The stunning 2-0 victory by the United States over Spain ”” the best team in the world ”” is probably the greatest victory by the men’s national soccer team.
And when you think of it, the victory Wednesday is probably the second-biggest upset by an American team, behind only the 1980 Miracle on Ice by the hockey team over the Soviet Union in the Olympics.
Those Soviets were state-supported professionals, beaten by amateurs from the United States. On the field in South Africa on Wednesday, everybody was a professional, although just about every Spanish player is employed at a higher level than his American counterpart.
Vecsey does draw the distinction between “great” and “significant.” In terms of the quality of beaten opposition, I don’t think there is any argument that this is the biggest win in US Soccer history (at least in my lifetime, the 1950 England upset may be bigger). And it’s not insignificant either: the article points out that this win likely helps us in the World Cup draw. Still, I don’t think this game come close to matching the magnitude of the 1994 Columbia win, or the 2002 Portugal stunner.