The United States didn’t deserve to go out of the World Cup Thursday against Germany — not after coming within 30 seconds of clinching their place in the knockout stages against Portugal, and battling gamely against the worst travel schedule in the competition, and a group of death that promised and delivered drama and hardship.
If the US had gone out today, it would have meant that Ghana knocked the Americans out of three World Cups in a row; this time, Ghana would have sent the US packing despite playing a different team – Portugal – and losing to the US earlier in the tournament.
No, that would have been too much. Too cruel. Too devastating. So when the Americans needed some help and got it on Thursday, they didn’t owe any apologies to anyone.
They gave the Germans a tough time, and were only beaten by a world-class goal by Thomas Muller.
So even though it was dark sheets of rain and gloom that cascaded down on Recife, it was all sunshine and light in Brasilia, where Cristiano Ronaldo’s late goal ensured safe American passage.
That’s the World Cup for you: CR7 turned American hero.
A drenched Jurgen Klinsmann was downright bubbly in his post-match press conference. Now the fun begins for the United States.
They’ve made it through the Group of Death, defying a world’s worth of scoffs and doubt, but more importantly keeping the US’ country-wide soccer joy ride on the road for the biggest game of them all.
It wasn’t easy – as Klinsmann said after conceding in the 95th minute against the Portuguese, “we have to do it the hard way.” Heat of the moment or not, Klinsmann had a point: Of the eight teams that played in diabolical Manaus, none were seeded at the World Cup draw.
Going by simple ratios, one out of every four World Cup teams was seeded. Two should have had to contend with the jungle. None did.
The game against Germany wasn’t much fun either. The US, outclassed but undaunted, scraped and scraped their way through 90 slow, difficult minutes.
As Klinsmann – who wouldn’t answer questions in German before the match – happily said in German after the match, “I’m glad it’s over.”
Never in his managerial career did Klinsmann look as gaunt and devastated as he did after his adopted country was paired with his native country last December at the World Cup draw.
“While Löw may have won the battle, Klinsmann may yet win the war”
Well said.
When the draw happened in December 2013, I told all of my co-workers that the US would make it out of the group stage. All of them thought I was crazy.
My reason for thinking they would, Klinsmann. In 2006, before the world cup started, Klinsmann took a lot of flack and criticism from the German media, fans and the big names Bosses at Bayern Munich (Bayern Munich Management always have an option on National Team matters and they think they’re in charge).
When Germany lost to Italy in a pre-WC friendly in 2006, Klinsmann came under big pressure by Germans and yet once the World Cup started, all the work and planning he did paid off (yeah I know they didn’t win the WC).
I saw the same things that he did for German as he was doing for the US). Klinsmann has been there as player and coach (been there, done that). He understands and knows what it takes. He really believes and feels in what he does and that it works.
Klinsmann is the prime example of this year US chant “I believe win can win”
aaaah, typos. believe we can win (not win can win). sorry 🙂
Beckerman has been fine, but can we stop with the OTT praise. He is there solely to provide some defensive help in front of an inexperienced back line. Without Jones, who has been by far the US’ best midfielder, it would be a much more difficult task for Beckerman and there is no way the US would be going on to the knockout rounds. He made one very good pass yesterday, and the rest of the time it was not so good ones or backwards.