The damage has been done and gallons of ink have already been spilled about the missed call in the US/Slovenia game. But there is still more to be written. We have firm confirmation today that referee Koman Coulibaly of Mali will not ref in the games announced over the last couple of days. But this means he still may ref in future World Cup games in 2010. While we cannot in good faith post his home address, we saw him on the sidelines acting as a fourth official in charge of time during the stunning Italy-New Zealand tie.
A referee should never make the difference in a game and as much as I subscribe to that maxim, I can't help but find it challenging to apply it to the American game. The goal ahead goal scored by Maurice Edu off a free kick from Langdon Donovan should have counted. On every angle and replay there was no American player offsides and there was no fouls committed by American players. There was plenty of holding by Slovenia's players but the ghost foul against America was an extremely costly call. Referees make mistakes, and there have been more than a few in this World Cup, but this egregious mistake really cost America two points.
There is no necessity to hammer the referree on this point, but what is important right now is to discuss America's performance in this game. America came out flat. They come out flat in every single international game. Bradley I am telling you once more get them on some pre-game energy drink and hard rock music before the game. The soft approach that America opens up every game leads to too many allowed goals. This American team should have beaten Slovenia handily. Slovenia is a small nation of 3 million people with a quality soccer team but the American side did not work hard for the first 20 minutes of the game and never played with pace. America needs to come out quicker and put immediate pressure on the ball. This laid back style is going to get them slaughtered when they play a real contender.
The American team cannot leave the game to chance and allow the referee to make a difference. They need to score more quickly. Langdon Donovan played very well in the match and his goal ignited the team into playing like men again. When Donovan received that ball on the left flank and beat the defender to come at the goalie down the sideline everyone in the building and those watching at home as well should have known that Donovan was shooting that ball and he was going to put that ball through the goalie unless the goalie got out of the way. Donovan shot was a rocket right through the goalie's arms.
I hope the Americans watched the Kiwis game against Italy. New Zealand earned that tie with hard work and determination. Almost the whole game, New Zealand had 11 players behind the ball, with even the forwards working back on defense. The American forwards, like their prima donna counterparts on better team who score more, do not like to play much defense and even the outside midfielders are not working as hard as they should. If the players are not conditioned enough for 90 minutes, pull them off the field and get in the subs or start players that can run the full 90. This is the World Cup and if players can't get up to make some big plays on behalf of their country once every 4 years it is time to get new players in there that can.
America is in a must win situation against Algeria. A team they should beat handily. But this American team prefers drama and the hard way to doing anything easy. America needs to come out blazing. Working hard and passing quickly to put a lot of pressure on an Algerian team that they should dominate with skill, possession of the ball and conditioning.
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