans can dismiss him as “Landycakes,” the talented player who wilted on the international stage. Not only did Donovan set up the Jozy Altidore shot that led to his goal, he also sparked the U.S.’s comeback against Slovenia, finally plied his trade in the English Premiere League this year, and effectively led the U.S. attack in heroic performances in this World Cup and the Confederations Cup last year. Carlos Bocanegra may wear the captain’s arm band, but Landon Donovan has proven himself worthy of it.
Now then. Time to get this celebration started.
I don’t care if it’s hokey or overdone, let’s roll the Lee Greenwood, bitches:
See you Saturday, hopefully-not-Germany!
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That’s Shakey music!
Germany in a steel-cage WW2 rematch?
Germany v. USA – THIS TIME IT’S FOR KEEPS!
Uh, this might still top it.
[www.youtube.com]
Our final solution should be to exterminate the Germans!
Looks like it’s going to be Ghana the birthplace of ghanarhea.
Germany v. England! I hope Germany wears their throwback uni’s: black shorts, brown shirts, red armbands.
Whoa whoa whoa, Zach Parise’s game-tying goal in the last seconds of the gold medal game is better than this.
/was not expecting a Lobster Dog appearance!
hey, bacon rules, i like you.
The goal was not scored in extra time, it was scored in stoppage time.
There is no extra time in group stage matches!
Hey concerned european, let me know which country you’re from specifically so I can talk about your nation’s shortcomings in international football. Or just in general. Probably just in general.
Landon Donovan looks like Frodo dropping the ring into Mount Doom.
Stallone would’ve stopped that ball.
I laughed my ass off at the Lobster Dog cameo. Well done.
“…the quarterfinals of the World Cup for only the second time (the first was in 2002 following a victory over Mexico).”
Actually, it is the third time. In the first World Cup in 1930 the USA made it to the semi-finals.
@Matt: I’m from Portugal. There’s plenty to mock. And you would, if you knew anything about it. And I would be surprised, if you did.
There’s no football in Portugal. Unless you’re calling ‘football’ to OUR football.
Are you?
I’d be so happy.
I knew I had read something about Portugal in WL:
[withleather.uproxx.com]
This would make us declare war to the USA, if we weren’t a country of sissies.
What the fuck is a Portugal?
Honorable mention: Dempsey getting robbed (once by the ref, thrice by the keeper) and bloodied. That could help butch up this sport a little, huh?
This team does embody the American Spriit, either whine about injustice or do something the F*** about it, and the did dammit! Now we need to revenge the dismal showing we had against Ghanarhea from the last World Cup.
As soon as I saw Lobster Dog, I knew Matt wrote this post.
Matt wrote the post, but he didn’t make the GIF.
the best part of that .gif for me (as a Canadian) is the two unimpressed well-dressed Pakistanis. Oh Pakis, what will it take to make you love the USA? What’s that? An entry Visa?
*tussles their hair*
no