World Cup 2010 last 16: USA v Ghana | World Cup 2010

We are looking forward to this game and we are sure it is going to be a good one. Part of us think that the United States should get through this, but there is a little bit of us that think Ghana will have an advantage and that the United States have had all the luck they are going to get in this World Cup.

We don't think this game is going to be all about luck but we think it might be a factor in who ultimately wins.

We are hoping for a moment of magic and we think both teams are capable of it. You don't get to the last sixteen of the World Cup without having that ability in the team, but if we were to expect anything, it would be a cheeky one goal win or penalties.

Match Details

• Venue: Rustenburg
• Date: Saturday, 26 June 2010
• Kick-off: 8.30pm

United States

The United States were the surprise winners of Group C but only qualified because of a last minute goal against Algeria and some below par performances from England.

The thing with the United States is they work hard and they are determined and when you mix all that together in football, you can create your own luck.

Ghana

Ghana qualified in second place, ahead of Australia on goal difference, from Group D but they couldn't beat Australia and this speaks volumes to us.

Ghana will need all the luck in the world to get something out of this game tonight and they do not come across as the hardest working side.

Opposition View

USA coach, Bob Bradley
We try hard not to get ahead of ourselves but at the same time everybody has this idea that if everybody gives their best effort, if everybody puts everything they have into it and if things go our way then we can travel far.

Ghana coach, Milovan Rajevac
America has grown into a football super power but it also has sports which are given priority. The football team plays with strength and speed. You never know how to deal with them.

Prediction

Nothing is going to be straightforward at this stage of the World Cup but we just think the United States will have too much. We are predicting the United States to win this game and but bet of the day is Uruguay to beat South Korea.

USA: Great story, just a good team | World Cup 2010

USA: Great story, just a good team | World Cup 2010

RUSTENBURG, South Africa – Exhausted, if exhilarated, Ghanaians were dropping all around Landon Donovan. The victors were too tired to properly celebrate their 2-1 World Cup victory over the United States.

Donovan paid little attention to the scene. After some cursory congratulations, he walked dejectedly off the pitch, took off his jersey, threw a heavy parka over his bare shoulders and took a seat, alone, on the bench.

He was the picture of disappointment. And just as Donovan’s joy following his dramatic game-winner had been shared across America on Wednesday, so too was this feeling, this mood here Saturday night.

In two short weeks, Donovan and his U.S. teammates had grabbed the generally soccer-blasé American public by the collar and made them watch, made them care and, perhaps most astonishingly, made them desperate for more.

Their wild, if brief, 2010 World Cup run fell apart in the round of 16 when they couldn’t summon one more miracle comeback that had hidden so many of their obvious shortcomings.

This was a fun team to watch. It was an easy team to root for. Its flair for heroic comebacks and brilliant goals made it impossible to ignore.

It just wasn’t a great side. Not at this level at least.

“We feel like in all positions we have talent,” coach Bob Bradley said afterward. “But when you get to the World Cup level and everything gets challenged at that level, we know we have to be better.”

It was as honest of an assessment as you’ll find.

This team managed to get the nation behind it because of its firework finishes, its ability to overcome adversity, be it self- or referee-made, and its positive, possible spirit during a time when Americans have tired of hearing about the recession and the wars and the oil leaking in the Gulf.

What the indomitable will clouded was the reality of the club. Great teams don’t need to keep making desperate comebacks. World Cup contenders might stumble in a half or even a game, but they soon right the ship and deliver a show of force.

The U.S. just kept making the same mistakes. The Americans conceded the lead in three of their four games here. All came early: in the fourth minute against England, the 13th against Slovenia and the fifth against Ghana.

A botched goalkeeper play saved them against England. A ferocious rally from two goals down earned them the tie against the Slovenians. Another second-half equalizer forced overtime against Ghana, only to see the U.S. allow the game-winner just three minutes into the extra sessions.

“Right after the whistle blows we get hit,” goalkeeper Tim Howard said. “If you do that enough times you’ll pay for it. We had the good fortune of not paying for it, but we did today.”

In four games, the USA led for just two minutes.

Ghana had a better team on Saturday. It was faster, tougher and more organized. The Americans played sloppy at times. They came out slow. Their midfield attack was muted. They kept turning the ball over. They had crucial defensive mistakes. Their only goal came on a penalty kick on a questionable call – Ghana’s Jonathan Mensah kicked the ball before taking down Clint Dempsey in the box.

Yet they were in it in the end because that’s them. This was a hard-ways group and wasn’t that part of the appeal? They were procrastinators who tried to live by a simple motto: If it wasn’t for the last minute (or the 93rd), nothing would get done.

