photo by Joe Toth/ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
If the U.S. national team's World Cup opening draw against England was a test of its character, the match against Slovenia was a final exam.
After falling behind, 2-0, to goals from Valter Birsa and Zlatan Ljubijankic, the United States managed a memorable comeback draw in its second Group C match.
Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley each netted second-half goals, as the Americans erased another slow start. Donovan became the third American to score in multiple World Cups, rifling home a shot over goalkeeper Samir Handanovic from a tight angle, while Bradley got on the end of a headed pass from Jozy Altidore before knocking the ball into the net in the 82nd minute.
While the 2-2 draw was a good result for the United States considering the circumstances it was in, the game ended in controversial fashion. Maurice Edu got on the end of a Donovan free kick and scored what would have been the go-ahead goal, but Malian referee Koman Coulibaly waved it off for a nonexistent foul.
Bad call or not, the United States' hopes of advancing to the knockout stages are still alive, with a win against Algeria in the final group match all that is needed to do so.
Here are the match highlights, as well as from the rest of Friday's matches:
Algeria holds England to scoreless draw
England may boast a team with some of the best players in the world, but for the second straight game that talent couldn't pull out a win.
England was held to a 0-0 draw by Algeria, leaving the frustrated Three Lions with just two points from two games in Group C.
Facing the possibility of elimination, Algeria stood toe-to-toe with Wayne Rooney and England en route to its first point of the tournament. Despite losing the possession battle, the Desert Foxes put forth an organized defensive effort and even attempted to get forward in search of a goal that never came.
The 0-0 draw leaves both teams with a chance to advance for the Round of 16, although Algeria needs a win and some help in order to progress. The Three Lions, which are facing the possibility of elimination from a group the English media deemed easy, has a couple ways in which it could advance, but a win against Slovenia is the simplest scenario.
Here are the match highlights:
10-man Germany falls to Serbia, 1-0
A first-half red card and a missed penalty kick were Germany's undoing as it lost its first World Cup group stage match since 1986.
In a match with a card-happy referee, Serbia shocked the Germans, 1-0, off a Milan Jovanovic shot in the 38th minute. The goal, which Jovanovic scored from close range, came moments after Miroslav Klose was ejected from the match with his second yellow.
Even with the man advantage, Serbia's defense struggled to keep Germany from equalizing. The Serbians surrendered a penalty kick for the second consecutive match when Nemanja Vidic handled a ball at the hour mark. Goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic stopped the ensuing kick from Lukas Podolski, setting the tone for the remainder of the game as Serbia won its first World Cup match as an independent nation.
Former U.S. youth national team defender Neven Subotic started, played 90 minutes and received a yellow card in the match.
Here are the match highlights:
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What do you think of Friday's games? Think the United States-Slovenia match was the best of the tournament so far? Impressed by Algeria? What do you attribute England's struggles to? Think Germany and Serbia will both get out of Group D?
Share your thoughts below.
Busy heating up some soup in his trailer?
There’s one camera angle from the ref’s view and from the ref’s angle it looks like edu is getting ready to push the defender in the back, edu’s elbow is bent, and his hand is on the defenders back, but the push never happens. Edu was just using the arm to feel the position of the defender and slide off of him. I think the ref blew for what he thought was going to be a clear push, it didn’t happen and he couldn’t take it back.
Aristotle…I have to agree on your Gooch comment. I don’t think the guy is ready, and I think at this point he is hurting the team, more than helping. It’s like he’s in the lineup just for the sake of being on the pitch. I don’t get it.
Landon Donovan’s goal was the best and most important of his career. It was electrifying. Without it the U.S. would very likely be out of the World Cup even with a win against Algeria. It was a spooky moment for me because he didn’t seem to have any hope of scoring from that angle, yet I could almost feel this sense of anger from Donovan that made me feel like he was going to score even if he had to rip a hole through the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper must have felt the same thing. Has anyone ever seen a goalkeeper cringe in fear like that from a ball he could clearly save?
It’s a shame Torres didn’t work out but he did have a wicked free kick.
Is everyone still sure Onyewu is fit enough? He really hurt the U.S.
