Robert Moenhke and Dylan Davis both grew up in La Center.
They’ve been playing soccer for what they estimate is about 15 years, and on Sunday they got a group of friends to join them at the Buffalo Wild Wings in Hazel Dell to watch the World Cup.
But Robert is a little bit clearer when he’s asked why he’s here.
“I’m here to watch the USA beat Portugal,” says Robert.
The United States is about to kick off in its second game of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Manaus, Brazil in the heart of the Amazon jungle. The flies have been on poor Jeremy Schaap all day.
American fans here are living true to the chant of the American Outlaws, the supporters group of the U.S. National Team:
I believe that we will win.
I believe that we will win.
• • •
Jerry Case was the first person to say anything to us as he was smoking an electronic cigarette.
“Gotta root on Portugal,” he said with great amusement while wearing a red, white and blue polo shirt that had the flag and bald eagles all over it, as if it had come straight out of the introduction to the Colbert Report.
“I’ve had it for about four or five years. I wear it on the Fourth of July only. But today it was appropriate. The fact that the U.S. actually has a team at this level that’s competing and not just showing up makes it more fun to be a fan.”
And then, the United States had a mistake on the back line of their defense.
Geoff Cameron mistimed a clearance attempt and it ended up on the right foot of Portugal’s winger Nani, who plays professionally for Manchester United.
“Fortunately we got the late goal (against Ghana on Monday) which makes this game so much more important. Now we’re down 1-nil. There’s a lot of time to go,” Case said.
Down 1-0, there was no time for cynicism for the American fans today.
I believe that we will win.
• • •
On the ESPN broadcast, they showed scenes from Kansas City and New York and Chicago. Parks packed with American supporters.
I was in Jacksonville, Fla., during my vacation when John Brooks made his forever famous header, watching with a college buddy of mine. The fans flooded out of — and into for the party after — Lynch’s Irish pub on the beach in Jacksonville. High fives and USA chants for everyone.
Down 1-0 at half time, Jennifer Macintosh of Vancouver felt it was that game that still gave her belief today. USA was attacking well and Tim Howard had some magical saves to buoy spirits, too.
“I think after the first game when we got that second goal late and then watching Ghana play well against Germany kind of made people believe,” she said.
I believe that we will win.
• • •
Their belief was rewarded in the second half.
Midfielder Jermaine Jones sent a parabolic missile into the right corner of the goal to tie the game in the 64th minute.
They chanted “USA! USA! USA!”
Then in the 81st minute Seattle-born DeAndre Yedlin charged down the right flank — which had been open to U.S. attackers all night — and sent in a complicated ball. Michael Bradley got his foot on it but caromed to Graham Zusi who cleverly played it back to Clint Dempsey: 2-1.
“USA! USA! USA!”
They could taste getting to the knockout stage. Strangers celebrating with strangers. They could taste getting out of the group of death.
All game long, the fans here were predictably hard on Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, the World’s best player in 2013 according to FIFA.
“Way to go! Nice cross! Nice hair!”
And perhaps other insults that aren’t fit to print.
We are in a bar, after all.
And finally, he provided a moment of magic. Although if you were supporting the United States, it was some kind of dark art.
A wicked cross off his right foot precisely onto the head substitute Silvestre Varela.
The ball and Varela beat the United States defenders back on defense — 94:33 on the clock when the plug got pulled on the party. 27 seconds away from advancing.
Robert had raised his American scarf with pride after both American goals and now he pulled it down on his head as if to try and hold onto the result that was so close, but was ripped away.
• • •
I met up with Jerry again outside on my way out.
“We only need to win or draw against Germany and then we’re in,” he followed up, more positively.
There were no people walking out giving strangers high fives.
Today they felt the pain.
The type of pain that can only come from belief.
I believe that we will win.
