Sherwood Boehlert: “I rise in support of today's resolution honoring the tremendous achievement of the United States Men's Soccer Team in…”

“I rise in support of today's resolution honoring the tremendous achievement of the United States Men's Soccer Team in the 2002 FIFA World Cup games. As this team of players, their coaches, and staff gathered together and set out for the games in Korea and Japan, they faced many challenges. They were flying thousands of miles to play the world's best teams in unfamiliar stadiums and to endure the harsh glare of skeptical sportswriters. It is fair to say that those skeptics have changed their minds. In the opening match against Portugal, our American team dominated the game and walked off with a three to two win under their belt. Critics thought it was a fluke. Coach Bruce Arena and his team were about to prove them wrong. The U.S. team went on to a draw with Korea and then a qualification for round two, despite an outcome that placed them behind Poland. No one was ignoring Team USA anymore. June 17 the U.S. team defeated the Mexicans in an outstanding showing in a final showing of 2-0. Our neighbors to the south were headed back to North America, and the U.S. soccer team was moving onward. I joined over 200 people here on Capitol Hill to watch the U.S. play Germany on June 21 in the early morning hours. I know I was not the only one on the edge of my seat throughout that heated match. What a game. Soccer fans across this great country have been rewarded for their dedication to this sport.”