It sure was endearing and fun and strangely addictive. Across America – and with ex-pats around the globe – this was an instant sensation, a viral sporting team that went from nothing to everything in 14 short days.

And then it was done. Over in the flash of a Ghana counter attack. And now everyone is disappointed by a team that at the start of June proportionately few knew or cared about.

The U.S. players here sensed the swell of support. They saw the footage of fans celebrating half a world away. They got bombarded on Facebook. They had family members relay the excitement. Outdoor-viewing parties? Bars crowded on weekday mornings? People rushing through Saturday morning errands to get home in time for the soccer game?

That was running through Donovan’s mind as he sat on that bench and breathed into the cold African air. This hurt for him. This hurt for his teammates. This hurt because those fans had thrown their hearts into this team, too. He had cried the other night when he watched a YouTube montage of fan celebrations back home. It had hit him hard. Now this hit hard too.

It is how everyone felt.

“We know people across the United States have been behind our team,” Bradley said before pausing. “… At this moment, it’s a feeling of disappointment.”

Bradley wore the shell-shocked look of every losing coach at this tough tournament. The accents and skin tones change, but not the expression.

In some nations, falling short is a disaster with the coach soon to be hung in effigy by fans and media. In others it’s just frustration, a feeling of missing out on a dream. Blowouts are so rare in soccer; every team leaves with four years worth of shouldas, wouldas and couldas.

For the United States, the reaction should fall somewhere in the middle.

This was a team that should be celebrated for what it represented as much as what it was able to accomplish. The round of 16 was about where it belonged. In part because of a car accident that left rising star Charlie Davies out with injury, this squad lacked a striker who could finish (this was the second consecutive World Cup a true forward failed to score). There wasn’t strong depth. The margin for error was small. The team relied on Donovan to do too much.

Its greatest victory though was that back home this team had made a nation actually believe, actually care, actually wish for another chance at magic.

All over the place, from city bars and country cookouts, as the game ended and Donovan began his shirtless stroll, Americans were looking around and asking, “Is that it? Is that all? Do we really have to wait four more years for that?”

It was an entertaining, energetic, patriotic run by these Americans. They were a great story. They just weren’t a great team.

And the World Cup has always been a cruel place for sides like that.

Team USA goes from no shot to long shot | World Cup 2010

Team USA goes from no shot to long shot | World Cup 2010

A year ago, United States striker Charlie Davies declared that “with the players we have, if things go well, we can win the World Cup.”

The comment was met with snickers across the world, seen as typical American bravado. After all, in the history of the World Cup, the United States has won just a single game in the knockout phase.

While the likelihood of the Americans actually winning the World Cup remains remote and would rank as perhaps the greatest upset in the sport’s history, there is no denying that things have gone “well.”

The bracket that sits before Team USA is about as favorable as possible. It’s a dream scenario: The Americans are grouped in the weaker side of the event and would avoid any true world powers until at least the semifinals.

The knockout round begins Saturday when the United States meets Ghana, a match in which the Americans are favored. That alone is a surprise.

It is one reason the English betting site betfair.com has dropped the Americans’ chances at winning the Cup from 125-1 to 46-1. That remains a long shot. It’s just not as long as before.

Put it this way. One of these four teams will reach the semifinals: United States, Ghana, Uruguay or South Korea. Heading into the World Cup, very few would have been predicted any of those teams to go so far.

The Americans sport the highest FIFA ranking among that group, although Uruguay is considered the moderate favorite now to reach the semis (19-1 odds now to win the Cup).

For Team USA, this is a far, far easier bracket than the one featuring Germany, England, Argentina and Mexico. That’s where the Americans were expected to find themselves if they hadn’t managed to win its group for the first time since 1930. The United States would be either the underdog or, at most, even (with Mexico) in facing any of those teams.

And let’s remember this about the run — the United States has led for just two minutes in this entire tournament, the shortest amount of any group winner ever. The Americans have been an exciting team to watch. They haven’t been dominant.

If you were to reseed the remaining 16 teams (no matter who grabs the final four spots, determined Friday) the United States would rank around 11th. Yet the rest of its part of the bracket would only feature middle-of-the-road Uruguay. Ghana and South Korea would rank among the weakest remaining teams regardless of Friday’s results.

Contrast that with the group that features powerhouses Argentina, Germany and England, all among the top half dozen or so remaining clubs. Then there is Mexico, which would sit on the cusp of the top 10.

