With the Fourth of July approaching I was feeling awfully patriotic on Sunday, especially at around 3 p.m. The U.S. national soccer team was on the verge of an historic victory over Brazil. 

And then, roughly 45 minutes later, I felt deflated. I was left grumbling, “When, oh when, will the United States ever emerge as a dominant power on the world stage?”

Okay, so I’m making a joke. The United States, these days, seems to rule the world in nearly every category except soccer. 

So lowly is this sport still in this country that we continue to cling to the odd word “soccer.” We reserve the proper name, football, for that other sport played by the mammoth men in helmets and oversized shoulder pads.

My fellow Americans, this is a shame. This past Sunday should have been a day of national celebration – at least until the 85th minute, when Brazil took the lead for good. 

Up to that point, you could not have written a Hollywood script any better.  

For us Irish Americans, that fact that two lads named Dempsey and Donovan were at the center of the story is even more reason to cheer.

And for us Irish Americans who also spend a lot of time talking to the Irish from the other side of the Atlantic, the fact that the U.S. soccer team is currently ranked number 14 in the world, while the Republic of Ireland stands at number 34, could make for some very, shall we say, emotional conversations around the barbecue this weekend.

Of course, this probably won’t happen. Because, while the Irish generally live and die with their, um, soccer team, Americans are more likely to argue about lawnmowers or politics or the enduring legacy of TV pitchman Billy Mays.

Anything but that game with the guys kicking the ball around!

Sadly, if this past week didn’t change how people in the U.S. feel about soccer, then it’s not likely to change any time soon.

That said, Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan more than earned their spot in the pantheon of Irish American heroes. 

Why was this such a big deal?

Consider, for a moment, exactly what transpired this past week at the FIFA Confederations Tournament in South Africa.

Soccer, as always, is a sport most beloved by Americans when played by their five-year-olds, mainly so they can run around and get tired. Fittingly, the U.S. men’s soccer team initially played like boys among men. They lost to traditional powerhouse nations Brazil and Italy in two matches by a combined score of 6–1.

Then came a dominating performance over Egypt, which allowed the U.S. (despite two losses in three matches) to advance to the next round of play. 

In their way stood Spain, which had won all three of their earlier matches by a score of 8-0.

What did Donovan, Dempsey and the rest of the boys do? They went out and clobbered the Spaniards, 2-0.

Next up, in the title match, were the mighty Brazilians. They have won five World Cups in their storied history, most recently in 2002. 

In a matter of days, the U.S. soccer team had gone from a club of weak also-rans to the brink of history. 

If ever the moment had arrived to declare that the U.S. soccer team could play with the big boys, this was it.

Then came perhaps the best 45 minutes of soccer in U.S. history.

Dempsey, out of Texas (who also plays for Fulham in the Premier League in England), scored the first goal of the match on a deflection. 

Then, Donovan, who has become the heart and soul of U.S. soccer, passed off, then received the ball at the top of the penalty area, and after some fancy footwork, scored a blistering goal.

At halftime the Yanks were up 2-0. Was this revenge for the July 4, 1994 American loss to Brazil in the World Cup, which was played in the U.S.?

No, because once the second half started, it looked as if the Brazilians were playing with 35 men. It was a massacre. 

The Brazilians were relentless, constantly sending the ball and fleet-footed men in the direction of U.S. goaltender Tim Howard.

The U.S. soccer team had come far. But not far enough.

Then again, there’s always the World Cup in 2010. 

Until then, this 4th of July, raise your glass to Dempsey and Donovan. Someday, maybe they’ll even give the Irish national team a helping hand.