You have to wonder about Howard’s injury too. There was a lack of movement on both goals. You shouldn’t be completely frozen on a ball hit from that far out. Then on the second goal he would normally have gone down and possibly stuffed that goal, but he seemed reluctant to go to the ground except for his feet. That’s not the normal Tim Howard. If he’s not fit for the next game he needs to be benched. Painful ribs are going to hurt your mobility no matter how tough you are.
The refusal to give Gomez a decent chance while giving someone like Findley, who clearly has not earned it, chance after chance is a travesty. Thankfully Bob cannot continue with this whether he wants to or not. Findley’s ridiculous yellow card is one that I’m actually happy about from a team standpoint, even if it’s unfair to him personally.
The U.S. cannot give up an early goal again! If they can just eke out a win against Algeria they will be through.
@Scott A – Nope, there’s what looks like a foul (even though in slow motion you can see it isn’t, really). Just watched the replay, and Hercules Gomes is grabbing his marker and the marker moves backwards towards the goal.
At speed, the ref is gonna see it as Gomez shoving the guy backwards, but in slow motion you can see both are grasping one another and the Slovenian is just losing the push.
So it was a jobbed call, but I don’t think it was dirty or imaginary, just a screwup.
dam it…you were talking bout Torres!!!! I’ll shut up now
I’ve been wishing horrible things to happen to that ref all day long. Just unbelievable.
How the F. is he not the reason we didn’t win???? We scored 3 they scored 2, the ref took 1 away from us so we tied…Can’t you do the math??
You gotta admire the fight and grit the USA has shown in this World Cup so far. There’s more to play, and they definitely need to be better defensively, but it’s nice to know that even when your team is down 2-0, they’re not gonna quit. They have heart, which goes a long way. Just ask any England fan.
If the USA can get out of the group, watch out for Bradley. He’s primed for a breakout performance in this tournament.
I’m choosing to believe your explanation because right now my head is throbbing and I need relief from thinking we got f’ed. I think you’re wrong but…nope, just gonna tell myself you’re right that there was a foul. And I’m not being sarcastic
Whether it was why he made the call or not, there is a clear foul on the play. Edu only has a clear path to goal because the U.S. player directly behind him is grabbing the Slovenian to set a pick. So it might’ve been that.
But on the whole, crap ref’ing. Made MLS look competent.
Nothing excites me more than Bradley. The guy is a scrapper that has the ‘it’ factor to find goals. The fact that he is only 22 yrs old should have every US fan numb with joy. Bradley, torres, altidore, edu, etc. These are all young players gaining experiece for the future. Not to beat a dead horse but fifa has to come down on that ref for edu’s lost goal. At the very least a PK should have been issued for bradley being bear hugged from behind and then thrown to the ground. That was the only foul on the play and it was blatant. The frustration of that goal not counting is overwhelming. I have to give it to bradley for his halftime adjustment. Torres didnt workout but he made the change and brought BF and ME in. Pushing LD up top changed the pace… something to consider moving forward to Algeria.
Yeah, just like Ireland should ask for a reversal of Thier…wait, nevermind.
As incensed as I am about the bogus call today, what’s done is done, and given FIFA’s history with similar situations, I would be shocked with so much as an explanation and apology.
I think we just need to hope this gives our guys the chip on their shoulder they need to come out guns blazing against Algeria so we don’t have to worry about this happening again.
This… I say throw Holden on the wing for some good crosses and let Dempsey roam free.
No fewer than 5 us players being mauled on that goal, followed by the referee screwing the whole team. I feel justifiably hard done by.
Not corruption. Inept officiating. If you lok he was going to blow the whistle no matter what happened. It’s an easy way out for a ref that is in way over his head.
+100000000
I just watched the firt 15 minutes–again, and honestly, I don’t see much wrong that the US did, Slovenia, but executed really really well.
Well, I said on another thread that I would have started Edu for Clark and Buddle for Findley, and kept everybody else the same as we had for England.
Buddle has a superior first touch to Findley, and finishes better. Edu is a strong box to box midfielder who can get forward and score, but also control the ball and play defense. Holden might also have been a good choice to play outside mid, with Dempsey pushed up top with Altidore and Findley left off. Torres I think got muscled around a bit because he’s fairly diminutive, and the Slovenians play physically in the midfield.
It will be interesting to see what line up we come out with against Algeria, because it’s a MUST WIN, and we cannot afford to be too conservative.
