What country did the 1980 U.S. Hockey Team beat in a semi final round before they won the Olympic Gold Medal?

Herb Brooks was the last player cut from the previous American Gold Medal winning hockey team, in 1960. He was dead set on beating the Commie Russians, a team that was made up of men who were called part of the USSR's Army, and paid as soldiers to do two things: play hockey and WIN. From 1964 to 1976, the USSR had won every Olympic gold medal in ice hockey. Herb molded college kids into a group that had no idea they had no chance at beating the Soviets. Their captain, Mike Eruzione, would score the go ahead goal with ten minutes to play in the third period. Then, it was all up to goalie Jim Craig who put on a clinic of acrobatic moves, saving multiple shots and frustrating the greatest players in the game. The gold medal game would be Eruzione's last-- by his choice -- while Craig would be the centerpiece of the new Atlanta Flame pro hockey team. There were many great pro players who came from that team. The human interest stories abound. The best one for me is that the entire team never was together again, until the Olympic Flame was lit at the winter Olympic games in Salt Lake City. Eruzione lit the cauldron, and then, reminiscent of his calling all the team up to stand on the winner's platform after the National Anthem was played at the rink in Lake Placid. The game was played beginning at 5:00 pm EST, so ABC showed it on tape delay. I wish someone would put up the beginning of that evening's broadcast, so you could see the pandemonium, the constant chants of "USA!" and the crush of sheer happiness in which Jim McKay had to begin that broadcast. When the Iranian hostages were released, this game was among the first things they watched.

Ken Walkley, I didn't know the connection between the Iranian hostages and the game. Thank you for that information.

This is the third question tonight in which I was so close, so I chose Finland. I thought for a moment that the Soviet Union game was the final game. Thank you, Christine, James's wife

It could be claimed that this game is the most dramatic and most memorable international sporting event of the 20th century.

Ken Walkley, Great summary. I remember it well.

Truly one of the greatest days in American sports history.

Jim Adams, Trumpers make up their own version of history. Lol

Andrina Schuit, From 1980?!!!

Andrina Schuit, President Trump wasn’t the President in 1980! Is this some kind of joke?

The First Sentence tells the whole story. To people like me who actually played the game it meant “ everything “ !

I remember watching both games! Awesome wins for the USA!

Remember this clearly.

Watched both games on TV. Fantastic! And I have the Miracle on Ice movie!

Good guess. I'm not big on international hockey, but I do know the Soviet Union is a fantastic team, as they all are. However, I've heard of their playing more often