For a few days four years ago, the United States became a soccer country.
The world’s sport exploded here throughout much of the World Cup, but reached its crescendo when Landon Donovan’s injury-time goal against Algeria broke a scoreless tie and sent the Americans into the Round of 16.
“I actually think that was something of a breakthrough moment four years ago when Landon Donovan scored that goal against Algeria to save the USA’s World Cup life,” said ESPN announcer Ian Darke, the Englishman who will be calling all the United States’ games in Brazil.
“Maybe a penny dropped there because it was quite a dull game, and suddenly there was this huge moment at the end of it. This huge release of tension which seemed to spark, judging by some of the scenes we saw, a huge national celebration.”
It didn’t last long. Three days after that U.S. win, the team was eliminated by Ghana 2-1 in extra time.
But with the World Cup having started up again on Thursday, the anticipation is back. Two of the men most tied to that 2010 team — Donovan and coach Bob Bradley — are not, however. Bradley was replaced by German legend Jurgen Klinsmann, who sparked controversy by opting to keep Donovan off the squad for Brazil.
The U.S. qualified fairly easily for the World Cup, but still some remain leery of the rigid Klinsmann. Optimism was further dashed when the Americans were thrown into a Group of Death with Ghana, Germany and Portugal.
With the two European powers waiting, the U.S. and Ghana open the World Cup against each other Monday in what many consider a must-win for both sides.
“I think at the moment, like a lot of the teams, they don’t look quite ready for the tournament,” Darke said on a recent conference call. “But Jurgen Klinsmann has a bold way of going about things. He’s made a huge decision to leave out Landon Donovan. He will either look like a genius about that or face a big inquest over it in about a month’s time.
“They’ve got a mighty tough draw, probably the toughest draw USA has ever had at the World Cup. It will be a big, big achievement, and they’ll have to play way above themselves to get out of a group, including Ghana, Portugal, and of course, Germany, who they play in the last game.”
Klinsmann shares that concern, telling the New York Times the U.S. “cannot win” the World Cup because of the difficult draw. Not exactly confidence-inducing for the 23 members of the team.
“When you go into the World Cup, it’s not necessarily about the manager,” said ESPN analyst and former English midfielder Steve McManaman.
“It’s about two years before going through hell and high water to qualify for the greatest tournament in the world. There is one tournament every four years the World Cup, and you’re representing your country.
“You’re not necessarily representing your manager. It’s the team he puts on the pitch, those individuals to cross that white line, perform to the best of your ability, and in a one-on‑one situation with your opposition to be the best man out of your personal battle. If you do that, and if the majority of the team does that, you win the game.”