Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Ghana 2 - US 1

Italy, and Ghana Advance to the round of 16. Landon Donovan, Claudio Reyna and Kasey Keller return to the US.

In the aftermath of defeat, it is easy to see the mistakes, the critical moments and the writing on the wall. But these are the advantages of hindsight, and no matter how much analyst criticize the play of Team USA, nothing will push them into the round of 16.

For the US, today's loss to Ghana represents all that ails the sport in the US. For your average American, watching World Cup soccer is like trying out your first Indy 500- it's long, tediously boring and in the rare instances that it becomes exciting, things usually catch on fire.

Just kidding.

But seriously, the performance of the US at this World Cup has all but torpedoed the growth in national interest. Had America moved on, like it did in 2002, American soccer confidence would swell. America's MLS, collegiate leagues and youth programs would begin to believe that they are doing something right. Domestic interest would peak up, and coverage of the World Cup would improve. With a win, and an advancement, Landon Donovan could remain the poster-boy hero he has become, Claudio Reyna could get credit for captaining a talented team, and Bruce Arena could prove definingly that he is the man to coach the US.

On a sidenote, if Bruce Arena was coaching a national team in Europe and they played to this result, people would be burning effigies on street corners and demanding his resignation.

I hate to slam Kasey Keller, but his time has come to exit the American soccer scene. Like an old machine in a new factory, Keller holds back the pace of his teammates and is no longer ready to mind the American net. Maybe, I am being to harsh. Then again, if Fridel, 2002 US goalkeeper, had been there for the Penalty Kicks, he just may have stopped it, like he did to 2 Korean PKs in 2002.

To be fair, Ghana played to win and got the result that their determination demanded. The US was never really in this tournament, though they breifly shook to life against Italy, most of the time the US looked like it was watching a soccer game NOT playing it.

Landon Donovan ought to be ashamed of himself in every which way. After whoring himself to the media, milking American sportswear for all the sponsorship it provides and billing himself as the messiah of American soccer, Donovan literally dropped the ball. I hope that he can mature as a player and realize that his skills need work, and that he must be ready to compete agaisnt the world. If you identify yourself as the icon of American Soccer, you run the risk of being its most hated member when you disappoint the masses.

Clint Dempsey may be the only member of the team whose inspired, 'look-what-I-can-do-soccer' reeks of European and Brazilian prowess. Clint's solo blast in the first half was America's only goal. After ending without a goal against the Czech and surviving on an own goal against Italy, rookie Clint Dempsey recieves the noble honors of scoring Team USA's only goal.

Dempsey, not Donovan, is the future of American soccer. He is more confident against the big names in the big games than anyone else wearing the red, white and blue. Like Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rooney, Ruud, or Raul, Dempsey not only controls the ball on the attack, but plays with it. His well-honed ball skills are EXTREMELY dangerous against any defender. He must return to lead Donovan and the US to World Cup glory in 2010.

Four years is a long time to wait until the US can give the world another taste of its improvement. Hopefully, when 2010 rolls around, the US will not only dominate CONCACAF, but also the entire world cup field. By that time, a new goalie will be in the net, and new core of American talent will be on the field, and Bruce Arena may no longer making the line-ups.

Oh what a beautiful day that will be.