By Nicolas Hallett
With the U.S. trailing Germany 1-0 and showing no signs of scoring, everyone in the country had to do the unthinkable and root with all their might for Cristiano Ronaldo.
It was the Portuguese forward who broke American hearts just four days earlier by assisting the last-gasp goal to prevent the U.S. from being the first squad from Group G to advance to the Round of 16. The reigning FIFA world player of the year might have well have been wearing red, white and blue in the latter stages against Ghana.
Ronaldo finally played like he was unable to for the whole of this tournament — like himself. When he scored in the 80th minute, everyone in America instantly became Ronaldo lovers. Such are his looks and tendency to take his shirt off when scoring that all the ladies in the U.S. already were, however.
The U.S. has now had a tie that felt like a loss and a loss that felt like a win. That's football, erm, soccer, for you. (Americans tend to talk in jest about this type of thing. But I would have them try to explain the BCS system in college football to a European and then see who is the one left teasing.)
The U.S., led by coach Jürgen Klinsmann, has done what was unthinkable just a few weeks ago by navigating the Group of Death. When the German-born coach left Landon Donovan off the final World Cup roster in May, he seemed to be declaring that he was the most important member of the U.S. contingent headed to South America. This has – somewhat surprisingly – rang true.
No matter what happens next, the 2014 World Cup in Brazil will be looked back on as a victory from a U.S. soccer perspective. But you sense there is untapped potential here.
It's the first time the U.S. has advanced to the Round of 16 in back-to-back World Cups, another sign that a sporting revolution is in the making. The television ratings say as much, too. Taking away pro and college football, U.S.-Portugal was ESPN's most-watched event ever. EVER.
Germany bossed the game against the Americans who were evidently holding on for their tournament lives. In the first 10 minutes of the match, Germany had an ungodly 83 percent of possession. That’s an unheard of ratio. The Germans were basically playing keep away with their younger sibling.
Conditions definitely played a factor as well, though. The Germans had an extra day of rest, a point Klinsmann hammered home to the media as something he was displeased with. The U.S. played against Portugal in Manaus, a jungle city and Brazil’s hottest venue.
The conditions in Manaus have proved so draining that the four teams to previously play there were winless in their next contests. The U.S. made that number five on Thursday. Portugal, beating Ghana 2-1, is the lone team to win after playing in the Estadio da Amazonia.
Germany are World Cup veterans. Ranked No. 2 in the world, they have reached the quarterfinals of every World Cup since 1978. Given the scenario, a 1-0 loss is understandable. But make no mistake, this type of play won’t be enough for the Americans to continue for long.
“We will have to do better, and we will do better,” Klinsmann told ESPN after the game.
From here on out, elimination scenarios become elementary: lose and you go home. For those more basketball inclined, it's March Madness the rest of the way.
The U.S. will face Group H winner Belgium in their first knockout round match. The Red Devils are superior in talent and have depth that rivals Germany, so there's no let off here. Belgium manhandled the US 4-2 in a friendly back in May 2013.
One thing Belgium does lack, however, is World Cup experience. None of their squad has ever featured in a World Cup and their national side hasn't qualified since 2002.
Experience could be the turning factor for a U.S. win. Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard and Michael Bradley, the U.S.'s spine, played in the Round of 16 just four years ago in South Africa.
This is one of the main reasons the U.S. hired Klinsmann. He's maneuvered World Cup rounds like stepping stones as a coach and a player. His experience could prove to be an ace.
Not to mention his coaching up to this point has been spectacular. Tactically he's been near perfect. From the 23 he chose to bring to Brazil to the 11 he's started for each match, the man has shown a keen eye for talent in what is considered a shallow pool by many. His substitutions have been remarkable. John Brooks and DeAndre Yedlin created goals from the bench in consecutive games, while Germany would have likely routed the U.S. on Thursday without Omar Gonzalez receiving his first start of the tournament.
Klinsmann’s use of the English language – he resides in southern California and has for some time – has been world class, too. No matter the situation, he’s always positive, keeping the mood light. You can imagine he does the same in the U.S. locker room. In the post-game press conference after Portugal ripped out America’s heart, Klinsmann chuckled when asked about allowing the goal that denied his side’s advancement. Unlike many in the spotlight, neither the attention nor the media overwhelm him.
One trick Klinsmann has yet to pull is to return Michael Bradley to his old ways. The midfielder has had a horrid tournament where his offensive touch has abandoned him. Balls are ricocheting off his feet when normally they would be cooly brought under his spell. As the best U.S. player of his age group, it was assumed he would eventually turn things around after poor performances against Ghana and Portugal. Not so against Germany and he’s running out of time. The issue appears to be fixable as it’s one of mental fortitude and not physical.
I said before the tournament that the U.S. would only go as far as Bradley would take them. This still holds true.
The Belgium game on Tuesday would be a great time for Bradley to carry his teammates and his coach into the quarterfinals. They’ve been the ones carrying him so far.
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Nicolas Hallett is a staff writer for 105 The Ticket. He recently graduated from the University of Minnesota and has written for the Murphy News Service, the Minnesota Daily and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Follow him on Twitter at @nicolashallett.