USA in World Cup Semis? It Can Happen!

US celebrates win over Algeria as they watch
a replay of Donovan's game winning goal.

Just like we all remember watching that disallowed goal against Slovenia, we all will also remember Landon Donovan putting the ball squarely in the left hand side of the net against Algeria in stoppage time. But there is a huge light at the end of that tunnel.

It's the semi-finals at the World Cup, and maybe even more.

I realize that there's the other qualifying matches today, but look at the quarter in the round of 16 in which the US has luckily made its residence. Here's the four teams and their FIFA ranking before the tournament:

1. Paraguay (winner of Group A, FIFA rank: 16)
2. South Korea (2nd in Group B, FIFA rank: 47)
3. USA (winner Group C, FIFA rank: 14)
4. Ghana (2nd in Group D, FIFA rank: 32)

Notice something? The USA is the highest ranked team in this section. I know rankings isn't a definite science, but the path clear to the semis couldn't be much easier for the United States. Paraguay will play South Korea and the US plays Ghana beginning the round of 16 and the knockout phase. If the US beats Ghana (and they are fully capable of doing that), next would be the Paraguay-South Korea winner.

I'll take a red one, please.

The Ghana match won't be that easy. Ghana represents Africa's best chance to have a nation on its continent to advance. The stadium in Rustenburg will be substantially in Ghana's favor. You know what that means? Vuvuzelas all around. Plus, Ghana did knock the US out of 2006 World Cup after beating them in the group stage. A revenge factor for the US might exist, but they must contain that emotion for 90+ minutes.

A couple of keys for tomorrow's game. USA's coach Bob Bradley must find that right combination on the back line. Ghana is as quick as any team at the World Cup. Also, This Ghana team may not be highly regarded, but they have an under-21 championship under their belt. They have played as a team on the international stage and won. Sure they're young, but experienced, too.

Once in the semis, the road develops into something a bit tougher. In the quarter that plays the US quarter winner are a couple of world powers in soccer. Not an easy quarter especially with the inclusion of the either Brazil or Portugal.

1. Netherlands (winner of Group E, FIFA rank: 4)
2. Slovakia (2nd in Group F, FIFA rank: 34)
3. Group G winner (winner of Brazil, FIFA rank: 1 and Portugal, FIFA rank: 3)
4. 2nd place in Group H (Switzerland - 24, Chile - 18, Spain - 2)

Again, we've seen so far in this World Cup that rankings don't mean squat. Ask France (9th) and Italy (5th). The teams that were in the final in 2006 have already been sent packing...to country's that are not happy with their performances. There's also a realistic possibility that Spain (2nd) doesn't advance if they lose to Chile today. Paraguay won group F (the same group that housed Italy) with a ranking of 31st. From today's matches, the highest ranked team most likely to advance is Switzerland at 24th.

There may be some across the globe that think I'm blowing smoke. Maybe.

But where there's smoke, there's fire.

USA Advances with Stoppage Time Goal by Donovan

The newest ride is the USA mens soccer team. It's a thrill a minute...and it will continue for at least another game. The Americans advanced by virtue of defeating Algeria 1-0 on a goal in stoppage time by the face of the team, Landon Donovan.

It took me about six hours to collect myself and gather my thoughts after the match was over.

Think about the ride we've been taken on over the past week.

In the first match, the US conceded and early goal to England due to a defensive meltdown that allowed Steven Gerrard a goal in the match's 4th minute. Four minutes and we're down 1-0? And it lasted until the 40th when Clint Dempsey and the US were gift wrapped a goal by England's goal keeper Robert Green. That would be the last goal of the match. USA 1, England 1. 1 point for the USA in the group.

Next for the Americans was Slovenia who were coming off a 1-0 defeat of Algeria, and the Slovenians were the Group C leaders with 3 points. Again, a slow start resulted in the US attempting to dig out of a 2-0 halftime deficit. After an early goal by Donovan and a late goal by Michael Bradley (both were stunning plays), the match was tied 2-2. Then, it happened. I think we all remember where we were when the now infamous disallowed Maurice Edu goal that would have given the USA a 3-2 lead happened. No goal. Referee blew the call. USA 2, Slovenia 2. Now, the USA had amassed 2 points.

As today's match started, I was sincerely hoping that the Americans would have more early success. In the 7th minute, a shot by Algerian Rafik Djebbour rang loudly off the crossbar. Good sign? At least it didn't go in. But the American had a number of chances throughout the match...and another disallowed goal due to a bad offsides call by the referee's assistant. Replay shows that Dempsey was level with the second Algerian defender and the goal should have stood. Bad sign(s)?

Refs Receiving Too Much World Cup Attention

After another day where the referees stole he spotlight from the World Cup, many are screaming for some changes to be made.

Yes, the disallowed US goal is firmly implanted in the minds of all Americans. The second yellow card issued to Brazilian star Kaka' was as much a blown call, too. There have been others. FIFA has stated they like a little controversy, but this is one they cannot avoid any longer.

Look, I give these referees a lot of credit. There's is so much that goes on during a match, it's impossible to keep up with all the action. Players and team managers continually request why certain calls are made. Sometimes, they get a response from the match referee. Clint Dempsey had a pertinent statement after that match that should ring in all of our heads. Pay particular attention to the second half of his statement.

