THREE cheers for the red, white and blue and all that jazz. Last night, to a backdrop of pulsating chants of: "USA - USA - USA" the world's greatest nation finally "got" soccer. OK, they lost to Belgium, but, Jurgen Klinsmann's men pushed them all the way, before going down to the sort of glorious failure we Scots used to hold the copyright on.
But, the world of football has changed for ever, Uncle Sam has got his act together, and we had better watch out.
Klinsmann always was a class act, he even dived with panache; and he has worked a miracle for his adopted nation. And, as someone who always believed he got a bum deal from the stumblebums at Hampden, it was nice to see we Berti McVogts's background role being recognised.
USA went out in a blaze of glory, now, we can relax, draw breath and look forward to four, on-paper, cracking quarter-finals.
WE NEED not wonder what Lionel Messi would be like in a good team; we have enough evidence of that from his club form with Barca. However, for all the marvellous things he has done for his club, surely, the way he has almost single-handedly carried his native country to the last eight, he has proved himself the best player operating today.
I am in awe of Ronaldo's skill. However, both he and Messi arrived at this World Cup at the head of national sides which were, by their countries' standards, nothing like their best. Ronaldo, valiantly though he tried, could not coax Portugal through to the knock-out phase. Messi may yet inspire Argentina to their Holy Grail.
Their performance against Switzerland srunk to high heaven, nobody stunk higher than Di Maria, but, his coach, rather than doing the obvious and dragging-off a man having what our English colleagues term: "a 'mare", kept faith and was rewarded when Di Maria moved onto that exquisite through-ball from Messi to score the crucial goal.
Many years ago, in the press box in a Cappielow stand which was literally shaking in the aftermath of the move, I penned a paen of praise to Andy Ritchie, writing something like: "the through-ball he played to Danny Diver for Morton's winner was inch-perfect and came with seemingly a note attacked, which said: 'please put me in the back of the net'"; Messi's pass to Di Maria last night was the closest I have seen to that lang syne example of Big Andy's genius.
MY MATE Big Alex is a feared figure around the junior grounds of Scotland. Standing six foot canteen, ginger-haired, although, now he's in his eighth decade, the tone has calmed down from the days when he kicked centre forwards for fun of a Saturday afternoon.
These past 40-years or so,he has got his fun from terrorising referees, and more-especially linesmen, at junior games. His "greatest" moment came, some years ago, at Meadow Park, when his "advice" to one linesman so scared the flag carrier, he reported the abuse to the referee, who in turn spoke to the match commander.
The matter was delegated down the food chain to a Sergeant with the then Strathclyde force, who was despatched to have a word with Alex. The conversation went something like:
Polis to Alex: "Now Sir, I have been instructed to warn you, any further verbal abuse of the assistant referee could lead to your arrest and detention".
Alex: "Fair enough Sergeant, but, he's hopeless and, he's spoiling the game through his incompetence".
Polis: "You are, of course, entitled to your opinion Sir, but, I think he's doing ok, so, I must repeat my warning. However, should you wish to go onto the park and assault that referee, who really is spoiling the game, I will see nothing remiss in your conduct. Good afternoon".
The point of that wee tale. Well, yesterday, Alex said to me: "You'll never believe this coming from me, but, I think the refereeing at this World Cup has been terrific - apart from Howard Webb. And I just love this new spray for the free-kicks".
When Alex is praising the men in black, you know they are doing well.
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