But, Sam's Army, the American fans, definitely feel the momentum is with them and with the sport, which has long lived in the shadow of baseball and American football.
"In this World Cup, there's a spark," said Christian, who sported a soccer ball on his head and a US flag draped over his shoulders.
"Imagine us in 20 years," he crowed.
"20 years? Try four," his friend Barry Meyer corrected him.
"Donovan, Beasley, Mathis, Wolff," Barry shouted, ticking off young stars that may shine for the US in the next World Cup.
The result against Germany was not important to them. The US had its best run in 72 years, when the US last made it through the quarterfinals.
And instead of buckling before the heavily favoured Germans, the US stood toe-to-toe with the three-time champions.
"We've already won. If they lost, they couldn't go back to Germany. The Americans can come home here and we'll throw them a parade," Christian said.
"No one in the world expected this," Barry said, with Christian shouting, "More to come! More to come!"
Washington likes to think of itself not only as the nation's political capital but also as the soccer capital.
The city is home two professional teams, men's side DC United and women's team the Washington Freedom, which stars the nation's first lady of football, Mia Hamm.