Post-Game Reaction: USA 1, Belgium 2

All Hail Tim Howard

Tim Howard, Tim Howard, Tim Howard, Tim Howard. Did I mention Tim Howard? Holy cow, can a goalie get some help from his field players? There was no offense or defense in the majority of this game for Team USA, there was only Tim Howard and his imitation of a brick wall in the Round of 16 against Belgium. 16 unbelievable saves to single-handedly keep the United States in this game for 120 minutes. The offense could not keep possession of the ball and the defense did the bare minimum in trying to stop the Belgian attack. That left Howard holding his ground as the last resistance to a relentless Belgian team that for most of the game could not crack the code that is getting the ball passed Howard.

Post-Game Reaction: USA 0, Germany 1

Life After The Group of Death

Very few people, myself included, expected to see the United States survive the Group of Death, but they remain standing and continue on to the knockout round. The U.S./Germany game is a difficult one to break down because both teams were essentially playing for the tie. Neither team really seemed to want to push too far up for fear of giving up a goal on the counterattack. However, Germany did have a lot of chances in the first half to really make the U.S. sweat, but the Germans had a lot of trouble finding the back of the net. Most of the same problems the U.S. have had in this World Cup did stick out against Germany one again, but there were a couple of bright spots.

Post-Game Reaction: USA 2, Portugal 2

30 Seconds To Glory

The United States entered this game with the strategy of playing for the tie, which is very rarely a good idea because it means having the ball in your defensive end for most of the game. Klinsmann, in the absence of Jozy Altidore due to injury, chose to play a 4-5-1 with two defensive midfielders and just Clint Dempsey playing up top. The game plan, however, quickly needed to be adjusted when the U.S. got off to a nightmare start to the game, a horribly botched clearance by Geoff Cameron led to a gift of a goal six yards out by Portugal’s Nani in the 5th minute, and now had to look to score and get the game back level. The U.S. did a great job maintaining their composure after going down early and actually outplayed Portugal for almost the entire game. Jermaine Jones tied the game in the 64th minute after a picture perfect strike from almost 30 yards left Portugal goalkeeper Beto merely a flat-footed spectator. In the 81st minute Dempsey converted on an easy tap in off his stomach from a cross courtesy of Graham Zusi and the U.S., needing a win to guarantee a spot in the Round of 16, looked like they were on their way to a victory. However, when you are facing Ballon d’Or award winner Cristiano Ronaldo you cannot afford to celebrate until the final whistle blows, which is exactly what led to the game-tying goal for Portugal. With the last play of the game the United States seemingly fell asleep and Ronaldo sent in a beautiful cross that was headed home by a cutting Varela, who was undeterred on his way to the ball. Portugal’s slim hopes were kept alive in this World Cup and the Americans were denied a guaranteed spot in the knockout stage.

Post-Game Reaction: USA 2, Ghana 1

Right Out the Gates

If you turned away to settle into your chair, you might have missed it. It was the start the United States needed against a Ghana team built to counter attack. Half a minute into the start of the game midfielder Jermaine Jones played a great ball to a cutting Clint Dempsey who maneuvered around his defender and struck a left footed shot just far enough away from the outstretched foot of the Ghanaian goalkeeper to hit the back post and then the back of the net. Just like that, the United States were on top and could allow themselves to play it a little safer in order to stop a fast moving Ghana team from countering. For a United States team playing by far its easiest match it will face as a member of the Group of Death, the often offensively inept American squad was injected with a much needed boost of confidence by captain Clint Dempsey, who now has more career World Cup goals (3) than Argentina’s Lionel Messi (2) and England’s Wayne Rooney (0) combined.