Forget the “bad luck” the Americans dealt with from erroneous referee decisions. The botched save by English keeper Robert Green, allowing for a U.S. tie, was the critical break of this tournament. That blown save was the grandest bit of fortune that began the scenarios which allowed the United States to wind up in the preferred part of the bracket.

The story of the World Cup thus far has been the disintegration of traditional European powers. Both the defending champion (Italy) and runner-up (France) have been knocked out. One of the pre-Cup favorites, Spain, was still on the brink heading into Friday’s game against Chile.

The result has been a flush of new teams into the knockout phase.

If this was the men’s NCAA basketball tournament, the part of the bracket Team USA finds itself in would be a Sweet Sixteen where the top two seeds have been knocked out. All of a sudden, a Final Four run is there for just about anyone’s taking.

And that may be an issue for the Americans. Ghana defeated the United States in the 2006 World Cup, and Uruguay has been playing extremely well this month. Both are also looking at the tournament and seeing the same tantalizing road to the semis.

At that point, Cup favorite Brazil (which would love this draw too) will likely be waiting, although you never know in a one-and-done scenario. The idea that a road to the semifinals could be this “easy” is a stunning development.

Team USA isn’t spouting off, but the confidence surrounding it is palpable. The Americans’ first goal was just to make the knockout round. Now that they are there, the circumstances are impossible to ignore. This whole thing has set up perfectly for them.

“Now it’s a one-off game; anything can happen,” forward Jozy Altidore said Thursday. “We’re playing to play in the final.”

No one laughed at the American this time. There’s a big difference between a long shot and no shot.

Last-gasp Donovan fires USA into final 16

2010 World Cup, football, soccer, USA, Portugal, Japan, Denmark, Uruguay, Paraguay, Italy, Côte d'Ivoire, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Ghana, Brazil, Germany, France, England, Slovenia, Korea Republic, Mexico, Netherlands, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Korea DPR, Cameroon, Chile, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, Italy, Japan, Portugal, USA, Uruguay, Switzerland, Honduras, Greece, New Zealand, Spain, Nigeria

Last-gasp Donovan fires USA into final 16

USA scored a dramatic injury-time winner in Pretoria to secure a 1-0 victory that sees them qualify for the Round of 16 as winners of Group C. It looked as if the Americans would be going home early after they missed a number of openings with Algeria goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi in stubborn form.

USA were sitting in third place as the 90 minute-mark ticked by but everything changed in the blink of an eye as Landon Donovan led one last attack. Jozy Altidore squared the ball into the danger zone, where M'Bolhi beat it away, but Donovan was able to latch onto the loose ball and passed it into an empty net, before being submerged among a sea of white shirts. It was the least Bob Bradley's team deserved, having also had a Clint Dempsey effort disallowed for offside, struck a post and seen Altidore pass up a glorious opening. Frustration for Algeria was evident as captain Anther Yahia was sent off in the dying seconds for a second yellow card.

The African side, who also needed to win to give themselves a chance of going through, made the more positive start with Karim Matmour unleashing an attempt on goal in the opening seconds before Rafik Djebbour aimed a hooked shot against the crossbar. It was a decent attempt from the centre-forward, who took the ball on his chest, but the woodwork came to USA's rescue. Djebbour tried again shortly after, from a wider angle, but his drive was always heading wide. The Americans answered in kind, with Dempsey and Herculez Gomez – one of three changes in Bradley's line-up – failing to keep their efforts on target.

It was an open, entertaining tussle, reflecting both sides' need to win the game. Gradually, USA were beginning to dominate possession and create openings. In the 21st minute, they had the ball in the back of the net but their joy was quickly extinguished when Dempsey was ruled offside, as he applied the final touch after Gomez's shot was diverted to him. That, at least, encouraged Bradley's team to think a breakthrough might not be far away, and they kept pouring forward. Donovan slid a lovely ball into Dempsey but Mbolhi did well to smother it. Two minutes later, the Americans were back to cause more panic in the Algeria penalty area. Bradley set up Donovan and when he could not turn it home the ball fell nicely for Altidore, but a heavy swing of his right boot sent the ball careering into the seats behind the goal.

For their part, the African side looked dangerous whenever Nadir Belhadj or Karim Ziani were on the ball. At the end of the first half, Ziani cut in from the left to position himself for the shot but was unable to keep it on target. USA were cursing their luck again in the second period as Dempsey followed up after Altidore had made ground with a strong run. The Fulham forward shaped a bending shot with his right that came back off the post, then gathered the rebound, only to shoot wide with his left foot with the goalkeeper still scrambling into position.