Aww, but everyone loves a good conspiracy. I agree with your post. The only thing I would point out was that the Slovenian player had Bocanegra in a headlock. I am probably harder than anyone on the USA, but there wasn’t even a hint of a foul anywhere on that play. Sometimes the ref misses something. I just wish FIFA would issue some type of statement at least stating who was called for the foul.
muchas gracias mi amigo!
I think the U.S. should definitely ask for the reversal of that incompetent referee’s decision, and if there is any fair play in the game, Algeria should agree.
Gerard
If it’s all about speed, bring on an Olympic team sprinter. He can probably pass with as much accuracy as Findley. Nah, Findley hasn’t been awful, but BB should have given him more experience if he planned to play him as a starter in the WC. I think BB had no idea he was going to select Findley until the last minute, and I don’t care what anyone says to the contrary.
[From a Mexico fan] The US outplayed Slovenia and should have won the game, no question about it. Thing is, that’s how soccer is sometimes. I was surprised by that 2nd goal since it was somewhat similar to Gerrard’s goal.
I was very impressed with the resilience and don’t-give-up attitude of the US. Down 2-0 they never gave up and could have won the game. A lot of other teams (the one I root for included) could use lessons on heart & passion from the USMNT.
Now on the 3rd US goal:
(1) The ref was horrible. He did not establish his authority early on and allowed all sorts of wrestling to go on during set pieces.
(2)Watching the replays, I believe he called the foul on Bocanegra. Somehow he didn’t see the other dozen fouls being committed by Slovenia, but that’s the way it is most times – if there’s a lot of mutual fouling in the box, the attacking will get called since it won’t be as controversial as awarding a PK.
(3) Since the US ended up scoring, the result was exactly what the ref didn’t want. If the US hadn’t scored, we wouldn’t be talking about it now.
(4) Lastly, I don’t think there was any conspiracy or corruption behind that call. He blew the whistle before Edu touched the ball. He’s not evil, just incompetent.
Congrats to the USA – now go and show England how to deal with Algeria!
I don’t think so, but it was a real screw job. Just unreal.
It’s actually kind of interesting. Both Feilhaber and Torres have had recent poor showings as starters, but both have an excellent ability to dictate tempo as half-time [or later] subs.
My theory is that they both like the ball at their feet, and the extremely high energy-high press opening to games are too much for them right now. Hopefully Torres can learn to play at the starting intensity of an international game. But for now, I think bringing him as a 2nd half sub when trailing suits him better.
He does everything harder and with more energy, I love that kid!
DITTO! His celebrations are so joyful and powerful, it’s almost like work to him it seems. I love watching it.
Yeah, when I lived abroad that was one of the things I found out. Whether it’s gringo, gordo, pelado, whatever, these names are not generally demeaning. It’s just kind of funny.
i think the 5 other balls into the Slovenian box which were blown dead for phantom fouls suggest a pattern that clearly points to corruption
I loved the Edu Clark analysis, because this is something that so many of the Clark haters always ignore.
Findley is on the team for his speed and he has done what he needed to do. He is not Charlie. Torres like Kljestan do not fit the style and formation of this team. They are not box to box midfielder who are great with defensive abilities.
‘El gringo’ is Torres’ nickname in the Mexican league. I hope you guys don’t take it wrong, ‘gringo’ is not used in a demeaning way.
The phantom foul at the end of usa-slovenia is so blatant it suggests corruption.
Ditto on Clark and his defensive ability to support the CDs. I think him not being in there hurt us. Guaranteed he is or Edu is out there to start vs Algeria. I would prefer EDU, good defender, not as good as Clark, but his Edu’s attack has more upside.
I thought Slovenia’s coach surprised Bradley a bit by having his team play more openly and try to score. Looks like Torres started to give more passing acumen, but we missed having Clark in the midfield to help squash their attack. Torres played pretty well, but seemed challenged by the tall, physical Slovenians (certainly bigger than the Mexican league players he’s used to…) Demerit was very solid, and looks like he’s in the same form as during the Confederations Cup last summer. Gooch looked like he slipped a bit from his form against England. Jozy was an absolute beast up top — great to see that fire lit. Another solid game from Cherundolo, and Bradley was all over the field. Hope we see more of Gomez in Game 3.
