2010 FIFA World Cup: Are the Refs Plotting against USA?

Before you ask, this is not a conspiracy theory article.  I'm not insane enough to believe the refs are out to get American soccer.  But I'm starting to lean that way.  Last week, I wrote an article about referee Koman Coulibaly.

Coulibaly made some terrible calls against the US, including the infamous "Mystery Foul" in last week's match against US and Slovenia.  That call not only cost the US two points, but could have cost them a birth in the Round of 16 if not for Landon Donovan's late-game heroics against Algeria.  

In the 20th minute of the match against Algeria, Clint Dempsey scored off of a Herculez Gomez shot and rebound off of the Algerian goalkeeper, M'bohli Rais Ouheb.  This goal was ruled offside by ref Frank de Bleeckere and it was disallowed.  

I waited to see whether the call was fair or not, and when I saw the replay, it was obvious that either the ref was in bad position or made a flat out bad call.

Following that, Clint Dempsey was elbowed in the face, started bleeding, and de Bleeckere (who sleeps with an Algerian jersey on, by the way) doesn't even call a foul!

There are good things that have come out of these bad calls, though, as the Americans have overcome adversity to make it to the round of 16.  Landon Donovan put it perfectly. "This team embodies what the American spirit is about," he said.  "We had a disallowed goal the other night, we had another good goal disallowed tonight.  But we just keep going.  And I think that's what people admire so much about Americans.  And I'm damn proud."  Furthermore, after drawing a strong England squad, a win in the Round of 16 against a Germany or Ghana could prove them battle tested.  

It is now time to look to the future, not the past.  Now the goals scored against Slovenia have shown to be beneficial the US, as they will now take on Ghana in what I think is a very winnable game, instead of playing a much tougher opponent such as Germany.  After winning their first game, it seems as if Ghana stopped trying. Against Australia, who they had a man advantage on for a large portion of the match, they looked uncreative and frankly, they were just plain outplayed.  After that draw, they went in to a game against Germany needing only a draw to advance.  They lost.  If not for an upset win by Australia, they would not have advanced.  I predict a 2-0 win by the US.