After slow start, U.S. soccer finally enjoys an easy victory

It sure is fun to be on the right side of an 8-0 game, and U.S. fans had to enjoy Sunday's 2010 World Cup qualifier against Barbados, the first in a home-and-home series that concludes this weekend.

After watching the Yanks give the deer-in-the-headlights look against England, fare slightly better against Spain, and play well to earn a draw against Argentina, fans had to revel in watching their team score very early and very often.

Sure Barbados clearly was no match for the Americans and might not have even beaten a local high school team. After playing the world's best, the U.S. players were ready to look like world beaters.

"We were the better team today and we knew that our job was to go out and win decisively," midfielder Clint Dempsey said. "The more goals that we can get the more of a cushion it gives us going to Barbados. You can never take a team too lightly and we just wanted to make sure we put ourselves in a good position for the next game. It is definitely a good feeling going into next week, and now we just have to make sure that we take care of business down in Barbados before we look forward to the next challenges."

The eyes have it: For those of us who enjoy watching soccer on TV, this month has been heaven, and not just because of the U.S. win or because the Fire is on national TV Thursday night.

The European Championship is more than living up to its hype.

There have been upsets. Who would have thought France would struggle so much and Italy would scrape to get into the knockout round?

There have been surprises. Croatia might be one of the smallest countries to reach the final 16, but it has played David so far, and how about Turkey's two come-from-behind victories?

And there have been great performances: Michael Ballack's free kick Monday to lift Germany over Austria; Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal anytime he takes the field; Spain's David Villa scoring 4 goals, 2 more than Lukas Podolski and Turkey's Hakan Yakin; and Poland goalkeeper Artur Boruc, even in defeat.

But the best team in the tournament has been the Netherlands, by far, and what's made the Dutch success so enjoyable has been the way they have played to win, to attack, to score.

With all due respect to Greece and its win at Euro 2004, it's a lot more fun to watch the Oranje play to win -- even when it doesn't have to, as it did Tuesday against Romania -- than to watch anyone else play not to lose.

McBride update

Fire coach Denis Hamlett didn't have much to add Tuesday about the team's hopes of acquiring former U.S. forward Brian McBride, a former Buffalo Grove High School star.

McBride announced a few weeks ago he wants to return to MLS after 4 ½ years in London with Premiership team Fulham. Toronto holds his MLS rights, but he is believed to want to play only for his hometown club, so the teams are working on a deal.

"There's nothing new on that front," Hamlett said during a conference call from Los Angeles, where the Fire is preparing for Thursday night's ESPN2 game against Chivas USA. "Toronto owns the chip, and they have the leverage."

Hamlett said he doesn't believe McBride trade talks have caused his team to lose two of its last three games, pointing to the team's 5-1 victory at New York during Memorial Day weekend.

"I don't think it's distracting any of our front-runners," he said. "I don't think that's a discussion or something that our guys are concerned about. It's out of our control."

Midfielder Justin Mapp agreed with his coach's sentiments, even though he might be one of Toronto's targets.

"Until I hear something from coaches, I don't look too much at that. Until then I'm happy here, and hopefully I'll stay here," Mapp said. "From what Denis has said he's happy with what we've got. (McBride would) be a great addition for any team, but until something happens we're not worrying about it."

Whistle talk

Fire coach Denis Hamlett sounded frustrated Tuesday by all the fouls opponents have committed against his players, specifically designated player Cuauhtemoc Blanco. In Sunday's 1-0 loss at Dallas, Fire players were abused to the tune of 15 fouls but were called for only 3. In the loss to D.C. United on June 7, the fouls were 18-7.

"He has been getting a lot of fouls in our games. He's a hard guy to ref because a lot of times refs feel he's diving," Hamlett said.

"There needs to be a better balance by the referees," Hamlett added, noting that he feels the other MLS teams are fouling as a tactic to slow the high-scoring Fire and Blanco. Such persistent fouling is supposed to earn players a caution, "but the cards aren't coming out."

-- Orrin Schwarz