"To be fair, I think we should have won the game. That last goal, I don't know what the call was on that. ... No idea [what the foul was]. I have no idea. The ref didn't say nothing all game ... That's something you'll have to ask the ref. If there's any way you can figure that out, I'd like to know. That would be a good question."

What we all need to learn here is that FIFA's referees aren't required to answer any question at any time to any individual including players and coaches. That would be why the US has yet to receive any type of confirmation as to why Edu's goal was disallowed. The referees are required to issue a report immediately after a match is finished. Nothing more. No answers except for that report. Each match has an individual assigned to it to rate the referee and his assistants. These reports are usually kept in-house and not leaked to the public.

If you really think about this in a "bigger picture" kind of view, FIFA must also feel it answers to no one. It aids and abets the referees by enveloping them in a cloud of mystery. In essence, it appears that there is very little accountability here. If you have no one to answer to, who's going to see that your job is performed properly?

Considering the way officiating has transpired at this World Cup, I'm not surprised FIFA will publicly make a statement tomorrow. They have no choice. Fans around the globe has viewed the referees and their transgressions.

Blatter

My suspicions are that Koman Coulibaly, the referee from the US-Slovenia match, will not be involved in any further World Cup matches. I wouldn't be surprised if the Kaka' issue rears its ugly head or other highly questionable decisions are addressed as well. In this day and age of all the different forms of coverage available, there have been ramblings about finding a way to institute instant replay. FIFA has been adamant about such a move and I agree. Maybe, and I'm saying maybe, having a second referee on the field is the answer. Who knows. I'm hopeful that FIFA president Sepp Blatter and his team can devise such a method.

I will continue to watch soccer, or football, or futbol, however you prefer its spelling and/or reference based on the fact that I am a sports fan, not a referee fan. We cheer the players. I will continue to watch Landon Donovan roof shots. I will continue to watch Cristiano Ronaldo dive. I will continue to watch Lionel Messi display unfathomable goals. I will continue to watch Didier Drogba infuriate defenders. I will continue to watch (and sometimes listen to) Wayne Rooney use foul language.

There's no clear cut way to solve the issue of poor officiating. Just like players, refs have an off-day, too.

But doing it on this grand of a stage...

A look at other stories from 2009

The major sports produced many memorable moments on 2009, but here's a list of five moments from other sports taht caught my eye.

5. Erin Andrews and her "stalker"

No human would want the type of press ESPN's Erin Andrews received in 2009. Somehow Michael David Barrett found a way to shoot and post nude videos of Andrews. Barrett is alleged to have rented hotel rooms by Andrews' room on three occassions, altering the peepholes, and setting up video recording devices in order to film Andrews. Barrett agreed to charges of interstate stalking and shooting the videos and to a 27-month prison term. He will also be directed to pay restitution to Andrews. Barrett's plot included selling the videos to TMZ.

4. USA soccer at Confederations Cup

The June event in South Africa did not start out with any promise. After losing their first two matches (3-1 to Italy and 3-0 to Brazil), the Americans needed a miracle to advance to the semis. The only way to advance was score alot and hope that Brazil would not let Italy hit the net. It worked. The US scored a 3-0 win over Egypt and Brazil duplicated that score against Italy. The US advanced based on scoring more goals, the third tiebreaker. In the smis, the US shocked the world with a 2-0 victory over world power Spain. A shot a redemption loomed in the fianl against Brazil. Things were looking up as the US manged a 2-0 halftime lead only to see Brazil strike three times in the second half. The one thing the US took away from South Africa, more respect from the soccer world.

3. Girls rule

Someone forgot to tell the owners of Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta that they didn't belong. Rachel Alexandra made 8 starts and won all 8 including the Preakness. She became the first filly to win the even since 1924. Her win by a length came over Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird. Zenyatta's year might have been a bit more impressive. Of her 5 starts, Zenyatta won all of her 5 starts including the $5 million Breeders Cup Classic. It was her 14th straight win and her first over a field of all males which included Mine The Bird and Summer Bird. Zenyatta's year was so impressive the she finished second to Serena Williams as the AP Female Athlete of the Year.

2. Thierry Henry and the handball

For all the great things Thierry Henry has done on a soccer pitch, it's an obvious instance of cheating that placed the spotlight on Henry. In a match that had a birth in the World Cup going to the winner, Henry was caught red-handed, so to speak. Henry was caught on tape redirecting a ball into the box with his hand (twice!) and passing the ball to William Gallas for the tying goal and sending France to the World Cup. All the French need was a tie to advance. They got the tie...and a lot of controversy. Henry could still face a suspension from FIFA for his gratuitous act.

1. Lance returns to France

In a move that shocked the sport of cycling, seven-time winner of the Tour de France Lance Armstrong announced he would compete in the event in 2009. The cycling world would watch closely at Armstrong, as well as those administering the testing. But Lance took all but two down, including his Astana "teammate" Alberto Contador, who won. In 2010, Lance will have his own team and we all know what his role will be then...to win #8.

More to come as we prepare for 2010. Next up will be college and pro hoops.