US Men On The Road to Russia
First Stop, Commerce City…
By Bob Boyle
Special to the GPHN
If there was one cardinal rule that every true sports addict must live by, it would be the following: Never, ever, give up on your team. – Bleacher Report

The Beautiful Game is no stranger to controversy. Yet communities and fans alike can do worse than soccer to break down artificial walls and bring people together. Case in point: FIFA World Cup Russia 2018.
Every four years, a chosen host nation prepares its venues and infrastructure as 211 national teams vie to earn the right to compete for the title of World Champion. Men’s national soccer teams around the globe are currently battling it out in their respective regions to earn one of 32 final spots at the top of the game in the 2018 World Cup tournament, hosted by Russia. On July 15, 2018, more than one billion people will tune in and watch the World Cup final in Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow.

The United States Men’s National Soccer Team hits the halfway point of its final round of World Cup Qualifying action when it hosts regional upstart Trinidad and Tobago (pop. 1.36 million) this June 8 right here in Colorado, at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City.
The venue is U.S. home base for Team USA’s legendary “Secretary of Defense” and Colorado Rapids Goalkeeper, Tim Howard. In March, Howard and his U.S. teammates avenged two opening losses to Mexico and Costa Rica in November (and subsequent firing of five-year U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann) by earning a clinical 6-0 home win over Honduras and battling to a 1-1 decision on the road at Panama.
The U.S. men currently sit in fourth place in the six-team final round group known to soccer fans as “The Hex,” just one point behind Panama and setting the stage for the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (“CONCACAF”) region’s third automatic World Cup berth. Trinidad and Tobago currently sits in sixth place.
While this match is being played in the U.S., the most famous meeting between the two nations came in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on November 19, 1989 when Paul Caligiuri’s “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” secured a 1-0 win for the U.S. and clinched its first World Cup berth since 1950.
Back to the future
I don’t want to blow a lot of hot air … but I’m pretty successful at what I do. There’s reasons for it. – Bruce Arena
When it comes to winning soccer games and defying the critics, Coach Bruce Arena has his reasons and his results.
Arena arrived for his second U.S. national team tour of duty on November 22, 2016 with a shot at qualifying for his third World Cup having guided Team USA to a quarterfinal berth in 2002 — the team’s best finish in 72 years and since – and losing 1-0 against eventual finalists and perennial world soccer power Germany.
Drawn into one of the toughest groups at the 2006 World Cup, a nine-man U.S. squad earned one of the most remarkable results in its history when they battled to a 1-1 result with eventual world champions Italy in the tournament’s first round. A 2-1 defeat to Ghana saw the U.S. men exit the tournament, ending Arena’s eight years in charge of the National Team.
If U.S. results at international competitions over the years is any indication of future performance, there will be the usual American grit, determination and athleticism on display this month in Commerce City.
And if you track the buzz across even the most cynical U.S. national team supporter circles and media, many fans and pundits are expecting – if not demanding – more than a few glimpses of an emerging new style of play that is youthful, creative and uniquely American in color, fight and will to deliver results (e.g. goals and points to secure World Cup qualification).
In any case, the team will use Colorado’s altitude to its advantage both as a tactic for dictating the play, pace and outcome of the Trinidad and Tobago (“Soca Warriors”) game and as strategic preparation for its next qualifier game against regional rival and fútbol powerhouse Mexico (“El Tri”) on June 11 at Estadio Azteca (alt. 7,200 ft.) in Mexico City.
“We think that we have a better chance of being acclimatized with two weeks of training and following procedures that we think will help our players adjust,” Arena said. “We want to have our best chance to leave Mexico City and Denver with some points.”
It’s all about the journey
“I’m pretty sure if somebody said to me in ’93 or ’94, this is what it could look like in 20 years, I would take where we are in a heartbeat.” – Sunil Gulati
United States Soccer Federation (USSF) President Sunil Gulati is quick to rattle off the many successes US Soccer has seen in the past 20 years.
“Now that doesn’t mean I’m satisfied with where we are — we still have long way to go — but you look at all that we’ve done and not a lot of countries did that much in 20 years. The progress that has been made is pretty extraordinary,” said Gulati, who also serves on the executive committee of FIFA, soccer’s international governing body. “If we can match that rate of improvement over the next 20 years, we’ll be in a pretty incredible place.”
