Nuremberg, Germany – The U.S. team has become a flashpoint for soccer pundits to espouse the poetry of the game. The U.S. has violated the beautiful game, too.
The Americans were vilified in The New York Times and Rome-based Corriere della Sera for turning their match against Italy into “a war,” a metaphor not popular in peacetime Europe.
The Americans were applauded in the Milan-based La Gazzetta dello Sport and Glasgow’s Daily Record for having the courage and tactics to fight to a 1-1 draw against Italy despite playing one man down through most of the second half.
It’s nice that American soccer became the forefront of conversations during the world’s biggest sporting event, but no one will mention the U.S. after today unless the team produces something it hasn’t done in a World Cup in a long time – a goal.
Going into a must-win game against Ghana (1-1-0, three points) at 8 a.m. MDT today, the leading scorer for the U.S. (0-1-1, one point) is Cristian Zaccardo, a defender for Italy. His mismanagement of a clearing opportunity produced an own goal Saturday, the only goal the U.S. has recorded in its last three World Cup games.
Including the 1-0 2002 quarterfinal loss to Germany and the last 25 minutes of a 2-0 win over Mexico that year in the round of 16, that’s 295 minutes without scoring. It would behoove the Americans to score today. Otherwise, the U.S. will leave here with its biggest mark being two red cards and Brian McBride’s bloodied face against Italy.
The U.S. formula for advancing to the round of 16 against Brazil on Tuesday is simple. The Americans must beat Ghana to earn three points in Group E standings and Italy (1-0-1, four points) must beat the Czech Republic (1-1-0, three points).
Conceivably, the U.S. could advance if it ends group play tied with Italy, but the second tiebreaker is goal difference and the U.S. is five goals behind the Italians and not likely to score six today.
Here’s another simple formula: The U.S. cannot win if it does not score.
“It’s hard to score goals in soccer,” U.S. defender Carlos Bocanegra said. “It’s not lost on any of us we haven’t scored a goal. The problems arise when you don’t create chances. That’s when you start to wonder. That’s not an issue. We’re getting our chances.”
True, they have taken their shots. But the Americans have proven wilder than an Appalachian League relief pitcher. They have had 14 shots, but just one on goal.
“That’s the life of the attackers,” forward-midfielder Landon Donovan said. “That’s just the way it goes. The Czechs had four or maybe five chances and had three great goals. The other day (in a 2-0 loss to Ghana), they had a few chances and didn’t score. That’s the way it goes. We hit the net in training.”
Donovan may be the key. Only 24, he has been christened America’s next scoring star. McBride, who is the career-scoring leader with 30 goals, is 34 and in his last World Cup.
Donovan mirrors America’s misfortunes. He was listless against the Czechs, but when coach Bruce Arena moved him from forward to midfielder he nearly beat the Italians by himself.
He has 25 goals in 75 caps and scored the clincher to ice the 2002 win over Mexico. But the Czech loss sent Donovan reeling into self-doubt. He talked with old coaches, former players and mostly talked to himself.
“There was no shortage of criticism,” Donovan said. “It’s pretty clear what the message was: Be more aggressive. You’re good enough.”
Arena has believed that all along. But he didn’t say that after the Czech game. A perturbed Arena said, “Landon showed no aggressiveness.”
Arena changed his tune after the Italy game in which Donovan not only defended against Italy’s stable of dangerous strikers but also forced the action for an outmanned offense.
“I believe in Landon,” Arena said. “I think he’s a great player. He’s only 24 He was a warrior on the field.”
Arena better have more than one warrior today. The U.S. is facing one of the top warriors in the World Cup. Following Ghana’s 2-0 win over the Czechs, one London newspaper listed Ghana’s Michael Essien as a first-team World Cup all-star.
Both teams will be missing two starters to one-game suspensions. The U.S. misses defender Eddie Pope and midfielder Pablo Mastroeni, but Ghana misses its two goal-scorers from the Czech game, Asamoah Gyan and Sulley Muntari.
Essien will have to carry the load for a team, a country and a continent backing the only African team to win in the tournament. To advance all Ghana needs is a tie, then must hope the Czechs don’t beat Italy. A win automatically advances Ghana.
John Henderson can be reached at 303-820-1299 or jhenderson@denverpost.com.
