Americans Start Flat,
Can't Carry Momentum
From Wednesday's Thriller
One Great Season
The spirited second-half comeback against Slovenia, the 91st-minute goal to beat Algeria and the global sympathy offered up after questionable referees' calls were all once cute storylines, but they'll eventually pale in comparison to this harsh reality after the USA lets Saturday's Round-of-16 loss to Ghana sink in: the World Cup was a rather large disappointment for the American side.
Had the U.S. been eliminated by a traditional power like Germany today, and had they done so despite playing a full match with the heart and determination so evident through much of their Group C win, then perhaps a silver lining would be obvious.
But the Americans came out flat and though they eventually increased their intensity for a stretch, they'll be remembered for an overall punchless performance in an elimination game against an inferior team.
Ghana are no slouch; they're among the top footballing sides in Africa, but the USMNT is no slouch either and winning knockout games is something credible teams do with regularity at the World Cup. Lost in all the drama of Landon Donovan's 11th-hour goal Wednesday was the fact that the Americans were supposed to have advanced past the group stage.
Now that it's been an hour, here's how a few of the OGS World Cup writers are weighing in following the difficult loss:
+ Jeremy Brown
Landon Donovan's divorce will be finalized.
+ Bruce Sholl
We looked like shit, no intensity. What else do you want me to say?
+ Steve Susi
Having just returned to the States as the OGS European Bureau correspondent, the US Men's National Team today reminded me of a wheel of Holland's famous Edam cheese: waxed on the outside, soft in the middle, and if you leave it out too long, it starts to stink. In contrast, Ghana played like a nice Manchego, the Spanish varietal with a black rind that gets really runny when warm.
So proud of our boys, though. Heartbreaking, yes — but only after three performances which even the English fans I met all last week had to admit rendered us an international laughing-stock no longer.
+ Mike Dick
The U.S. laid an egg. Were it not for the crossbar, the Americans would have conceded goals in the first 10 minutes of each match and extra time. Piss poor. Can't create chances or finish them and crappy midfield.