Would watching this game, even though one despises English futbol, be an example of nationalism or patriotism or chauvinism or just someone without a real job and no taste?

Masochism.

I agree that USA did not play well and did not deserve to win. The manifest bias of the referee made an ugly match even uglier.

The suspension policy used during the World Cup is truly bizarre, especially given that there are precious few watchable soccer players. Is it conceivable that the NBA would make a rule that would force it to suspend Shaq for a game if he fouled out of a previous game? Or even more absurdly, if he accumulated a total of 6 fouls during a previous 2 or 3 game stretch?

A penalty should never be given in an elimination game unless a player attacking the goal is brutally tackled. The call today was ridiculous.

As a team, the US played well enough to advance, had some calls and shots gone their way, and had Donovan and Reyna, the two "stars" not played so timidly.

The US is quite good in soccer, easily in the second tier of nations, as reflected in their FIFA ranking over the past decade or so.

Ghana is an squad of exceptional talent and athleticism, as evidenced by their success at the youth World Cup level.

The US was in this year's "group of death", and but for a few breaks, could have gone through. That's ok, that's soccer and life. They did the nation proud.

I'll miss the amusement factor a tad.

Did a Ghana player score our goal? Or did the US finally actually try to score?

Blaming the officials. Finally, something recognizably American about this game.

David: Now you're being unfair. Who's blaming the officials?

Lou, b and arguably Jorge.

David: No. Lou said "USA did not play well and did not deserve to win." I criticize the penalty, but I certainly didn't say the US would have won the game otherwise, because I don't believe that. Jorge doesn't even come close to "blaming" anyone.

OK, everybody, finish your juice boxes and get in the minivan. We're going to Chuck E. Cheese's.

OK, have it your way: There's nothing recognizably American about this game.

Mike, they do that after youth baseball games too.

the bliss of not having to think about soccer for another four years.

David, precious few of the posts about soccer on this site over that last couple of weeks show any evidence of thought.

Not thinking about soccer for 4 years? Perish the thought. These are only the World Cup Finals, there's a whole new round of qualifying matches starting in the next year or two for South and North America.

Not to mention, qualifying for Euro 2008 -- and without the weakling Concacaf, African, and Asian teams in the mix, the football is usually of a higher quality and more competitive in that tourney -- starts in the fall.

And that's only international footy. The domestic leagues will be underway in Europe before you know it.

Meanwhile there's still a lot of football to be played in Germany, and I'm taking the family to opening night at the Chicago Fire's brand-new stadium in Bridgeview this Sat. night.

I'm actually glad the US is out. Ghana deserved to go through. And Ghana v. Brazil will be a helluva of better match than US v. Brazil. Too bad Essian will be suspended however.

And I have hundreds of pictures of my kid's soccer games, which I am sure every one of you is desperately eager to view.

AOG: In the soccer youth leagues, they keep saying that real soccer is nothing like watching twenty screaming kids chase after the ball while the other two kids stand in the goals staring at the clouds.

They're right. It's not as much fun.

The US is quite good in soccer, easily in the second tier of nations...Ghana is a squad of exceptional talent and athleticism...

Any sport where the United States is afraid of Ghana is not a sport I'm gonna pay attention to.