USA performs very well in opening game for World Cup

I personally have a sort of tepid relationship with USA when it comes to football of the soccer variety. I have a real history in the sport having gone to college for free with a division-1 scholarship even though I didn't particularly care for the game and never really had a love of watching it on TV. I still don't care for watching it on TV to be honest.

However, when someone sent me a message about the USA match that I forgot was even happening I could help but tune in and see that the USA has delivered the most dominant performance of any team that has played thus far in the World Cup.

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By defeating Paraguay 4-1 in the first match that they play in, the USA has set a high bar for anyone else that wants to make some sort of memorable experience for anyone watching this World Cup that has been expanded to a length and scope that the tournament has never seen before.

We don't need to get into specifics about various players and performances but if you watched just a little bit of the game and now rudimentary things about how the game is played you know that the Stars and Bars basically controlled every aspect of that game. It was a very one-sided affair that started out quite impressive with a goal by the Americans with just 7 minutes off the clock. They continued this dominance into the half and let the world know that team USA means business in this World Cup.

However, we need to face reality and see that USA is never really a threat for winning the entire thing and the fans, while rabid, probably need to calm TF down about how they feel about their overall chances.

This is all just my personal opinion that is based on quite limited knowledge about the global nature of the sport but it is my impression that Paraguay is one of the lessor teams in South America and is not a good reflection of what that continent, or what the world capabilities in that sport are actually like

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The United States is currently ranked 17th in the world and Paraguay is ranked 41st. This is a huge difference in ability even though I feel as though the ranking system is deeply flawed since it is (and has to be) ranked on a win/loss system and since the USA typically plays teams that are pretty low in the pecking order they will always maintain a ranking that most of the world doesn't truly believe they actually deserve. This is the way I feel about it despite the fact that I am an American.

It just isn't our sport and this becomes quite evident as these tournaments go on. The USA will likely make it to the knockout stages and if history proceeds like it tends to, there is a very good chance they will get knocked out right away. Just ask Belgium if this is the case or not.

I think that this victory on the part of USA is a good thing, them being the host nation and all, but I also think that it would be a folly for American fans to think as though there is some real dominating chance for their side. This is pretty typical of American soccer/football fans every 4 years which is the only real time that Americans really show any sort of appreciation of the sport.

The next couple of games should be a walk in the park, so to speak. But if history repeats itself, and it tends to, the Americans are going to get a wake up call pretty quickly.

I want them to do well, I honestly do. However, I don't really see them making much of a dent in this tournament and we will have to wait a couple of weeks to see if they really have what it takes to advance.

In my lifetime the USA once made it to the quarterfinals and everyone was really excited just to have them rather easily dispatched by Germany. I would like to see them do well, but honestly it is far too early to tell.