EDIT: Well, a disapppointing loss for the US vs Ghana – the second WC in a row to go out to Ghana. The US wasted perhaps the best draw they could get to the semi-finals because they can’t seem to stop giving up goals in the first 5 minutes of the starting whistle. Give them all the credit in the world for coming back time after time, but you can’t do well in a tournament if you only enjoy playing with a lead for all of 3 minutes of four (and a half) matches…
I wonder what this means for soccer in the US. Truth be told the US never really looked that strong. It needed a gift goal to draw with a sub-par England team, and they played a horrible first half vs Slovania. They played a good second half vs Slovania and better vs Ghana in the second half, but they did not come close to playing a full 90 minutes. That is the major difference between a team that can luckbox its way in to the second round, and a team that actually represents a real threat to go deep in the World Cup.
Donovan is the heart and sole of this US team. He’s 28, and even if he is playing in the next World Cup, he will most certainly not be the core of the team. Put it another way – if he remains the best player on the team, the US may not even qualify in four years. Dempsy is 27, he may or may not be around. Tim Howard is one of the best goaltenders in the world, but he’s 31. He might not be around in four years. The US are going to have to pull in new blood if they want to do better in Brazil in 2014.
1) I have three teams to pull for in the Round of 16: US, Japan, England. Of the three, the US should have the (relatively) easiest route to the semi-finals: Ghana, then winner of Uruguay/South Korea. Japan has a tough – but winnable match vs Paraguay, then likely Brazil in the quarters. That’s still better than England, which must face Germany, then the winner of Argentina/Mexico. Although I suppose this is a great chance for England to exorcise the demons of World Cups past….
2) Great to see Japan and South Korea do well in the World Cup outside of Asia….and, perhaps most importantly, with managers from their home companies (ditto the US as well, for that matter). Really gives a great boost to the country’s confidence when it can win with a home-built infrastructure. One wonders if the UK would be better off going with a home-grown manager?
3) I hope the US-Ghana match doesn’t come down to a bad call against the US. Between the horrible call in the US-Slovania match which cost the US a win, and the bad off-side call against Algeria which could have cost the US a spot in the knock-out round, officiating has not been great in this World Cup, and the US has been on the bad end of a couple of horrible calls. The very subjective officiating is very much a ‘soccer’ thing, and very alien to US sports fans, where things are much more black and white. One more bad call going against the US could really sour US fans off the sport.
4) Argentina has looked really, really good. Germany has looked solid, but not world-beaters. Brazil has looked decent at times, but not scary good. Spain’s ‘ticcy-tac’ is easy on the eyes, but they also have enough solid finishers to be a major danger. I still stick with Spain as my Champions, beating Brazil in the final. Argentina is my dark horse (although can you call a team with Messi a dark horse?)
5) The scoreless tie vs Algeria really hurts England – they now have to go through Germany, probably Argentina, probably Spain, then probably Brazil. That’s a real murder’s row. Let me put it this way – if they win the Cup, they will have really, really earned it. I have a funny feeling they’ll get through Germany, but I wonder if the moment won’t be so big for England that they’ll have a let-down in the quarters.
6) I think Japan will beat Paraguay – probably off some set pieces - and will likely go down in game fashion vs Brazil. Although it might all be wishful thinking.
7) Finally – the incessant drone of the vuvuzelas has sort of blended into the background. Not like it wasn’t still annoying as all hell, but at least it wasn’t making me want to stick a chopstick in my ear and stir…