World Cup - US vs Germany

I
I believe
I believe that
I believe that we
I believe that we will win
I believe that we will win
I believe that we will win
I believe that we will win

Oh crap.

I believe that we can tie
I believe that we can tie
I believe that we can tie

Oh crap.

Portugal don't let Ghana win
Ghana keep Portugal in check
Portugal don't let Ghana win
Ghana keep Portugal in check.

That's how my emotions went during the game.  How about yours?

When you're playing one of the favorites to win the Cup and coming out of the "group of death," sometimes it's okay to back your way into continuing your trek towards the Cup.  A 1-0 loss to Germany is not the worst thing in the world, especially on a day's less rest, on a very soggy and wet field.  Thankfully, Portugal helped the US out by beating Ghana.  I thought it was interesting to hear that every team that played in Manaus, which is where the US played Portugal, lost their next game.  Unfortunately, the US continued that trend.

For all the talk of a gentlemen's agreement between Klinsmann (a former Germany player and coach) and the current Germany coach, this game had none of that.  The game had some chippy moments and it was obvious the way that both teams played that a tie was not a goal for either team.  Even in the last two minutes of the game, the fight was still there for both teams.  Lahm for Germany ran back 60 yards to block Bedoya's attempt on goal and seconds after that the US managed another header attempt by Dempsey.  That's what you want to see in the World Cup.  Play the games like you want to beat the world and see who comes out on top.

I saw two different sites awarding the Man of the Match.  One went to Jermaine Jones, while the other gave it to Beckerman.  Until he proves it otherwise, my Man of the Match for all three group games has been Tim Howard.  He's been a beast in the goal and if not for his play, the US would not be in this position.  In this game, Howard had 8 saves.  Even the goal that went in, Howard made the right play immediately before it, he just got unlucky that his clearance went directly to Muller who fired a perfect shot through traffic into the side netting.  But if you watch that play again, Howard did the right thing by punching the shot away from goal because if he had tried to catch a very wet ball and missed, there was an unmarked Germany player right there next to him ready and able to put the ball in himself.  Sometimes that's the way it goes.  Punch the ball away from the immediate threat and it lands perfectly in position for somebody else to score anyway.  But Howard's play has been spectacular during all three games.

Survive and advance.  That's the phrase used in the NCAA tournament and that's what the US did today to make it into the Round of 16.