US doesn't win World Cup

Big surprise, huh?

Reasons:

1. Not the refs. Sure, they blew some calls and were over ambitious with the yellows, but they don't lose a game for you. They can swing momentum, but that's about it.
2. Bruce. As an amateur, I have no place to talk. But isn't that what a blog is for?? Bruce played a status quo team- solid, but not impressive. Donovan made no impact, Beasely was wretched in the 1st match and played better in the last 2. McBride tried his best but got few crosses to deal with accordingly. Where was Eddie Johnson? Brian Ching? Maybe some fresh legs to bring some momentum.
3. Defense. Poor clearances and overall mediocre play left the US in a hole from the beginning. Having to play each match a goal down and not being able to take the lead was a killer. The first goal they gave up - in minute 5 of the first match - was our first clue that it would be a long World Cup (long, as in - we'd stink). Pope and Onyewu looked horribly confused with Koeller running freely through the box.
4. Lack of a national chant/song. What do we plan to do, jump up and down singing America, The Beautiful?? We need some crazy, blood pumpin' song to get our fans and players riled up (and none of this Ole Ole Ole junk that is so overused).
   

[Tangent- have you ever been to a European futbol match. Or an Australian footie game. Or anything with international competition? They always have a "club song"- like a fight song. And they sing it loud and hard. For an easy example, did you see how the Dutch showed up in the Winter Olympics to cheer on their speed skaters? Phenomenal support just to watch two people going around in laps 320 times (and no, this is quite different from NASCAR). ]

So, the US has some growing up to do. 2002 was - not a fluke - maybe just lucky. We were underrated, underestimated, and we ran the pitooey off the pitch (the soccer field, for you Yankees). We just ran. And ran. And ran really hard and fast. And got lucky to score. This year, we are 4 years older, slower, and people watched us much more cautiously. (It's like Ronaldinho - probably the best player in the Cup. But has he scored? Nope. B/c everyone is watching him like a hawk. But he knows how to open up opportunities for his team. The US seems to only know how to blow direct kicks from 20 yards out.)

So another 4 years until we get to agonize over every match. Until then, let's start working on that fight song....