Fabulous goalkeeping from Tim Howard, glorious all-round defending and a thundering finale just when it seemed all was lost.
That is how I shall remember the USA’s exit from Brazil 2014, beaten 2-1 after extra time by a technically superior Belgium but only after fighting to the last second to make it an even better World Cup for them than it has been.
Our USA correspondent, Grant Tunkel, will doubtless give us his thoughts overnight. Monsieur Salut simply wishes to salute as impressive a never-say-die display as he has seen since the days when Eddie Swift played for Shildon.
The USA were Salut! Sunderland’s honorary team at the tournament, courtesy of the readers’ poll you see to your right. That slot is now taken by Belgium, second-placed in the voting.
No time for more just now. But bravo, USA. Go for it, Belgium.