Americans stun Spain and football world

When the final whistle blew and the United States had collected one of their greatest football victories, defeating Spain, the No. 1 team in the world, the American players ran and jumped into one another’s arms and waved towels. Some removed their jerseys in celebration, and though the temperature was near freezing in the Southern Hemisphere winter, no one seemed to notice as they basked in the warmth of a startling victory.

Wednesday’s 2-0 win in the semifinals of the Confederations Cup, built on goals by Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey and by a disciplined and impenetrable defence, halted Spain’s 35-game unbeaten streak and gave the European champions their first defeat since November 15, 2006.

Immediately, the victory took its place among other classic American football triumphs — victories in the World Cup over England in 1950, over Colombia in 1994, and over Portugal and Mexico in 2002 that were similarly stirring and unexpected.

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