THE WAGES OF COWARDICE:

World Cup: Slovenia vs. Algeria: Slovenia's victory puts it atop Group C ahead of U.S. and England (AP, June 13, 2010)

Robert Koren scored a late goal Sunday to give Slovenia a 1-0 win over 10-man Algeria in the teams' tournament opener, putting the World Cup's smallest nation — population 2 million, about the size of Houston — ahead of the United States and England in Group C.

The Slovenian captain struck a long-range shot that Algeria goalkeeper Fawzi Chaouchi misjudged and allowed to bounce into the net after deflecting off his arm in the 79th minute at Polokwane, South Africa.

"I was just lucky to see it go in like that," Koren said.

Algerian Coach Rabah Saadane said the new World Cup ball was a challenge for goalkeepers.

"Everyone saw what happened with the ball, and what happened yesterday with England's goalkeeper," Saadane said. "You have to adjust to the flight of the ball."

Only in soccer would coaches not have figured out yet that they need to change their game plans (only kidding) and shoot from range at every opportunity.

But this result drives home what an appalling decision Bob Bradley made yesterday ion not putting England to the sword when they were helpless. The American squad has a notorious tendency to play down to the level of our competition--as yesterday--and squander wins. If we do that against Slovenia and/or Algeria we risk going home with nothing to show for the result he was so happy to settle for.

Posted by oj at June 13, 2010 1:08 PM
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