June 23, 2010 - Tshwane/Pretoria, Guateng, South Africa - 23 JUN 2010: Landon Donovan (USA) (10) is surrounded by teammates and coaches including Jozy Altidore (USA) (2nd from left), Stuart Holden (USA) (11), Brad Guzan (USA) (center), assistant coach Jesse Marsch (USA), fitness coach Pierre Barrieu (FRA), Maurice Edu (USA), and Tim Howard (USA) (1) as they watch a replay of Donovan's winning goal. The United States National Team defeated the Algeria National Team 1-0 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Tshwane/Pretoria, South Africa in a 2010 FIFA World Cup Group C match.

After Landon Donovan liberated us from World Cup purgatory (months of teeth gnashing reflection on a tournament gone wrong, with a special place in our bitter hearts for the referees) in the final minutes on Wednesday, the wave of good feelings reached Humunga Cowabunga from Down Unda proportions (if you understand that reference I'll be shocked). We're soaked with it.


It's time to refocus. Not for us, because it doesn't really matter what we say or do, but for the players. Emotional victories carry a bit of bad with all the good; tomorrow is a classic "letdown" scenario because it's always difficult to get bad the energy needed to play at your best when you've expending so much psychic energy only a few days before.


Which is one of the pitfalls of all of this. By winning the group, which is all they could do with England only scoring once against Slovenia, the U.S. actually finds themselves short a day of rest. Their Round of 16 match is tomorrow, giving them little time to sort their minds, renew their bodies, and plan to for Ghana. It's on Bob Bradley to take care of that last part, a task that probably includes juggling his lineup once again. Questions surround Onyewu, the strike partner for Jozy Altidore, and whether or not Jonathan Bornstein gets another chance to send U.S. supporters into terrified hysterics.


It's not correct to say that everything has gone right so far. The Americans seized the moment when it counted, and for that we should be ecstatic. But there are questions to be answered, tough ones that will determine if the U.S. goes as far as it ever has in a World Cup post-1930. Ghana is beatable, just as every team in the U.S. portion of the bracket, but that doesn't really mean anything when it's all about the next 90 minutes for team that is more than capable than beating themselves.


I'm betting on Bradley getting right because he's proven himself more than capable of doing so up to this point. From there, it's on the players to kick Wendesday's theatrics out of their minds and give all they have for the next bit of glory.


And let's not leave it to the end this time.


The semifinal talk started the moment we all realized that the U.S. won their group. As Paul Oberjuerge wrote, short of karmic concerns, it's perfectly reasonable to dream. Hell, even Cesc Fabergas thinks they have a shot.


A few links to get you ready, because I'm unlikely to produce a proper preview:


The Shin Guardian's preview and Martin Rogers of Yahoo!.


Some discussion of the "Rise of Soccer", from me (at FourFourTwo.com) and Neil over at Yanks Are Coming.


I'll probably update this post with links throughout the day, so be sure to check back.
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