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World Cup: The U.S Becomes Strangely Lovable

By Chris Matyszczyk

June 24, 2010 / 10:01 AM EDT / CBS News

American soccer is honest, their celebrations unrestrained and untainted by preening, and their modesty and humanity verges on the beguiling, Chris Matyszczyk says. AP

Americans have a love complex.

For all the armies, the power and the burgers, Americans would really rather prefer it the world would just wrap them in its arms and give them a hug.

Yes, I can hear you scoffing.

But please consider that America makes the schmalziest TV commercials in the world for a reason.

And that it may well have the schmalziest team in the World Cup.

After defeating Algeria 1-0 in the last breaths of an enthralling game, did the U.S star, Landon Donovan, offer bestial grunts and a vow of supremacy? Did he make reference to shock, awe, kicking and asses?

Not quite.

He offered tears, a promise that Americans never give up and a sweet hello to Bianca Kajlich.

Is she his girlfriend? His wife, perhaps?

No, she's the star of CBS show "Rules of Engagement".

Oh, and Donovan's ex-wife.

Contrast this with tales, for example, of former England captain John Terry, who, before this World Cup was revealed to have been involved with teammate Wayne Bridge's girlfriend.

Bridge refused to play for England again as long as Terry was there. Terry was stripped of the England captaincy.

In order to alter his image, Terry attempted to organize a player mutiny against the coach in the days running up to Wednesday's match against Slovenia.

Take the French. Wait, someone already has.

They were a shambling, dysfunctional embarrassment, the sporting equivalent of the Real Housewives of New Jersey.

Even before the World Cup, they were embroiled in a scandal involving underage sex.

Then there was their very presence being tainted by the way they qualified for these finals. With two ugly, obvious handballs by their then captain, Thierry Henry.

The U.S presents a slightly surprising and very wonderful contrast to the venal, the sleazy, the privileged and the arrogant.

And these are characteristics that some around the world have just occasionally tossed America's way.

They have players like Jay DeMerit, who plies his trade and plays just the same efficient way in England for a team called Watford.

This would be the equivalent of playing baseball for the Las Vegas 51s.

But not as good.

Indeed, they have any number of players who have traveled to Europe in order to find a place, first-rate or slightly less, where they can prove themselves as players, teammates and, the ones lucky enough to play in England, drinkers.

They understand the discomfort of hardship and the comfort of honesty.

And they understand coming from behind.

This is a team that has a goalkeeper with Tourette's who says that if he was given the choice to have it or not, he would choose to have the condition.

He claims it helps him. There's love for you.

Oh, they're not angels. Clint Dempsey can leave an elbow elevated with the best of them. Michael Bradley is not exactly shy in the tackle.

But this U.S team is doing a far better job of showing the world the positive sides of American character than most U.S. ambassadors, corporate windbags, tourists, students, bands or brands.

The U.S. team's soap opera is one in which no one dies, no one seems to be unfaithful, only the bad guys double-cross the good guys and everyone just might believe in life's essential goodness.

This is as if Mr. Deedes went to Washington, found 22 other good Deedes and took them all with him to South Africa.

Their football is honest, their celebrations unrestrained and untainted by preening, and their modesty and humanity verges on the beguiling.

Wednesday in South Africa, an Algerian player, Rafik Saifi, slapped a female journalist in the face in front of a dozen people.

Wednesday at Wimbledon, United States tennis player, James Blake got into a row with ESPN commentator, Pam Shriver. While he was playing.

Wednesday in the World Cup, the U.S. football team added to a growing reputation for so much that is good, lovable and, as Landon Donovan reminded the post-match interviewer, American.

Don't you just want to give them a hug?

Chris Matyszczyk is an award-winning creative director who advises major corporations on content creation and marketing, and an avid sports fan. He is also the author of the popular CNET blog Technically Incorrect.