Big thanks to Ryan Allan-Hadley for some valuable perspective my piece lacked. Highly enjoyed the summary of the recent Euro tournament, and yeah, Greece's unlikely victory proves that there really is more parity on the international scene these days. Greece won that tournament -- and then failed to qualify for the WC. Turkey finished 3rd in the '02 WC tournament, and aren't here either. Indeed, his final line, that the US team and fans should see playing the Czechs and Italians "as a measure of how far they've come and a chance to justify their own emerging reputation," was more or less what I was trying to say, but delivered more elegantly.

I think to any fan used to the crankiness and cynicism of much high-level international football/soccer, the spirit and sportsmanship of the Aussie side is irresistible. I have no doubt they'll give Brazil a good game, played without fear. That doesn't mean they'll win it, of course. On the bigger points, I think we're in agreement: The US' big chance will come against Italy, and that game could wind up going in some really unpredictable direction, with five red cards or three PK goals or something.

Ann Regentin is right that I dismiss suburban kid soccer a little too wholeheartedly. And more than that, that there is the beginning of a street-football tradition in America. But I'm just talking about results. When you subtract the occasional Landon-DaMarcus-Freddy phenom, the American players who reach the top level do tend to fit the profile we've been discussing: marvelously conditioned, tactically sound, a bit lacking in classic ball skills. We've certainly heard that coaches and officials at all levels of US soccer are aware of this, and also trying to integrate more Latino kids, African-American kids and recent immigrants into the system. And of course I don't know what the results will be. Landon Donovan came from middle-class suburbia, and whatever you make of his decision to bail on European football (I sympathize with it personally, but think it will clearly limit his professional upside potential), his background hasn't stopped him from being a streaky, moody, egotistical, unpredictable, sometimes brilliant player, in the sport's great tradition.

We all long so much for the genuine American soccer star that sometimes we invent them. Landon at least approximates the real thing, but I guess the best-known players around the world remain Reyna and Tim Howard (with ass perhaps permanently bolted to bench -- he's gotta get out of Manchester). Remember when we thought -- or I thought, anyway -- that Clint Mathis might be the real deal? That would be Clint Mathis, who basically couldn't hack it at Real Salt Lake. (I love MLS, or anyway I tolerate it, but please: Real Salt Lake?) Or Josh Wolff? Injuries in the latter case, I know. But jeez.

and Ewan, I know the Irish team's failure was a bitter pill, I felt it myself. But listen, the US team's advance to the quarterfinals was actually big news in heartland America. I heard people talking about the Mexico game in the Pittsburgh airport (this was a day or so later), and from the conversation it was clear they weren't hardcore soccer fans. I think there's been much less soccer-bashing in the US media since then. A lot more Americans, even if they're primarily baseball or (gridiron) football fans, are neutral toward soccer or even somewhat OK with it. I know, that's a long way from the insane passion of the UK or Ireland (or almost anywhere else) at WC time. But it's what we've got to work with.

PS Baseball is not exactly a knockoff of rounders. It's much older than most people think, mentioned e.g. in Jane Austen's "Northanger Abbey," wch was written in 1798. A kids' game until taken up in rural 19th c. America as "town ball."

I can assure all of you that it won't be difficult to see "Why We Fight," wherever you live. It's being distributed by Sony Classics, which may be an indication of how mainstream this kind of discussion has become. I was incorrect in stating that it will open "nationwide" on Friday (Jan. 20), but it will definitely open that day in New York and L.A., with a national rollout scheduled for Feb. 10. I'll correct the story accordingly.

It may indeed be possible to download the film, but then again, it's also possible to download "Batman Begins" or "King Kong." That doesn't make it legal or (at least in this case) defensible.