If you still don’t get it, America, there’s not much else we — the soccer-adoring segment of the population — can do for you.The United States defeated Algeria in its final World Cup group game Wednesday thanks to a last-gasp goal in the dying seconds. The unlooked-for score was both a relief and a euphoric moment for U.S. fans, as the team had endured countless missed chances and multiple questionable refereeing decisions in the tournament’s first round.The result of the game literally shifted the makeup of the World Cup, sending the USA’s fellow Group C member Slovenia home and putting the USA at the top of its group for the first time since 1930.If we lived in any other nation, it would be insulting that I have to remind you of all of this. If we lived in any other nation, untold numbers of citizens would have already gone out to get gigantic tattoos of Landon Donovan — one of the U.S.’ top players and the man behind Wednesday’s godsend of a goal.Unfortunately, I walked into work following the game and had one of my coworkers greet me with, “Oh, right. There was a game today, wasn’t there?”I weep for my countrymen.I realize the popularity of soccer in the U.S. has risen dramatically in recent years, but that’s just not right. I can’t help but daydream about the 31 other nations in the World Cup whose citizens put real life on hold for every single game. Millions of people who live and die with the national team, while we sleep in because “soccer is boring.”I know, I know. You’ve heard it all before. Relax.I’m not writing to spout about soccer spreading rapidly to become one of the nation’s most popular sports. We’ve all been bombarded with that lunacy too much, from the Yanks’ upset of Portugal in 2002 to the shocking win against Spain last summer.We have our own sports to worry about. Just like the rest of you, I’m keeping up with every single move the Saints make in their Super Bowl offseason, and just like the rest of you I’m counting the days until the Tigers kick off against North Carolina in September.Soccer will never be huge in the United States, at least not as huge as it is elsewhere, but that doesn’t mean that for one month in June every four years, and maybe a few times in between, we can’t come together and nationally appreciate this beautiful and dramatic game — after all, that is exactly what we do for the Olympics.I refuse to believe we have an exceptionally larger number of gymnastics, volleyball or track fans to soccer fans in this country. If that were true, those sports’ attendance numbers at LSU would be much higher than they are.Yet every four years we sit transfixed by the drama put on display in sports we know nothing about, be it some gymnast’s ankle or a bobsled team. Hell, even hockey captured the nation’s attention this past February.It’s not too much to ask that every few summers you stop to watch our guys in the World Cup as well — if not because you enjoy the sport, then at least because they wear the crest and colors of the United States. By winning the group, the Americans have earned a date with Group D runner-up Ghana on Saturday. Whatever happens next, the U.S. has proved it is one of the 16 best soccer teams in the international game, at least this time around.It’s time we treat them like one, for as long as they have left on this grandest of stages — be it a second round exit or an unheard of World Cup championship.On Saturday, I’m begging everyone, in the name of the beautiful game, to find a television, radio or Internet connection for the Yanks’ tilt with the Black Stars.The rest of the world will be watching. There’s no reason we — every single one of us — shouldn’t be too.–Contact David Helman at [email protected]