There will not be any pressure on the USMNT Tuesday.
If they win, this is their moment. If they lose, they become part of Argentina's moment. That is a half-decent consolation prize.
Saying there's pressure on the USMNT against Argentina is like saying there is pressure on the bull in a bullfight. The bull is going to die anyway. It is up to the matador to perform.
The matador in this case is Messi. The rest of Argentina are his picadors and his banderillos. Messi will dazzle the crowd and make them ooh and ahh and will in all likelihood plant a sword into the USA's neck after he is done toying with them. That is the nature of bullfights.
Sometimes, though, the bull wins the bullfight. Not often, but sometimes. Sometimes the matador tries to dazzle but does not, sometimes the lances and sharp sticks set in by the matador's helpers do not weaken the bull enough, and the bull gores the matador and kills him. Even if this happens, the bull is usually killed. Some bulls, though, are pardoned. Some bulls live to enjoy the victory over the matador.
This is Messi's best chance for the major international trophy that has so far eluded him. I'm not in the group that thinks he needs one as validation for his career, but I do think he's a professional athlete and very competitive and wants a trophy. If the USA were to deny him this trophy that is his for the taking, it would be both a triumph and a tragedy.
Quick tangent to talk about the armband, because I want to talk about the armband. The armband is another reason there is no pressure on the USMNT. Through Michael Bradley's actions, the USMNT has already done what they came here to do. They have already made their country proud. "One Nation. One Team" is a stupid tagline made up by marketing people, but Goddamn when I saw that armband if I didn't feel like it might be closer to accurate than I first thought.
I just want the USMNT not to be blown out, and maybe they won't be given how well the back four and Bradley have been playing, but even if they are, they should be proud of how they played at the Copa America, and proud of how they represented the USA.
They can play freely in this game, knowing all the pressure is on Argentina. Perhaps Messi will end up with the USMNT's ears. But perhaps they will be granted indulto.
Contact The18 Staff Writer Sam Klomhaus at Klomhaus@The18.com or follow him on Twitter @SamKlomhaus
