The United States was given a cruel lesson in the fickle nature of 'soccer' after a nation newly converted to the joys of football had its hearts broken by an injury time equaliser.

據英國《每日電訊報》（Telegraph）6月23日報道，近年來美國對足球的狂熱逐漸升溫。而在世界杯上與葡萄牙的對決中比分在傷停補時遭扳平，美國球迷傷心不已，也使美國在瞬息萬變的足球場上得到了慘痛教訓。

Millions of Americans watched with hearts in mouths as the US team overcame a one-goal deficit against Portugal to lead by two goals to one with 10 minutes to go, a result good enough to guarantee qualification to the knockout stages of the World Cup with a game to spare.

整場比賽讓數百萬美國球迷的心都提到了嗓子眼。葡萄牙隊開場不久就領先1球，而美國隊在全場比賽還剩10分鐘時，將比分反超至2：1。雖然小組賽還有最后1場比賽，但目前這個結果本可以使美國隊直接出線。

But there were tears before bedtime as a 95th minute equaliser by Portugal's Silvestre Varela crushed the dreams of a nation where football as it is understood by the rest of the planet is definitely en vogue.

然而，在比賽進行到第95分鐘時，葡萄牙選手西爾維斯特?瓦雷拉將比分扳平，使美國隊夢想破滅。

Having long been immune to the rest of the globe's fascination with the beautiful game, the US appears to have embraced Brazil 2014 like no World Cup before it.

和世界上其他國家一樣，在美國足球絕對是一種時尚。而此前當其他國家對足球這項美妙的運動迷戀不已時，美國則長期對此不感冒。然而，對于2014年巴西世界杯，美國所表現出的狂熱勝過了以往的所有世界杯。

From New York's Madison Square Park to Chicago's Balbo Avenue to US military bases in Afghanistan, as well as bars up and down the country, fans have been packing public spaces to cheer their team on.

球迷們為了給支持的球隊加油，擠滿了公眾場所，從紐約麥迪遜廣場花園（Madison Square Park）到芝加哥巴爾博大道（Balbo Avenue），到美國駐阿富汗軍事基地以及全美各地的酒吧。

ESPN, which is broadcasting most of the games, has been racking up record viewing figures, with 15.9 million watching the United States' opening game against Ghana.

大部分世界杯賽事都是由娛樂與體育節目電視網(Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, 簡稱 ESPN)直播的。小婁1590萬球迷觀看美國對加納的揭幕戰時，再次刷新ESPN收視率紀錄。

In Brazil, American fans outnumber those of any other foreign country, with 20,000 making the trek to Manaus.

在巴西，美國球迷人數超過了其他任何外國球迷數。有2萬名美國球迷專程長途跋涉來到巴西馬瑙斯（Manaus）。

Theories abound as to why this World Cup has struck a chord with Americans when others, including 1994 when the US played host, failed to.

為何本屆世界杯打動了數萬美國人，而包括1994年美國為東道國在內的其他數屆世界杯卻沒能激發他們同樣的激情呢？關于這個問題的解釋有很多。

Some point to the success of the team, managed by Jurgen Klinsmann, in their opening game – Americans like winners.

有人認為這要歸功于美國隊總教練尤爾根?克林斯曼（Jurgen Klinsmann）率領球隊所取得的成功。而美國人喜歡勝利者。

The time zones in Brazil are also beneficial for an American audience, with matches at 12pm, 3pm and 6pm East Coast time, 9am, 12pm and 3pm on the West Coast.

其次，巴西的時區也比較適合美國觀眾觀看球賽。當美國東部比賽時間為中午12點，下午3點和下午6點時，西部比賽時間為上午9點，中午12點和下午3點。

And the global buzz around the World Cup, particularly in a nation of immigrants with recent memories of football in their home country, could no longer be ignored.

另外，世界杯狂熱已經席卷全球，尤其是在美國這樣一個移民國家，大家都深懷對祖國足球的記憶，因而美國球迷的狂熱無法讓人忽視了。

Television executive Jonathan Wald said that although their hearts were broken, Americans would now be even more eager to tune in to Thursday's deciding game against Germany.

電視監制人喬納森?瓦爾德（Jonathan Wald）表示，盡管美國球迷們的心很受傷，但他們將會更加期待26日美國與德國的焦點大戰。

He said: "I think American TV viewers have always enjoyed becoming obsessive and wonky about things everyone is talking about – like the missing plane or OJ. Each game is bigger than the last."

他還稱：“我覺得美國電視觀眾總是對大家都在談論的流行事物著迷不已并搖擺不定。比如失聯飛機或者橙汁。他們覺得每一場比賽都比前一場比賽壯觀。”

（譯者 dreamcatcher888 編輯 王旭泉）