Epic Defeat - Team USA at World Cup 2010

Continuing on from my World Cup 2010 Series 

South Africa 2010 saw the coming of age of an American team.  Having come so close to breaking new ground, so many times, it is perhaps in epic failure that team USA has finally earned its greatest respect.   Not quite a miracle, but far from underachieving, this USA team has, and whisper this quietly, just perhaps announced itself as a consistent top flight international side.  One that is here to stay, compete and win.

Despite a patchy history, never has the side looked this unbeatable, this comfortable, at world football’s top table.

Let’s be honest, the 1950 win was a one off.  And although USA competed regularly in the 1990s, they finished close to the bottom at both Italia ’90 and France ’98.  A round of 16 elimination to eventual champions Brazil, at home in 1994, was a decent enough achievement but progression at that tournament was achieved with several fortuitous goals; not least from Andres Escobar’s slip in the penalty area, an own goal that resulted in the latter’s tragic death.

The 2002 run in Japan and South Korea was the most encouraging, with only a Michael Ballack header sending Germany through.  However, USA never convinced and Bruce Arena rarely looked in control.  With group stage elimination at Germany in 2006, one felt USA was reverting to type; especially in a 5-0 Gold Cup final reverse to Mexico in 2009.

This class however, honed by coach Bob Bradley, has both guts and inventiveness, creativity lined with steel.  Not once, during the group stage, did they look out of place; the first half against Slovenia apart, never did they look like losing.  And with that barnstorming finish against the Slovenes, they proved they were capable of rousing themselves for a glorious comeback; even if referee Koman Coulibaly’s error robbed them of a famous win; one that their fightback richly deserved.

Tim Howard and Clint Dempsey have long been some of the unheralded stars of the Premiership with Landon Donovan, having cut his teeth in the Bundesliga, now a regular starter for Everton. With Jozy Altidore and DaMarcus Beasley, now regular strikers in Europe, towering defender Oguchi Onyewu‘s transfer to one of Serie A’s institutions, AC Milan, gave the American roster both a capable and accomplished feel.

Their opening game against England was a real confidence booster.  Despite the latter’s sluggishness, the USA grew in strength and matched their more illustrious opponents stride for stride.  With Donovan, a real presence, on the wing and both Michael Bradley and Altidore tireless in their running, the English midfield had their hands full.  Although the game finished a 1-1 draw, USA looked far more convincing.  The comeback against Slovenia fell just short but the USA still ensured they topped the group with a last minute winner, from that man Donovan, against moribund Algeria, in their final game.  Positive throughout, there was no team more confident in the entire tournament.

After having deservedly topped their group for the first time ever, USA lined up for a round of 16 match with Ghana.  With Ghana making waves with a young incisive team that represented Africa’s lingering hope of World Cup glory, one felt that the American’s were crashing someone else’s party.  Throughout regular time, despite trailing to an early Kevin Prince-Boateng strike, USA were neck and neck with Ghana, rarely outplayed, never out of position.  When, Landon Donovan levelled matters from the spot, it was no less than they deserved.

As the game headed to extra-time, one felt the USA were getting the upper hand, passing with more composure as their African opponents wilted.  Then, as often happens, a moment of rare genius settled the game.  A long ball over the top completely outfoxed the American defence.  Carlos Bocanegra was caught looking skywards and Jay Demerit left in Asamoah Gyan’s wake, as the Ghanaian striker sprinted through, taking the ball down with ease and slotting home what turned out to be the winning goal, at close range.

USA’s performance was a great fillip to fans and audiences in both the USA and Canada.  With more than 5.1 million Canadian viewers tuning into the see the World Cup final, rest assured youth programmes are set for a busy season of coaching and training, hoping to emulate their heroes in future tournaments.

Beaten but not humbled, bested but not embarrassed, the USA were only a whisker away from progressing to the quarterfinals for the second time in three world cups.  And this time it was a commanding set of performances that saw them get this far.  In four years they return, with many of this current team at their peak, hoping to go further, or even better, all the way.  Although a win is rather unlikely, USA will continue to challenge, at the very top of the global game.