There are two US teams. One showed up in the first half. The other in the second.
In the first half the US came in as favorites to win, a psychological position that the US simply does not know how to deal with. The team was lethargic throughout the first half. Defensively, the team left huge gaps in space (which led to both goals), midfielders weren't working hard to win back the ball when Slovenia was in possession, and when we had the ball no one was moving off the ball.
Bob Bradley got the tactics all wrong. The US strategy offensively was to play deep balls in the channels or wide areas where speedy players like Robbie Findley or Jozy Altidore could get on to the ball. This was why the backline players were constantly booting the ball up field. This utterly failed. Slovenia played deep and compact -- if the balls were won there was rarely space to do much with them, but the Slovenes are huge and most aerial balls were easily dealt with. We were essentially playing counterattacking football against a team that sat back deep.
But then in the second half, the US could play as they mentally like to play -- as a team with their backs against the wall. This really is the "don't tread on me" team, a group that thrives on being counted out and being the underdog. Before the game, I noted this match would be a test of the US team's maturity: could they win when they were supposed to. The answer is not yet. When we play top teams in the world we show up with a chip on our shoulder and put it all out there. We play with something to prove. But we simply don't know how to play as favorites.
So in the second half, the US went for it.
Bradley made some great tactical substitutions in the second half, as Maurice Edu and Benny Feilhaber replaced the ineffective Jose Torres and Robbie Findley. They brought more fluidity to the midfield and the addition of Edu allowed Bradley to take off Onyewu late for another striker. That was well managed.
Landon Donovan, the US captain, had what could be the goal of the tournament just a few minutes into the second half. This raised US spirits, and they went on to create a number of good chances. The second goal, which seemed inevitable, but also seemed like it would take an eternity to come, was worked and saw Michael Bradley -- a regular goal scorer -- make a truly composed finish.
In the end, the US was robbed -- as it so often is in international tournaments. The referees overall had a shocking game. On every free kick, the referees allowed Slovenia to blatantly tackle the American players, which could have quite easily been called as penalties. Jozy Altidore was denied a goal-scoring chance, but instead of red, the Slovene defender received a yellow. The referees, however, saved the worst for last. The US scored the third and winning goal, but the linesman was flagged for offsides. The only thing one can fathom was that he saw Michael Bradley, who was being tackled, ahead of the play, but Bradley had no involvement in the resulting goal. It was shocking. And Bob Bradley should make a lot of noise about the US constantly getting hosed in big international tournaments.
This, in the end, is a very good result from the US. But against Algeria the US will again be the favorites. This time a draw won't do -- it is must win, and the US cannot show up as the lethargic team we saw in the first half. We need the "don't tread on me" team from the get go.
The persecution complex regarding allegedly frequent unfair refereeing against the US is however completely baloney..
I think the Spanish ref in the previous game had a far larger impact because he kept carding players for little cause -- it interrupts the flow of the game, makes players play with too much caution and even effects the next game in the series, since some players will now be benched. By comparison, the ref from Mali did little damage -- and if the US had played decent soccer in the first half, he'd have done no damage at all. It's the Americans' fault the game was close enough that one call made such a difference.
For those who don't remember when Holtz was the head football coach at Notre Dame, he was notorious from making every single opponent, whether it was the Miami Hurricanes or Eastern Michigan, sound like the best team in college football. To hear Holtz tell it, Notre Dame never had a prayer to win unless they played their absolute best... no matter how strong or weak the opposition truly was.
Seem like the USMNT, given their tendency to play well when they're the underdog and not so well when favored, could use exactly this kind of motivation.
Not only is it completely stupid that is there no instant replay/call review provison in soccer/futbol but the referee never even provided an explanation for exactly what he saw which caused him to blow the whistle, nor is he required too. What purpose does that serve?
That being said I couldn't really detect a consistent anti-US bias in the officiating of the match. I think the Slovenians got away with more fouls, but that was probably because they played a dirtier game overall (especially in the second half) The US got off easy on a few questionable plays as well. The refs really sucked in this match, and I know that is part of the game, but its completely inexcusable in any sport for a bad call on the part of an official to change the outcome of the match. There must be some sense of fair play in any sport or fans will chose not to participate. Crap like this is one of the reasons Americans don't care for soccer. I think Koman Coulibaly is involved in some kind of play fixing scheme for the mob. I guess 3-2 would have blown their spread or something. The whole thing was too weird and match fixing in high level international football is a ugly fact of the sport. What can you do?
Can they see it (team mission) now and get 'er done from the start. Go from victim to victor from the start.
This Ref will not officiate another game in any capacity, if he is not done for the tournament, then FIFA deserves all the bad calls they get.
Great 2nd half boys, now go out and destroy Algeria(cause you have to) and show the world why you belong in the final 16.
Some years the officiating is great, but I've found much to grumble about this year.
This game stinks!! How can anyone watch it?
This is a wonderful game where the player has to keep running with very few stops. It is far more active then some sports.
Also, it is easy to play and you can play it pretty much anywhere without fancy equipment. Like in the old days in the US with Stick Ball.
You don't have to like the game, but I don't understand why you would hate it so much that you logged into huffpost to comment on an article about it.... I say, if you don't like, don't watch. That's how I make it through American Football season!
Cheers!