Both sides had let-offs in the 68th minute. Mbolhi came to Algeria's rescue again, parrying a close-range header from substitute Edson Buddle before jumping on the loose ball. The Africans immediately went down the other end, where a decent scoring chance for Ziani went the wrong side of the upright. Chances kept coming at either end and it came down to Donovan to at last make one count.

Group C: England and the USA have passed to next stage of World Cup

2010 World Cup, football, soccer, USA, Portugal, Japan, Denmark, Uruguay, Paraguay, Italy, Côte d'Ivoire, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Ghana, Brazil, Germany, France, England, Slovenia, Korea Republic, Mexico, Netherlands, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Korea DPR, Cameroon, Chile, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, Italy, Japan, Portugal, USA, Uruguay, Switzerland, Honduras, Greece, New Zealand, Spain, Nigeria

England and the USA

Today were played last two matches in 2010 World Cup Group C, so now we know two teams which will from Group C go into the next phase of the World Cup: United States and England.

USA and Englad both have 5 points, so these two teams took first and second place in Group C and go to Round of 16 phase of World Cup 2010. United States are first in the group, while England is second (both have 5 points, but U.S. are first because of better goal difference).

Slovenia took third place with 4 points, while Algeria took 4th, last, place in the Group C with only one point.

In today's matches the results were as follows: Slovenia vs. England 0-1, United States vs. Algeria 1-0.

Until the end of the match between USA and Algeria, the situation was extremely uncertain. In the first 90 minutes of the match result was 0-0, which guarantees a second phase for Slovenia. But, in the first minute of referee time Landon Donovan scored a goal, and so took the United States in the Round of 16 phase of 2010 World Cup.

Slovenia-USA preview

Slovenia-USA

Victory will dominate the thoughts of both Slovenia and USA on Friday as they meet for the first time, with the former assured a Round of 16 spot if they prevail and the latter capable of taking their own big step in the same direction. A draw would ratchet up the suspense in Group C ahead of the last round of games, but both sides will feel equipped to emerge triumphant, Slovenia having beaten Algeria 1-0 to clinch their first ever FIFA World Cup™ success and the Stars and Stripes high on confidence following their 1-1 stalemate with England.

The match
Slovenia-USA, Group C, Johannesburg (Ellis Park), Friday 18 June, 16.00 (local time)

"From now on, we know that we're capable of putting pressure on our opponents," said Robert Koren after the Algeria win, revealing the humility and ambition at the heart of the Slovenia squad. His country's captain, the West Bromwich Albion midfielder struck the winning goal against Les Fennecs and now has his sights set firmly on reaching the knockout phase. "There are still two matches to go, though, and lots of points to be taken if we want to get out of the group stage."

The European side clearly feel they have the tools to trouble their opponents, but belief is also high in the US camp. "When you see everyone in the dressing room disappointed after our match against England, that says a lot about our performance," said Landon Donovan in the wake of their opening encounter. England goalkeeper Robert Green may have given the CONCACAF side a helping hand, but Bob Bradley's troops were generally impressive against Fabio Capello's group favourites.

Up front, Jozy Altindore and Clint Dempsey – rich from their Premier League experiences – were both lively figures, combining speed, mobility and technique. Meanwhile, alongside courageous captain Carlos Bocanegra at the back, central defenders Jay DeMerit and Oguchi Onyewu contributed rigour, power and good positioning. This US team are a far cry from that which took just a single point at Germany 2006.

Players to watch
Marko Suler v Clint Dempsey

Having found the net against England, Fulham forward Dempsey will be eager to impress again but will need to escape the attentions of Gent stopper Marko Suler. An imposing figure noted for his intelligent positioning and tidy distribution, the former Gorica favourite put up imperious resistance to keep Algeria at bay and has been integral to coach Matjaz Kek's plans for the last two years now. Dempsey will head into the match bubbling with confidence and in searing form, however, despite a long club season with UEFA Europa League finalists Fulham.

The stat
6 – The number of points Slovenia would boast if they come out on top on Friday, enough to secure their progress after merely two outings. That would represent an exceptional achievement for a country with just two million inhabitants, particularly since they departed Korea/Japan 2002 without a single point on the board.

What they said
"I often hear people say we should qualify for the next round and that we were drawn in an easy group, but we know that nothing is guaranteed. We can't afford to take Slovenia lightly. In the next few days, we'll need to look back at everything that didn't work [against England]," Landon Donovan, United States forward.

"They put in a great team performance against England. We've studied their strengths and weaknesses with our coach. We often have trouble finding our bearings before we play a tight game, but we now know what we’re capable of in a big competition," Robert Koren, Slovenia midfielder.

