FanNation - The Republic of Sport

While we are all on the edge of our seats during the four quarterfinal games for EuroCup, I was more concerned about another game. Second-leg of a World Cup qualifier between El Salvador and Panama.
The second round was full of mismatches and no game was close. Of all these second round games, only El Salvador and Panama had parity. I read speculation about how CONCACAF wanted to get rid of ESV as early as possible because we are just crazy. I'll post a blog on the structure of the CONCACAF qualifying for the third round.
Quick recap. Panama won the first leg in Panama 1-0. The second-leg was in Estadio Cuscatlan, a place where Mexico hates playing. As a Salvadoran, all we want is to see El Salvador playing big games again and push for a 2010 spot. In the second leg, Panama scored first. So now El Salvador has to score three goals. As the game went on, it seemed once again ESV would be out early in qualifying for the third straight time. El Salvador scored a goal in the 74th then tied with a penalty a few minutes later. Then in the 86th, a wonder goal and El Salvador qualifies! I'm a passionate football fan, but for a few teams: El Salvador, USA, Real Madrid. But when it comes to El Salvador, its something else. When El Salvador scored that third goal to go to the next round, I lost it. I went crazy. I jumping and yelling. I even wanted to cry because it was so amazing. We Salvees get really emotional. Salvadoran football has been on a low for the past 10 years and this victory gave us hope of better things to come.
This got me thinking about how far being a USA football fan has become. I remember watching USA games at the Rose Bowl in the mid-1990s in the aftermath of the 1994 World Cup. I remember that back then, every single goal was cherished. And a win was celebrated. Now, it seems that we have too high expectations for our American boys. High expectations is not a bad thing, it just seems that American football fans (I'm guilty of it) have become too cynical. About our players, about our performances. I'm still trying to figure this out. Its as if we expect a World Cup soon and we forget to have fun and enjoy football. Have you guys seen a change of American football fans over the years?
Watching El Salvador come from behind and win reminded me how beautiful the sport is. Even if we had loss, the effort was worth applauding for. Also, even after watching the great goals from the Euros, the El Salvador game reminded me how much a goal should be cherished. Now El Salvador may have a chance. They have to get past the 3rd round to get to the Hexagonal where it gets fun. USA and Mexico should get the first two slots. I want to say Canada to get the third but they're in a tough group to get to the Hexagonal (w/ Honduras and Jamaica). I will blog on this another time. Honduras is strong. Costa Rica's time has passed. El Salvador could possibly get the 3rd or 4th spot. I'm speaking out of optimism from the past game, which is another feature of football I haven't felt in a long time. Believing that anything can happen.