WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED THIS AFTERNOON IN SOUTH AFRICA?!!!!
The USA was dead and buried as they dug themselves into the biggest hole that I have ever seen and there was no way I thought they could advance into the Semi-Finals. I thought they were going to play well against Egypt, but never expected them to advance till Brazil gave a helping hand and scored three big goals in the first half in their final Group B match against Italy.
A helping hand out of no where and when Charlie Davies toe pokes the ball past the keeper for Egypt to make it four all together, there was a good shot that a miracle was about to happen. But that Davies goal in the 21st minute was a major case of hard work by him to keep the ball away from both the keeper and the defender till he actually got a boot on it and scored the first goal of the match.
The second half also started to look promising for the USA and in the 63rd minute Landon Donovan entered the area and crossed it to Michael Bradley who slotted the ball home and gave his Coach and Dad the best Father’s Day gift he could give him. As much as I have been critical of Clint Dempsey he has earned everything negative till this match. He finally got his fire back and his swagger on the pitch. A diving header in the 71st minute after accepting a looping cross from Jay DeMerit which was the goal that gives the USA advancement to the Semi-Finals against Spain who won Group A of the Confederations Cup this coming Wednesday, June 24th.
Everything is not fully forgiven right now. Their last 1 1/2 performence against Brazil and that second half against Italy is not erased from the memory banks. This team has to show some heart now and they have to show it against the European Cup Champions Spain. While you can argue tactics & formations, the only thing I will look for from our boys is if they brought their passion from the hotel room to the stadium on Wednesday.
