ESPN

• Almost half of SportsNation spent their Sunday afternoon watching soccer.
• Was the Confederations Cup a turning point for soccer in the U.S.? Flip a coin.

Beating Spain and ending the top-ranked team's 35-match unbeaten streak was nice, but perhaps the real sign that the United States is ready to take a place among the globe's great soccer powers came in the aftermath of Sunday's come-from-ahead 3-2 loss to Brazil.

Namely, fans are griping about what went wrong.

It's not quite the national game of recriminations that takes place in Spain or Brazil when their national teams lose, but it's a start at forging our own sense of undue entitlement.

• "There is no argument to excuse the U.S. mens soccer loss to Brasil, other than to say they choked." So said blogger DedaloRafael in suggesting the Americans failed to answer critics.

• "And Soccer in America is dead again" is the title of blogger thehunter000's post on the final match.

• The United States had to lose to the Soviet Union before it could beat it at Lake Placid. That's part of blogger yankesruleFOUR's hope for a rematch in the World Cup final. All right, so some fans are still incurable optimists.

Before leaving the national team to prepare for World Cup qualifying, consider one final set of numbers. After a loss to Italy nearly two weeks ago, 14 percent didn't even expect the Americans to qualify for 2010, and another 31 expected a group-stage exit.

Now, almost half expect the United States to reach at least the quarterfinals.

“

brazil took you lightly they cannot take you seriously after killing you 3-0 in the first game ...they gave you 2-0 and still beat you 3-2...i do not see USA going past group stage and the only reason USA got past group stage this time is bc Italy did not even try at this tournament they were just trying out some of the new players....

” -- SelvirAbidovic

“

I love soccer have been playing since i was 5 but for the sport to grow we need more colorful players or something. The interviews with the coach and players after thew game was like pulling teeth. I have never seen people with no kind of personality in my life...

” -- JBBalla092881773