THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR LOSING A GAME YOU SHOULD WIN...:

How the USA got it so wrong against Ghana: Tactical decisions cost the USA team dearly in this World Cup, and they could not make up for those to beat a solid Ghana team. (Mark Sappenfield, June 27, 2010, CS Monitor)

[T]here is no doubting that Ghana is a team that the USA could – and maybe should – beat with some regularity. And in that fact lies the USA’s disappointment.

Never in four World Cup 2010 matches could the USA summon for 90 minutes the defensive team effort that it summoned in last year’s 2-0 win over then-world No. 1 Spain. [...]

[F]or the third consecutive match, midfielder Benny Feilhaber replaced an ineffective forward, in this instance, Robbie Findley.

Feilhaber’s range of passing and ability to retain possession were crucial.

Yet, perhaps more important was how his introduction changed the shape of the USA on the field.

More than anything else, it allowed the USA players to take control of the game.

In short, Feilhaber gave the USA a platform from which it could be more flexible and inventive, making it harder for Slovenia and then Algeria and then Ghana to know where key USA players would be, while at the same time providing more defensive rigidity.

...but it is the case that the US central defense was never the same after Gooch got injured against Costa Rice last October. On the other hand, no one can figure out why Coach Bradley doesn't start Feilhaber and it could effectively cost him the job.

Posted by Orrin Judd at June 27, 2010 8:50 AM