Sunday, June 27, 2010

Sunday (Very) Quickie: US Booted

Well, THAT was disappointing. It is probably for the best that the US was simply out-played, rather than robbed or victim of a fluke.

Same old story: Early goal. Make that two: Early in regulation, early in extra time. In the World Cup, you simply can't win like that. Not regularly, anyway.

It is impossible to begrudge Ghana, the last remaining African country in the Cup and full of fresh young talent that seemed to want it more -- or, more accurately, fear less -- than the sluggish US.

(You have to root for Ghana against Uruguay, right? BTW: That 2nd Uruguay goal was as sick as you will see in soccer, ever.)

What next for the US? I was not a Bob Bradley fan heading into the Tournament, and I think this finish -- premature and disappointing -- was a referendum on his style and decision-making.

(Roberto Clark played terribly yesterday. Altidore is the Striker Who Can't Score. Findlay is fast, but not much else. Where was Buddle? Where was Gomez?)

You can only hope that in four years, for the 2014 World Cup, there is an evolution of US players who are even further Euro-trained and ready to advance the sport here.

Otherwise, the thrill ride that is the US Soccer team at the 2010 World Cup is over. It was fun -- or mostly fun -- while it lasted. Keep watching the rest of the tournament.

More:

LeBron Watch: Reportedly, he is not going on a tour; he is simply taking meetings in Akron. More than that, he is leaning toward the Bulls -- as he should, given that they have the best base of existing young talent (Rose, Noah) and the room for Bron AND Bosh. (Gee, thanks, Ernie Grunfeld!)

I'm going to dig into this a lot more later this week, but when the Knicks are inevitably shut out of the LeBron Sweepstakes (and Wade, too), it is a failure of the highest order -- up there with anything Isiah ever did. More on that later this week.

Wow, did England get routed out just now by Germany. Really looking forward to Argentina-Mexico later today.

-- D.S.

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