Christie energized by Cup

There's still a certain sense of amazement in FC Tampa Bay Rowdies midfielder Jeremy Christie's words when he talks about playing at the World Cup in South Africa.

"It's awesome, you know, and the results that we got and the performances made it even more special," Christie said after returning to Tampa this past week. "It was an unbelievable experience and something that will probably never be topped again in my life."

Christie and New Zealand weren't expected to make much of an impression, considered 2,000-1 long shots to win the tournament, but they almost found a way to advance into the round of 16 and remarkably ended the tournament undefeated.

Christie played in two of the All Whites' three games, coming on as a second-half substitute against Slovakia and Italy. Both experiences left him in awe.

"I guess after the first game to come on, and you probably saw the emotion we showed scoring in the last minute against Slovakia, that was pretty amazing to be involved in that, and I thought that would be the pinnacle," Christie said. "But to come on against Italy and hold out and get a draw and be involved in that was amazing. Both were massive highlights."

It's back to work for the Rowdies tonight, and despite a groin injury he played through in South Africa, Christie hopes to be on the field when Tampa Bay hosts rival Miami FC. With the team mired in a four-game losing streak in the USSF Division II, and being hit badly by injuries to fellow starters Aaron Wheeler and Erik Ustruck, Christie's return to the center of midfield would be a big boost for the Rowdies.

Christie is confident the team will be able to turn things around.

"I think every team in the world has ups and downs, and when I went away I was keeping an eye on the results and the boys were winning every week and it was fantastic," Christie said. "We've had a lot of away games, which kind of takes its toll. We've had a couple of losses recently but that's not affecting the squad. It's good to be back and I can't wait to run out and play this weekend."

If he does play, the Rowdies will be getting back a player who grew a lot in the six weeks he was away from the team.

"Being involved in the World Cup was amazing, and I feel like I've learned so much, but my parents got to come over there and it was good to catch up with them a couple of times and see how they were feeling and how proud they were," Christie said. "I think to see the reaction from everyone in New Zealand, the fans we had over there were amazing. They would stay behind after every game for like an hour and sing.

"There would be thousands of them in the stands, and then to read some things from back home and see how over those four weeks that New Zealand was a footballing country, I think that's amazing that we were able to change the landscape of the sport a little bit in New Zealand."