Bruce Arena was out as coach and Bob Bradley, by all accounts the federation's second choice, was in.
Four years, eighteen qualifiers, two Gold Cups, a Confederations Cup, a Copa America, countless friendlies, and two World Cup group games later the team again plays for their World Cup lives in the final group game.
A few differences of course. Two points this time. A win guarantees advancement, no help needed. No players suspended due to red cards (though Findlay is out with two yellows). If results go the right way a tie can get them through. Even winning the group outright is in the cards.
The opponent is Algeria. My keys to the game:
1) Focus, focus, focus. The "stolen" goal is gone. Done. Can't get it back. The American media seemingly can't let it go. Bradley better have it wiped from his players' brains come tomorrow. As a former boss said "Worry about what you can control". Of particular worry to me is Jozy Altidore, whose penchant for interviews, Twitter, etc... has him (seemingly) focused on things off the pitch a bit too much, both at Hull and with the USA. If the team comes out still steaming about last Friday, Algeria will give them a figurative punch in the mouth, score a few early goals and stroll home.
2) Start Maurice Edu in the middle. More important than what to do with the forward position is making sure Edu is in from the start. It's not that Jose Francisco Torres or Ricardo Clark aren't capable players. It's the effect Edu has on Michael Bradley's game. Edu can play "box to box" allowing Bradley to do the same. Playing either of the other two forces Bradley to concentrate too much on either offense (paired with Clark) or defense (paired with Torres). With Edu in the game Bradley is free to play "his" game, transitioning up and down the field as the game flows.
3) Benny Feilhaber should come off the bench, even if Clint Dempsey starts at forward with Jozy Altidore. For whatever reason Feilhaber seems to shine in the substitute role more than as a starter. Maybe his ball control game comes good against tired legs, who I am to say?
4) NO EARLY GOALS. Enough has been said about this one in other places.
There you have it. Two thoughts on the "stolen" goal.
The silver lining
If the USA pulls out a win tomorrow then the "stolen" goal against Slovenia may just be the best thing that ever happened to the team from an exposure standpoint. Confused?
Well, nothing brings the sports fan in quite like a comeback. And certainly nothing brings in a patriotic American sports fan quite like the "world is out to get us" / "we was robbed!" mentality. If the third goal had counted there is no way the game makes the front page of the Times or gets played over and over and over again by ESPN and company.
The water cooler talk will only help some of the casual "every four years" soccer fans start tuning in more often for qualifiers and "lesser" tournaments leading into Brazil in 2014.
A win is crucial though, bow out again and you likely lose the momentum.
How quickly they forget...
The "stolen" goal certainly highlights one thing. Players, coaches, media, and fans all have very short memories. It was a year ago in the same country that the shoe was on the other foot. The USA led Brazil 2-0 at half time of the Confederations Cup final. Brazil scored within minutes of the restart and stormed back to tie the game at 2-2 (starting to sound familiar). Then Kaka struck the go-ahead goal to put Brazil in front. Only...
...the ref didn't call it a goal. Video replay showed the ball was at least a foot or two over the line. Even the most biased fan couldn't argue that it wasn't a terrible, terrible call. The Brazilians protested to little avail.
Of course, Brazil being Brazil, it didn't really matter as Lucio headed home the winner in the final minutes of the game and the comeback was complete.
So, for all the self-righteous indignation that has been floating around - yes, we got hosed, it was a horrible call, the goal should have counted.
That's life. Move on. Remember, sometimes the crappy calls go your way. Comfort yourself thinking about how the Irish got screwed worse than we did (who isn't loving the French debacle at this tournament?). Try and sleep tonight if you can (I know I won't be able to). Head out to the nearest gathering and scream yourselves hoarse tomorrow at 9:00 AM (CST, adjust accordingly).
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