Separate Ways

Ever have those mornings where you wake up and it takes you a few seconds to realize where the heck you are? That's what happened to the MNT bloggers when they found themselves back in Federation territory in Chicago this morning.

'Twas another whirlwind after the game, with Carlos Bocanegra literally leaving 45 minutes after the final whistle for the airport and the rest of the team heading back to the hotel, and for the first time in more than a month having nothing to do the next day... except wake up at 5 a.m. for yet another early morning flight, this time back to Miami. The players and staff exchanges handshakes and hugs in baggage claim in Miami, as the fellowship began to go their separate ways after 32 days, five matches, six different hotels, nearly 100 team meals and several thousands of miles traveled.

And of course, we came home with a ticket to the semifinal round of qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cu, which at the end of the day is what this journey was all about. Along the way, we fell by one goal to a team that is a game away from playing in the Euro 2008 Championships, produced the same scoreline against No. 1-ranked Argentina that Brazil did a week later in World Cup qualifying, got Landon Donovan his 100th cap, gave 11 players their first taste in a World Cup qualifier, and set the U.S. record for the fastest goal ever in a qualifier. Productive? You tell us ...

It's time for a bit of a summer break for the MNT blog, but we'll be back in full force come August when the U.S. travels to Guatemala to kickoff the semifinal round. Also on tap is an extraordinarily rare visit to the island of Cuba, the first World Cup qualifiers for the soccer specific stadiums in Chicago and Commerce City, Colorado, and a trip to Trinidad & Tobago for the first time since meeting a closet U.S. Soccer fanatic in Drew Carey in the hotel lobby in Port-of-Spain.

We hope you've enjoyed the experience, and look forward to having you back on board in August.