#OneNationOneTeam, USA Beat Ghana 2-1

Yesterday was a dramatic day for US Soccer to say the least. I have to dedicate an entire post to the grit, the determination, and the belief that was shown in the United States' game against Ghana to open up their Group G competition. The US exercised their demons against Ghana through a first minute goal by captain Clint Dempsey. Of a clever little pass from Jermaine Jones, Dempsey showed his world class individual talent by driving into the box, cutting past a defender, and finishing with a precision strike to the far post.

As is normal with an early lead, the US fell into a defensive shell for the rest of the first half, and well into the second. Beckerman shut down the midfield while Cameron and Tim Howard stopped Ghana's offense for the majority of the game. In the 82nd minute, Ghana struck. Leveling the game, Ghana broke hearts all around the United States. In the American Outlaw bar of Santa Monica, I let felt deflated along with the hundreds of other Los Angeles US Soccer supporters around me. A tie would at least give the US a point, but in a "group of death," one point is not nearly enough to hang your hopes on.

Then, in the 86th minute, America erupted with a glorious roar. Thousands of people across the country threw up their hands. The hundreds of traveling supporters in the stadium in Natal lost their minds. We had done our part in believing. A young man, twenty-one years of age, did his part in doing. John Brooks, the half time sub who came on for Matt Besler, found the back of the net on a strong header off a corner kick from Graham Zusi. His first international goal for the US, and the ga
me winner to take 3 points from Ghana.

Jurgen Klinsmann had done it. The hard work by our 23 men in red, white, and blue paid off. Although they didn't look pretty and struggled to hold on to the ball, the United States are sitting in good position. In a post game interview the Man of the Match, Clint Dempsey, was proud but cautious, recognizing that his team needs to do better at building out of the back and keeping possession.

The glory of victory came with a cost, as Jozy Altidore looks to have picked up a serious hamstring coming off the field in the first half. Jozy was running down the left side of the pitch, and all of a sudden, he grabbed his left hamstring and pulled up lame, subsequently collapsing to the ground. He was stretchered off the pitch and subbed out for Aron Johannsson.

The United States will need to snatch at least 1 point from Portugal on Sunday. If they do, they will be set up very nicely for an escape from the group stage. Never more have the chants rung true, "We Believe That We Can Win."

World Cup 2014: Match Day 5

What an exciting one we have today folks! The "Group of Death" takes center stage for their opening games with bright stars such as Thomas Mueller, Clint Dempsey, and Cristiano Ronaldo taking center stage. 

Yesterday, we saw one of the brightest stars of the footballing world shine when Lionel Messi scored a go ahead winner for Argentina as they beat an impressive Bosnia-Herzegovina side at the Maracana. France rocked an ugly Honduras side by a score of 3-0, and Switzerland put on a gutsy performance to snatch victory at the last from Ecuador, 2-1.

Today is the day that American soccer fans have been waiting for: USA vs. Ghana, round three. In 2006 the US lost to Ghana in the group stage. 2010 saw Ghana booting the United States from the tournament in the round of 16. But the US Soccer Federation hired a brilliant German man by the name of Jurgen Klinsmann to snap the streak of defeats. Making headlines by leaving Landon Donovan at home, Klinsmann has whipped this young squad into shape and is poised to make a Hollywood scripted escape from Group G. It will take blood, sweat and tears from the 23 US players as well as their faithful American Outlaw fans, loyally singing as loud as they can, "I Believe That We Can Win!"

A clash of titans will take place in the first game when Portugal plays Germany. Miroslav Klose is chasing the All Time World Cup Goalscoring Record in Brazil, and he leads a highly decorated, intimidating squad. It will take speed and technical precision on the part of the Portuguese to defeat the Germans, but having the reigning Ballon d'Or winner, Mr. CR7, gives them a chance. 

Today's Games:

Germany vs. Portugal, 9:00 PST Salvador

Iran vs. Nigeria, 12:00 PST Curitiba

USA vs. Ghana, 16:00 PST Natal

My Picks:

Germany

Nigeria

USA

My Record:

7 out of 11, 64%

USA v. Costa Rica - The Battle in the Snow

Six inches of snow fall. Freezing temperatures. Minimal visibility. These extreme conditions were met by both teams on the road to qualifying for the World Cup when the USA played Costa Rica in front of a sell out crowd (19,374) in Colorado on Friday March 22, 2013. The 1-0 win by the US Men's National Team was gritty, hard-fought, and classic. It was a true testament to the 100 year old federation and their spirit of grinding, die-hard play.

With a new starting 'keeper between the sticks and Clint Dempsey's first game wearing the armband, Jurgen Klinsmann had a mountain of criticism to confront. In the week leading up to the challenge, reports surfaced of discord in the locker room. Anonymous quotes detailing a lack of unity between German-born players and the more stateside players arose. Other quotes announced a lack of faith in the coach's preparation and strategy, coming on the heels of Klinsmann's omission of veteran back and former captain Carlos Bocanegra. Add that to the constant worries of a young, inexperienced back line and the pressure could have turned coal into diamonds. But that just may have been it.

By no means was it a beautiful game, but the snow covered scenes still were pretty at times. Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley did their part in holding up play and stepping on the ball to give the attack a chance to build. Patience and strength gave way to a considerable amount of possession for the US team (60% in the first half), eventually leading to a tap-in goal by Captain Clint. A shot by Altidore at the top of the box deflected off of a Costa Rican defender and Dempsey was left alone in front of an empty net to tuck it in for the game's lone goal in the 16th minute.