Among the most appealing qualities of soccer is the fact that anything is possible on any given day, where the game is fertile ground for the proverbial underdog to prevail. As the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup final (2006), the Soca Warriors trump all contenders for “top underdog” status. Following the 2006 World Cup, where they were the only team in the tournament not to score a goal, huge crowds gathered at Trinidad and Tobago’s Piarco airport and along the roads into the capital.
“The team has done for Trinidad and Tobago what many politicians have failed to do,” said former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Patrick Manning, “bringing together people of every race, class and persuasion.”
Bruce Arena’s men will be prepared and fully aware of the David and Goliath scenario they inherit on June 8. American players and supporters know the Soca Warriors will have a thing or two to show and tell about their own “incredible place” when they take the field in Commerce City.
As for reasons for bringing people together, perhaps there are a few to be found in the song “Jah Jah Team” by Trinidadian musician Maximus Dan:
Let me see the players
Let me see the players on Jah Jah team
One goal, one mission, one dream, one vision
One God, one kingdom, so make your decision
Come join the legion to crush the demons
Get back yuh freedom, liberate yuh nation
All you got to do is play for the true King
Bob Boyle is a Park Hill resident, dad, soccer coach, board member and youth sports advocate (see sidebar for local soccer events, venues and resources). Inquiries and youth sports story ideas are welcome and appreciated via email at reboyle7@gmail.com.
Local Soccer Events and Resources
4th Annual Summer Soccer and a Movie Camp @ Denver East High School and Sie Film Center.
Ages 6–11, All Levels. Participants play games and learn basic soccer skills with experienced and licensed soccer coaches at East High School in the mornings, followed by lunch and a 10-minute walk to the Sie Film Center for soccer-inspired films. Scholarships and financial assistance available. Proceeds benefit America SCORES Denver and 303FUTSAL. June 19–23. For more information and registration info please visit [register] @ soccerelectric.com
1st Annual CAMPLIFY @ McAuliffe International School, Smiley Campus. Ages 6-11, All Levels.
Participants play street soccer/futsal games and learn basic soccer skills with experienced and licensed local coaches in the mornings, followed by lunch and a closely supervised transition to classrooms in the afternoons for innovative, fun-based, age-appropriate art and STEM activities with professional teachers/leaders. Scholarships and financial assistance available. Proceeds benefit McAuliffe International School and 303FUTSAL. June 26-30. For more information and registration visit [register] @ soccerelectric.com
Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club Soccer for Success is the United States Soccer Foundation’s youth development program
Uses soccer as a tool to combat childhood obesity and promote healthy lifestyles for children in underserved urban communities. For more information, including information on soccer camps and its new 41,000 sq. ft. indoor facility in the heart of Denver, visit rapidsyouthsoccer.org.
America SCORES Denver @ americascoresdenver.org
Provides innovative soccer, poetry and service learning programming to nearly 320 DPS elementary school students. Over the course of the school year, poet-athletes will engage in more than 60 hours of poetry workshops and engage in more than 60 hours of physical activity through soccer and health games.
The Soccer Fields In The City Collaborative
A forum of youth sports advocates, schools and other community leaders working to co-develop innovative multi-sport programming, facility solutions and other resources to improve access to developmentally appropriate sports opportunities for all kids. Short impact video and project information @ soccerelectric.com
FootGolf
Is now offered four times a week at Park Hill Golf Club. The front nine holes are used exclusively for FootGolf on nights it is offered. 18 FootGolf holes are arranged in that space, and the holes are shorter than those designed for regular golf. FootGolfers can rent a soccer ball and no special gear is required.
3 Lions World Football Pub @ threelionsdenver.com
Football and local pubs go hand in hand the world over, and the Three Lions is no exception. There is nothing quite like “heading down to your local for a pint of fine ale, some comforting food and friendship, and a bit of footy on the telly.”
The Abbey Tavern @ theabbeytaverndenver.com
The Colorado home for Liverpool FC and all its supporters. We are the Colorado Reds, we show every game live regardless of time. It is a non-exclusive club, all are welcome, come sing your songs with your people.