World Cupdate

In Group D action, Germany provided a lesson to everyone in the Cup this year:  anything can happen.  The heavily favored German juggernaut only ended up blitzing themselves as German star Miroslav Klose was double-carded in the first half, giving the Serbians a man-up advantage.  The White Eagles then immediately tore into the stunned German defense as Milan Jovanovic put what turned into the game winner away less than a minute later at 38'.  The Serbs then held off the German attack and suddenly things are looking increasingly grim for the Europeans in this Cup save for the Dutch.  So far the officiating has been mostly solid, but today's double booking on Klose and yesterday's shaky arbitration in Mexico-France (South Africa and Australia have legit gripes too) is starting to make me wonder.

That brings us to Group C and the United States versus Slovenia.  The Green Dragons came in leading the group and were looking to put it away with a win over the Yanks, while the USA, nursing a number of injuries from a physical match with England, were fighting with their backs against the wall.  The teams matched up 2-4-4 attack plans, and the Slovenians, confident after their victory over Algeria, guaranteed another win. It looked fated to be so as the Yanks immediately got behind again as Birsa arced a 30 yarder into the corner past keeper Tim Howard at 13'. Suddenly the United States were in dire trouble of playing a meaningless game next week against Algeria as the Green Dragons ran rampant in the first half.  A second goal by Ljubijankic at 43' all but buried the dreams of the USA for another four long years.   But the second half saw the US sub in Feilhaber and Edu for Findley and Torres, and immediately it paid off with a Landon Donovan goal at 48'.  The US then poured on the offense, and several yellows gave the Yanks a number of set pieces to tie, but they couldn't convert until Mike Bradley powered one home at 82'.  But a piece of lousy officiating and an early whistle robbed the US of goal #3 at the end.  The Yanks again play their hearts out for a draw.

That left Algeria vs England, the Desert Foxes taking on the Three Lions.  England had a wonderful chance to advance for sure with a win here, and it looked early like Wayne Rooney and crew would do just that, slamming into the Desert Foxes defense with a number of early opportunities as Algeria's shaky nerves nearly cost them everything, but they resisted everything thrown at them with smart play and a 3-4-3 plan that kept England busy on counterattacks.  Rooney stepped up his game to inspire his eleven in the second half to try to put the game away.  The Desert Foxes however lived up to their name and frustrated England a number of times and most importantly didn't give up a booking until 85'.  Sloppy play from the Three Lions allowed Algeria to play for the draw, and that's what they got as the whistle blew on 0-0 and the sound of boos and suddenly it's the US that have the chance to break this Group wide open with a +2 goal advantage over England heading into next week.