Readers, I am furious. I'm beyond anger. I'm apoplectic with righteous rage. The United States won that game. We scored three valid goals, while the Slovenians scored two, but the official scoresheet will not reflect that. Koman Coulibaly, the Mali ref, blew the call. It was the wrong call, and to call a foul (after which he refused to tell the players what the offense was) against the US is one of the worst calls I have ever seen, especially considering he could have called two penalties on the Slovenia players who had Michael Bradley in a bear hug and Carlos Bocanegra in a headlock.
The US players and manager are not without blame, Findley, Torres, and Dempsey especially. One has to wonder why Bob persists with Robbie Findley, especially in the light of Findley's ineffectiveness in MLS this season, while the league's top scorer picks splinters out of his butt. Jose Francisco Torres is undoubtedly a skilled player, and I would bet money on him and Bradley running the show in 2014, but he looked scared and nervous out there against Slovenia. It's an awfully big ask of a young player to perform on this stage, in a game with so much at stake. It's Bob's job to make sure he's mentally ready for it, and he certainly failed that task today. Finally, Clint Dempsey is far too good and far too important to disappear like he is so often wont to do. Bob needs to get in his face or get in his head. After Landon Donovan, Deuce is our second most vital attacking player. He needs to get involved in these games.
But this result was not about American failings. Koman Coulibaly made the wrong call, and cost the US two points. The draw doesn't end US hopes of moving on, but it does take our destiny out of our hands. With that in mind, I'd like to go through some of the possible scenarios for this group:
Here's the table as it stands, before the England - Algeria match:
Team: GP: W: L: D: P: GD:
Slovenia 2 1 0 1 4 +1
USA 2 0 0 2 2 0
England 1 0 0 1 1 0
Algeria 1 0 1 0 0 -1
Option 1: The US loses
If the US loses its final game against Algeria, they are out, no matter what. Were that to happen, here is a likely final table:
Team: GP: W: L: D: P:
England 3 2 0 1 7
Slovenia 3 1 1 1 4
Algeria 3 1 2 0 3
USA 3 0 1 2 2
Option 2: The US draws
Faced with a draw against Algeria, the US would have to hope for a catastrophic collapse from England in order to qualify:
Team: GP: W: L: D: P:
Slovenia 3 2 0 1 7
USA 3 0 0 3 3
England 3 0 1 2 2
Algeria 3 0 1 2 2
This, however, is more likely:
Team: GP: W: L: D: P:
England 3 2 0 1 7
Slovenia 3 1 1 1 4
USA 3 0 0 3 3
Algeria 3 0 2 1 1
Option 3: The US wins
The US can do itself a big favor by winning against Algeria. American qualification becomes much more likely if that happens. This next scenario is a probable outcome, and probably the best for the US:
Team: GP: W: L: D: P:
England 3 2 0 1 7
USA 3 1 0 2 5
Slovenia 3 1 1 1 4
Algeria 3 0 3 0 0
The US can, however, beat Algeria and still go out. In this scenario, the US would beat Algeria 1-0 and England would also beat Algeria 1-0, while drawing 3-3 with Slovenia. The US would then go out on goals scored:
Team: GP: W: L: D: P: GD: GF:
Slovenia 3 1 0 2 5 +1 6
England 3 1 0 2 5 +1 5
USA 3 1 0 2 5 +1 4
Algeria 3 0 3 0 0 -3 0
If the scenario largely is the same as above, but England and Slovenia draw 2-2, the US could go out on the coin flip:
Team: GP: W: L: D: P: GD: GF:
Slovenia 3 1 0 2 5 +1 5
England 3 1 0 2 5 +1 4
USA 3 1 0 2 5 +1 4
Algeria 3 0 3 0 0 -3 0
If England beats Algeria 2-0, and draws 2-2 with Slovenia, and the US wins 1-0, the US goes out on goals scored:
Team: GP: W: L: D: P: GD: GF:
England 3 1 0 2 5 +2 5
Slovenia 3 1 0 2 5 +1 5
USA 3 1 0 2 5 +1 4
Algeria 3 0 3 0 0 -3 0
In the scenario, the US beats Algeria 2-0, England and Slovenia draw 0-0, and England beats Algeria 2-0. The US would then go through as winners by goals scored. Any US win by two goals or more would see us go through:
Team: GP: W: L: D: P: GD: GF:
USA 3 1 0 2 5 +2 5
England 3 1 0 2 5 +2 3
Slovenia 3 1 0 2 5 +1 3
Algeria 3 0 3 0 0 -5 0
So no huge revelations, but the US has to beat Algeria by two goals. Any other result, and the US must hope that the other results go their way.
