This is the game

In 1950 a group of young men, a high school teacher, a mailman, and a dishwasher among them, traveled to Brazil for what was known around the world (but not in their home country the USA) as the greatest show on earth. For a short while, these young men traded in their everyday jobs for a position on the US national soccer team. The prospects, as they had always been for the US team looked grim. "We have no chance," the USA head coach stated bluntly as the team prepared to face England in the group stages of the World Cup. England has always been a top team, and in 1950 the three lions were the kings of soccer. The England squad at the time was loaded with talent befitting of the team's prestigious name and rank, and the group of semi professionals opposing them on the USA side looked like they were in for a landslide England victory.

By the 12th minute of the game England had had six shots on goal, many of which drew American goalkeeper Frank Borghi to a full stretch. Then in the thirty seventh minute the US team crossed the ball to Joe Gaetjens who headed the ball neatly past the England Keeper. The crowd exploded as the USA took the lead. For the next 45 minutes they would fend off attack after attack, to seal the win. Joe Gaetjens was carried off the field by his team mates, and the one American journalist at the World Cup sent a brief dispatch back to his Saint Louis paper, the only paper in the US to carry the headline.

It's moments such as these that make soccer a beautiful game. This blog which carries the nickname given to the American victory is dedicated to sharing with you the moments and players who make football the most widely loved sport in the world. Miracle is made up of several writers who owe their allegiances to several teams. We do not seek to compete with conventional soccer outlets like FSC or ESPN, instead we offer our news with a healthy does of opinion and wit, not just fact. Although we certainly wont try to be unbiased in our assessment, Miracle will try to cover all aspects of soccer, including multiple leagues, international football, and champions league matches.