From the Evansville Courier Press, June 20, 2010
Most sports fans who are old enough can remember where they were when the United States hockey team defeated the Russians in the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y.
That team had special characteristics that made it easy to fall in love with leading up to that semifinal match versus Russia and eventually winning the gold medal. The more you watch this U.S. National team in the FIFA World Cup, the more you feel it might share those same qualities.
The competitive spirit of this team has been tremendous, and you have to credit their comebacks in group stage to a resiliency instilled by head coach Bob Bradley. His players have a never say die mentality to their game, which is a key component in special teams in any sport.
Conceding early goals to England and Slovenia would have put most teams back on their heels, but in both cases, the U.S. roared back to even the score and gain valuable points. Sloppy starts defensively created question marks — Ricardo Clark lost his mark on Steven Gerrard for England's early goal, and Oguchi Onyewu he;d Zlatan Ljubijankic onside for his 42nd minute goal to put Slovenia up 2-0. Yet the team has recovered to play stingy defense as the games went on.
Stars are starting to evolve. Tim Howard was the difference against England, making save after save to keep the Americans in the game. Onyewu and Jay DeMerit looked a little disorganized in the early stage of the match, but settled in to put together an outstanding effort in shutting down Wayne Rooney. Michael Bradley put in a virtuoso performance in shutting down English playmaker Frank Lampard in midfield, and Clint Dempsey's goal gained the opening tie.
Against Slovenia, it was Landon Donovan who had taken the game by the scruff of its neck— his goal three minutes into the second half allowed the U.S. to roar back. Michael Bradley's goal in the 82nd minute tied it and put the U.S. in a position to gain three points before Maurice Edu's goal was mysteriously called back.
If the Americans can continue their resilient play while tightening up things defensively, and if U.S. stars can continue to evolve, we could be witnessing our own "Miracle on Grass."
* Fans all over the world are scratching their heads as they try to make sense of the goal that was disallowed at the late stages of the Slovenia game. Donovan's free kick was served into the congested Slovenia goalmouth, and Edu's 85th minute volley was disallowed.
Referee Koman Coulibaly ruled out the goal, and we are left to wonder who the foul was called against. With all of the pulling and tugging in the box, there was a better chance to have a penalty kick called on a Slovenian defender than on Edu — the only players in the box that weren't tied up in an arm-lock were Edu and his defender. It appeared to be a phantom foul, and with FIFA not mandating officials to comment, we are left to wonder what the call was that prevented Edu's goal.
The official box score had Edu committing two fouls in the match, but you would be hard-pressed to find a foul on him in that game-ending sequence.
* Based on where the points are after the first two matches in the group stages, Wednesday's Group C games between the United States-Algeria and England-Slovenia will determine who will advance to the next round.
The games will be played at the same time in different venues, so fans will be left on the edge of their seats to see who will go through.
Slovenia has 4 points, the U.S. and England 2 each. and Algeria 1 to this stage.
If the U.S. and England win, both advance. Goal differential is the first tiebreaker, so the score lines in those games would determine who would finish first and who would finish second. Goals scored are the second tiebreaker, so that could be a factor as well.
Long story short, the scenario is simple — a win on Wednesday versus Algeria sends the Americans into the second round.
Mike Jacobs is soccer coach at the University of Evansville.
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