USA vs. Ghana 2010 World Cup: Ghana Silences the USA, Wins 2:1

Lost in the din of self-adulation were my modest observations concerning the Ghana-USA match and the general attitude of the USA team and its fans.

Regarding the former, I offered a Sun-Tzuesque advice : do not play to your custom (established in this World Cup) of starting slowly and conceding early. Rather, use deception by doing the reverse. The article titled, "How the USA Can Win Against Ghana," was quickly buried under the clamor of predictions and self-worship.

As to the latter , I warned that the USA seemed to be naive regarding its true station in world soccer. Again, that they were oblivious to their weakness as a team. If any American saw that article, they conveniently or perhaps haughtily disregarded it.

On my part, I had only a few hours to be proven wrong. I wasn't.

Ghana dominated the USA in every aspect of the game: possession, passing, defence, attack, goals. Just like that, the myth of the comeback team evaporated.

And myth it was.

The true comeback team in recent times must be Turkey in the 2008 European Championship. And, one must talk about the Liverpool-Milan  final of the European Champions in 2005 League, where Liverpool came back from three goals to win the match.

Right.

The USA played strongly in the second half? My point exactly. I had warned (not that I expected anyone from the coaching crew to be aware or take the warning seriously) that they should avoid starting slowly and having to chase the game. It would always be a reactionary performance after that.

Reactionary.

That's what the USA has played in this World Cup, which is why I said in my naivete article that the team lacks subtlety and depth--one dimensional if you will.

Depth.

Ghana showed it, taking control early, recovering their nerves from early barrage of attacks from the reactionary US team, and preventing conceding further goals when under pressure. Further, they took the initiative early in the extra time thereby pushing off pressure from themselves to the USA, who had to chase the game thereafter.

Defeat.

What has been lost in this loss by the USA is the buzz and the awareness that has been generated by their current run at the World Cup.

We hope this awareness is enough to sustain interest in the game in the United States. We need the game to grow; that way, more stars will be available for the USA to pool from.

Disappointment.

Anger, tension, disappointment will be rife after this game. I hope the fans take this loss gracefully and admit that the USA was defeated by a better team.