A U.S. national team, no matter how obscure a game or unfamiliar its players, has the awesome potential to bring people together .

This shot of patriotic unity that inoculates the nation every four years for the World Cup spread to Pullman, and especially The Cougar Cottage, where soccer fans came together to watch their nation move forward in a most exciting style. For the second consecutive World Cup, The Coug will air each match from South Africa, no matter how early the starting time. The Coug, a place built on tradition and community friendship, continues to provide a welcoming environment for fans across campus to unite and cheer for their favorite country.

“We want to provide our customer base with a place to watch the games, while still branching out to other groups on campus who may not have a TV or people to watch the game with,” said owner Bob Cady.

As the sun came up last Wednesday, the U.S. soccer team was preparing for its most important game of the tournament, a must-win match against the Desert Foxes of Algeria.

The Coug, like many other mornings in June, was up and bustling, displaying the Australia versus Serbia game as weary futball fans staggered into possibly their third bar of the morning. As compliance to the law, The Coug does not serve beer from 2 to 6 in the morning. However the U.S. game began at 7, a possible sign from the soccer gods, that inebriation was necessary for U.S. triumph.

That excuse, and many others, seemed to be accepted as patrons enjoyed mimosas and drafts as if it were 5 p.m. on a Friday. Visitors were also offered a diverse array of breakfast entrees, ranging from Belgian waffles to biscuits and gravy. The hearty breakfast certainly did not slow the enthusiastic fan base, with cheers and yells springing up during the games commencement.

“I don’t know much about soccer,” senior communication major Clark Pederson said. “But I know a hell of a lot about America, and we don’t go out to play unless we know we are going to win.” To no surprise, it was a supremely bi-partisan crowd in favor of the U.S. Some people did not even know where Algeria was located on the globe. Whatever, the U.S. was playing them now, making Algeria the public enemy and focus number 1. “Right now, I don’t like them,” said junior zoology major Colton Chance of the U.S. opponent. “I’m sure it’s a nice place, but if you mess with the best, you lose like the rest.” The game was up and down for the U.S. America was held scoreless for more than 90 minutes of match play. U.S. forward Clint Dempsey had a goal called back, after an offside call in the first half and later hit the post on a shot attempt in the second half. As the game neared its climatic end, the score remained tied at zero to zero. With England leading Slovenia simultaneously, the chances of the U.S. advancing to the next round looked grim.

At around the 90-minute mark, U.S. midfielder Landon Donovan found himself all alone with the ball in front of an open Algeria goal. The bar went silent with anticipation, a silence that carried all the recently developed soccer wishes of the customers. Donovan seized the moment, put the ball in the net and the rest is a jumble of missed high fives and surprisingly emotional man-hugs. The cheer from the crowd drowned The Coug and flooded into the quiet Pullman streets.

Coug bartender Tyson Williams said garden workers at nearby sororities have commented on the noise afterU.S. goals, saying it sounds like a large block party.

With cheers still echoing in the bar and a U.S. victory becoming more apparent, beers were chugged to the end of their foamy existence. It was not even 10 a.m., but Pullman felt like it had been awake and celebrating all morning.