USA get rub of the Green

2010 World Cup, football, soccer, USA, Portugal, Japan, Denmark, Uruguay, Paraguay, Italy, Côte d'Ivoire, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Ghana, Brazil, Germany, France, England, Slovenia, Korea Republic, Mexico, Netherlands, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Korea DPR, Cameroon, Chile, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, Italy, Japan, Portugal, USA, Uruguay, Switzerland, Honduras, Greece, New Zealand, Spain, Nigeria

A terrible mistake from England’s Robert Green gave USA a share of the spoils in Group C’s opening match played in front of a passionate crowd in Rustenburg. The goalkeeper, given the nod by Fabio Capello to start the match ahead of David James and Joe Hart, allowed Clint Dempsey’s 25-yard drive to slip through his grasp, giving last year’s FIFA Confederations Cup finalists a deserved share of the spoils.

The game had begun so well for England, who enjoyed an ideal start to their FIFA World Cup™ campaign, taking the lead with just four minutes on the clock. Frank Lampard found Emile Heskey who played a perfectly-weighted ball to Steven Gerrard and the skipper made no mistake with an intelligent finish past Man of the Match Tim Howard with the outside of his right foot.

From then on, however, USA gradually got more of the ball and a grip of the game. They fired their first real warning when Landon Donovan’s teasing cross from the right was headed wide by Jozy Altidore. Oguchi Onyewu also glanced wide a header, again from a Donovan set-piece, and the LA Galaxy man himself tested Green with a curling 25-yard effort which swerved just wide of the upright.

If USA seemed not to be enjoying any luck, they got their deserved equaliser in fortunate fashion five minutes before the break. Dempsey’s shot appeared to be straightforward enough to handle, but Green’s failed attempt to claim the ball drew them level. It was a horrible mistake by the England goalkeeper – one which he immediately acknowledged - but one which England ultimately failed to recover from.

The Three Lions upped the tempo in the second half and Emile Heskey spurned a good chance to put them ahead - firing straight at the keeper after being put clean through by Aaron Lennon. Lampard stung the palms of Howard with a long-range effort and Glen Johnson also snatched a shot when well placed.

Green went some way to atone for his earlier error when he pushed Altidore’s shot onto the post after the pacy striker had powered past substitute Jamie Carragher down the left.

As the half wore on, Wayne Rooney began to find more space and consequently his influence on the game increased. First he headed over from a Gerrard cross and then a quickly taken free-kick almost caught Howard out, but the ball flashed wide of the far post. The No10 also set up Shaun Wright-Phillips in a fantastic position, but his shot lacked conviction and Howard was able to make a comfortable save.

With the clock ticking down, both managers introduced striking substitutes in the hope of a late winner, but a winning goal failed to come. With such a fearsome rivalry between the sides, there was a feeling of anti-climax at the final whistle, but there is still plenty to play for at the FIFA World Cup.

Terry an imposing barrier for USA

USA striker Jozy Altidore expects to come up against a central defender at the top of his game in former England captain John Terry in Saturday's FIFA World Cup™ clash.

Chelsea defender Terry lost the captaincy after much-publicised allegations about his private life and with Rio Ferdinand, his replacement as skipper, ruled out of the tournament through injury, he will be critical in shutting out the US attackers.

None will be more dangerous than Altidore, the 20-year-old who led their qualifying scoring chart. He said of Terry: "He's a great player and he reads the game well. It's going to be tough for whoever is going aginst him."

The American strikers will also have their work cut out trying to find a way past England's goalkeeper, says Tim Howard, the US number one and a Premier League veteran with Everton.

"They are very good," Howard said. "David James has played at the top for a long time. He has played in so many big games. To criticise him or any goalkeeper is easy but you have to look beyond that and see how he works."

Robert Green and Joe Hart also earned Howard's praise, especially Green, of whom Howard said: "He's steady. I admire goalkeepers who aren't flashy but who get the job done every week."

From his end of the pitch, Howard has concerns over England's set pieces. "If we give up too many wide free-kicks and direct free-kicks, we will probably get punished for it. It's important we're solid in defence and not leave guys open one-on-one."

Altidore and Howard are among nine USA players who ply their trade in the Premier League. Altidore said of his time with Hull: "It has been good to learn a little about the players," while Howard has enjoyed his time with Manchester United and Everton.

"It has hardened me," he said. "I was criticised a lot when I was over there and I bounced back. I have taken my lumps and gotten over it. It has been a resolute journey."

Altidore has returned to training after a sprained ankle and is looking nforward to playing his part in their opening fixture in Group C. "We need to have a lot of movement and creativity," he added. "Hopefully we can have a lot of that at the right time and put on a good display."