My Spanish is muy malo, so I was a little stunned to hear “Astro Boy” and it took me a minute to figure out they were talking about Rooney. Then I couldn’t stop laughing.
US looked like a totally different team with a fifth mid. Bottom line is that Findley, and perhaps Buddle and Gomez, fail to add more than another mid when it comes to the attack. Let Dempsey run wherever he wants and get Benny or Holden in there.
I think little Mikey earned himself a lot of money today. Donovan too for that matter
I was happy when I saw Clarke out and Torres in but all along I have called for Benny Feilhaber to be the starter. To be honest I dont know how he did individually but we dominated the 2nd half and they should start that lineup next game. I want to see Beasley get some time too.
Oh Rooney…where are you?
Edson Buddle must be wondering when he is going to make it onto the pitch. Although Finley is good, he is not WC ready. Let’s give Altidore and Buddle a try–or heck with it…this should be the starting lineup v. Algeria
Donovon Dempsey
Beasley Bradley Clark Felhaiber
Cherundolo DeMerit Goodson Bocanegra
Howard
I really do enjoy when Michael Bradley scores. I think he celebrates harder and with more energy than anyone on the team.
Uno With no Findley pair Dempsey up top w/ Alti
Dos We need to shut down Algeria’s attacking backs.
CRASH THE BOX
JFT was disappointing today, but what do you expect? 10+ caps, 1st WC appearance. Was he set up to fail or atleast be less than spectacular? I say yes. The ref sucked! Gooch was awful, slow and NEVER first to the ball in the air! We cannot continue to play from behind. But I think we would all have settled for a scenario of winning against Algeria = USA goes through. In short, we are in a good position, I would be nervous if I were England. Who will be the next coach if Capello ($$$$$) can’t even get England out of the group? So after two games against Algeria and the USA England has 2 points? Awful.
I watched the England vs Algeria game on Univision and I thought the nicknames that the announcers were using for some of the English players were funny. Maybe because I have never heard them used before…some examples:
Frank Lampard as “Super Franky”
Wayne Rooney and Ashley Cole being referred to by their full names “Wayne Mark Rooney” and Ashley Donovan Cole”
Steven Gerrard or Rooney being called “Astroboy”
Has anyone else heard those being used before?
Thoughts on the US-Slovenia match:
1) Findley may have a future at the national team level, but the int’l game is still too fast for him. No shame in that–it is for a lot of newbies, but I’m kinda glad he can’t play vs. Algeria b/c that means Bradley won’t even be tempted to pick him.
2) Torres didn’t look good. Not entirely his fault, but slick passing by US standards isn’t slick passing by WC standards.
3) I’d like to see Buddle start up top w/Jozy. For all this “speed kills” rhetoric, it hasn’t panned out that way. Play the in-form striker w/ a good first touch. Gomez is the super-sub for whichever one isn’t playing as well.
4) Gooch played poorly. Good thing Demerit stepped up in the 2nd half. I hope Gooch is more into it by the second round (assuming we make it).
5) I’m so glad Algeria tied England b/c it means they have to win (and get help) to advance. Frankly, I think teams with nothing to play for can be very dangerous (think Poland in ’02), whereas they’ll be feeling some pressure to get a result on Wed., and I don’t think they’re as mentally tough as the US. They’ll be a good opponent, but they can’t play cautiously, and hopefully they’ll make some bad giveaways that we can exploit on the counter.
6) That said, I hope we control possession a lot better and have more patient buildup. Again, they can advance w/a win and some help, so they can’t afford to pack nine men behind the ball. Come on, Yanks, you know what you have to do!
Absolute, batty mayhem! If Greece beats Argentina we may see some sense and consistency now in this madcap affair! I think there should be an exhibition match at the end, where all the referees play each other (shirts vs. skins), and the carded players all get to vote on each play.
I said this in another thread. I’m a little disappointed at the scapegoating of JFT. He had a poor half, looked like the occasion overwhelmed him a little. He’s not the reason we didn’t win.
I think we’re all just a little disappointed that he didn’t have the kind of game we know he can have. He should be a contributor for years to come.
Interesting fact, I watched on Univision, and the announcer referred to him as “el gringo” torres every time.
USSF should file a complaint and ask for an explanation about the lost goal.