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.

据英国《每日电讯报》（Telegraph）6月23日报道，近年来美国对足球的狂热逐渐升温。而在世界杯上与葡萄牙的对决中比分在伤停补时遭扳平，美国球迷伤心不已，也使美国在瞬息万变的足球场上得到了惨痛教训。

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.

整场比赛让数百万美国球迷的心都提到了嗓子眼。葡萄牙队开场不久就领先1球，而美国队在全场比赛还剩10分钟时，将比分反超至2：1。虽然小组赛还有最后1场比赛，但目前这个结果本可以使美国队直接出线。

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，在比赛进行到第95分钟时，葡萄牙选手西尔维斯特•瓦雷拉将比分扳平，使美国队梦想破灭。

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.

和世界上其他国家一样，在美国足球绝对是一种时尚。而此前当其他国家对足球这项美妙的运动迷恋不已时，美国则长期对此不感冒。然而，对于2014年巴西世界杯，美国所表现出的狂热胜过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.

球迷们为了给支持的球队加油，挤满了公众场所，从纽约麦迪逊广场花园（Madison Square Park）到芝加哥巴尔博大道（Balbo Avenue），到美国驻阿富汗军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.

大部分世界杯赛事都是由娱乐与体育节目电视网(Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, 简称 ESPN)直播的。小娄1590万球迷观看美国对加纳的揭幕战时，再次刷新ESPN收视率纪录。

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

在巴西，美国球迷人数超过了其他任何外国球迷数。有2万名美国球迷专程长途跋涉来到巴西马瑙斯（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.

为何本届世界杯打动了数万美国人，而包括1994年美国为东道国在内的其他数届世界杯却没能激发他们同样的激情呢？关于这个问题的解释有很多。

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

有人认为这要归功于美国队总教练尤尔根•克林斯曼（Jurgen Klinsmann）率领球队所取得的成功。而美国人喜欢胜利者。

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，巴西的时区也比较适合美国观众观看球赛。当美国东部比赛时间为中午12点，下午3点和下午6点时，西部比赛时间为上午9点，中午12点和下午3点。

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，世界杯狂热已经席卷全球，尤其是在美国这样一个移民国家，大家都深怀对祖国足球的记忆，因而美国球迷的狂热无法让人忽视了。

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.

电视监制人乔纳森•瓦尔德（Jonathan Wald）表示，尽管美国球迷们的心很受伤，但他们将会更加期待26日美国与德国的焦点大战。

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."

他还称：“我觉得美国电视观众总是对大家都在谈论的流行事物着迷不已并摇摆不定。比如失联飞机或者橙汁。他们觉得每一场比赛都比前一场比赛壮观。”

（译者 dreamcatcher888 编辑 王旭泉）