US looked Confident in Defeat

Today, Landon Donovan is proud to be an American. Not because he represented his country in the World Cup in their pivotal match against Ghana (he did). Not because he established himself as a force on the world's biggest stage (he didn't). Not because he instrumental in setting up the winning goal for the glorious US win (he didn't and they didn't). No, he should be glad he is an American because his team's flop in the World Cup will raise the ire of relatively few of his countrymen. Landon need not go into hiding. He is an American, and Americans don't take soccer that seriously.

As it turned out, the US team didn't either. They seemed scared and tentative in the first game. The Czechs scored early and the Americans were back on their heals the entire game. As a result, they seemed content to control the ball without any apparent burning desire to advance it. If the US had scored on every shot they took on goal in their 3-0 loss to the Czech Republic, they still would have lost 3-1. One game, one shot on goal.

Against Italy, they struggled. They struggled to win the ball, they struggled to navigate poor officiating, and they struggled with 9 men against 10 for the Italians. This time, the US scored on 100% of their shots on goal. Zero for zero. Actually, division by zero causes an error, but you get the picture. Only Italy's hospitable own goal gift gave the US the tie. After the game, Donovan went on about outplaying the Italians 11 v. 10, 10 v. 10, and 9 v.10. He hustled and played hard, but to pretend that one team outplays another while taking no shots on goal is crazy. Finishing is part of playing. It seems that US got their moral victory, but this time it was only worth one point.

Against Ghana, the US almost looked cocky. Like the rest of the tournament, they appeared to need an invitation to shoot, and only perfect circumstances would warrant a shot. In desperation, they mustered some offense, but in a game they knew they must win to have any hope of advancing, they still only had 4 shots on goal. They seemed to play as if time was on their side until the final 20 minutes of the second half. Many will question the call on the penalty kick that beat the US. I question the USA's defense for playing with the ball in its own end in extra time of the first half. Kick the ball over the sideline and away from the penalty area and the foul cannot be called. The US would have gone into the locker room tied and been ready to push for a single goal to put them up and into the round of sixteen. As it was, they found themselves faced with the daunting task of scoring three goals in a game when they had only made one in the entire tournament. It didn't happen, and the US was soundly bounced from the Cup.

I could not have played better, but it seemed that an essential element was missing. To score, you must shoot, and to shoot, you must push the ball into the offensive zone. The more times, the better your chances. That aggressiveness was missing. The US seemed content to play ball-controlling favorite in a field where the other teams' desire outweighed their conditioning and youth. The US seemed to believe that it belonged and that was enough. Earning it seemed to be beneath them. The Czechs hustled and pressed the ball. The Italians attacked the vigor. Ghana was aggressive to a man. The US seemed to be taking their time. Only down a man to Italy and in the closing half hour of the match against Ghana did the US win challenges. The rest of the time, they seemed content to give up field position for possession. They are a talented bunch, but what they had in talent, they lacked in drive. They appeared uninspired, and uninspired teams go three and out in the World Cup. The only consolation is that Brazil will not have the chance to run all over this US team. Instead, the US will return stateside in comfort, watch the remainder of the games on their HD TVs, and go back to their MLS or world league teams once the Cup is over. They are proud to be Americans. Let's hope that next time around, their play can make us proud to be American soccer fans.