For the remainder of the game, the United States showed their gritty side that has lead them to the World Cup time and time again. Omar Gonzalez, Clarence Goodson, Geoff Cameron, and veteran DaMarcus Beasley sured up the defense and locked the Costa Ricans out of the game. It remains to be seen if Beasley is merely a band aid at the outside back position or if he will be the answer, but it reflects well on the coach's decision making to have put such a veteran presence at the back.
Showing amazing calm and tremendous composure in the absurd conditions, the US team gained three points to put them in second place on the Hexagonal table.

Where is our #10?

In the beautiful game, the number 10 has always meant being the playmaker, the facilitator, the trusted one. Landon Donovan has always been that person for American soccer throughout his career, until now. The reigning champion hasn't kicked a ball for his club or country since the whistle blew in Los Angeles on December 1st and the effects of his absence are getting more influential as the clock ticks down to his return.

The captain's armband is being worn by Robbie Keane for the LA Galaxy and the MLS Cup winners are already in a position to evolve without David Beckham. After months of silence, Landon announced in February that he would return to training "by the end of March." Bruce Arena has called upon his young guns to step up and veteran Mike Magee to lead the attack. But the Galaxy face arguably the toughest season yet in pursuit of an unprecedented three-peat as numerous teams around the league have bolstered their rosters with designated players, SuperDraft signings, and blockbuster trades.

Tim Cahill, Australian international and NYRB designated player, called for Donovan to "embrace the weight of the world," and to "question why you play football." As a former teammate of Landon's at Everton, Cahill got to know Donovan well and can even draw strong comparisons to him. Both have been captains of international sides for countries whose national sport it not soccer. Both have had success playing in Europe as well as brought unparalleled stardom to Major League Soccer.

It's this "weight of the world" that has Landon Donovan publicly questioning his own commitment to the sport. Twelve MLS seasons, two loan spells in England, numerous grueling World Cup Qualifiers, and a tough extra time loss to Ghana in South Africa have seemingly taken their toll on the mind and body of the 31 year old Californian.

However, now may be the most important time for him to return to the game on an international level. Dropping the opening game in the Hex to Honduras and facing a tough schedule ahead of them, the USMNT is feeling a whole lot of pressure. Defensive woes aside, the US don't have a clear playmaker. Michael Bradley does well to win balls in the middle but he doesn't have another midfielder to help facilitate the attack. Dempsey and Altidore have proven themselves as lethal goal scorers in European premier leagues but they look tame without someone to feed them the ball in the middle to attacking third.

No other active player in American soccer has the experience of Landon Donovan. He's seen it all when it comes to World Cup Qualifying in CONCACAF. Rocks thrown at team busses, high fences in hostile territories, and obscenely poor pitch conditions may be new to some of the players on the current USMNT roster, but not to Landon Donovan. And it's clear now more than ever that Jurgen Klinsmann needs a number 10 to lead them through the qualifying if they want to have a fighting chance at a trip to Brazil in 2014.

Bad Start on a Rough Road

Defensive miscues, inexperience, and questionable coaching were the downfall of the USMNT in San Pedro Sula yesterday as the US dropped the opening game of the Hex to Honduras. A 2-1 road defeat is not the start that Jurgen Klinsmann and the team had hoped for.

Electing to go with the young back line of Chandler, Gonzalez, Cameron, and Johnson, Klinsmann gambled by giving the inexperienced a chance and leaving Carlos Bocanegra on the bench. At first I liked this decision because I think if Gonzalez is going to be the future center back of our national team, he needs to be in every serious game from here on out. However, Tim Chandler looked clearly unfit after the 30' and was caught ball watching on the fist Honduran goal. Unacceptable by the young outside back and one now has to question why Bocanegra was not subbed in, having played the outside back role many times in his career. 

Offensively, it was Clint Dempsey again to strike for the US. Deuce has been in top form for Tottenham lately and appears to still be our only lethal threat up top. Jozy played well in a matured role, creating chances and most notably putting forth a composed performance. However, he is a player that needs to be supported by an attacking midfielder with good delivery. We lacked such a midfielder as Bradley had a hot and cold game and Jones only facilitated well in his assist on Dempsey's goal. Danny Williams was a non factor on the outside flank, leaving the door open for Graham Zusi and Maurice Edu to fight for a starting role. Herculez Gomez, a player that has proved lethal for the US in the previous round of qualification, watched from the bench. 

This performance has also given way to the media begging the question: will Landon Donovan come back into the fold? It was apparent that the USMNT still needs his attacking creativity and reliable passing ability. Donovan's vast CONCACAF experience and his veteran leadership could help bring together this squad of European and MLS players. 

Many questions remain for head coach Jurgen Klinsmann and his staff. As the American soccer legend Cobi Jones put it yesterday, "Klinsmann gambled and he lost." Fortunately, the four other teams in the Hex tied their matches yesterday, leaving the US only a point behind Mexico, Jamaica, Panama and Costa Rica. Yet the fate of other teams does not bare weight on the unresolved issues of the USMNT. They must solve their problems quickly before their next match against the Reggae Boyz and a looming trip to Stadio Azteca.