The Final Countdown for the US in Real Time

The restaurant beneath my office opened early today just for the World Cup matches. I'm there, with a laptop, coffee, borrowed wi-fi, American Flag, heart in stomach, and will present the game as I see and experience it:

10.30 AM - I'm watching the US World Cup match and cannot believe the bullshit that I just witnessed. Claudio Reyna, known as "Captain America," supposedly the best and most professional of all US players, just tried to dribble out of his own zone, lost the ball, gave it to Ghana and they scored. He was laying on the ground clutching his leg while it happened, weeping like a little girl, and I thought he was done, like he had torn his ACL. Then he got up eventually and is still in the game, which makes it even worse, because his leg should be broken if he gave up the ball that easily. So the US is losing. Great. Not only that, but 2 minutes later the Italians scored to take the lead against the Czechs. "Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?!" Dreck! Merde! I'm so pissed...

10:40 AM - For the first time ever, Reyna comes out of a World Cup game. So he is hurt. Good. I feel bad about feeling this way but it's how I feel - it was such a stupid, stupid play to get hurt on.

10:45 AM - GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAL!!!! A take away by DeMarcus, a great cross to Dempsey who brilliantly strikes to finish and this game is tied baby! Their first "real" goal of the WC. Just now, a Czech player was given a red card. Things are looking up...

10:48 AM - And now they aren't as more bullshit, this time thanks to the refs, has occurred. Ghana is awarded a penalty kick on a complete and utter senseless call. Although the striker looks nervous, he puts it away and Ghana is up now 2-1. I can't believe this...

Half-time - Why is it that I feel as if only 3 penalty kicks have been awarded in the first round thus far? Figures that one would be against the US. I really feel that FIFA hates the US. I can't even begin to go into it - one will think I'm a conspiracy nut. Plus, I don't want to sound like Mark Cuban, the current "The Refs and League Hate Me" poster child. I do believe that the US can pull off an incredible comeback, but it's going to be really difficult. They are re-reviewing the penalty kick and the announcer is saying "....not a penalty! In a game like this, you've got to really take a guy down, grab his hair...to get a penalty..." They report that Reyna' injury is a twisted right knee, close to a torn ACL (which is what it looked like when he was flopping about on the ground). G-d, I hope the US plays out of their gourd and come back. "The next world cup is 4 years away - you don't want to leave anything in the tank after these last 45 minutes." I couldn't agree more...and here we go - bon chance Les Etas-Unis!

11:10 AM - The US under Bruce Arena, their head coach, are 2-16-2 when trailing at half-time. Great stat. The announcer just complained about the grass not being match fit. I really hope the bitching doesn't start already...who am I kidding, I'm bitching..

11:17 AM - The US has never won the 3rd game in the 1st round. Great stat. Thanks guys. The US has missed some chances and time keeps on slipping slipping slipping into the future.

11:26 AM - Its the 64th minute and I'm starting to get that sinking feeling. I know what the Aussie's did against Japan but I'm not hopeful. Shot - POST! Damn it! McBride hits the post on a proto-typical McDiving header. Close but no cigar...

11:37 AM - Not much has happened of note. About 15 minutes are remaining in the match.

11:41AM - A hard tackle right outside the box. The US has a free kick and needs to capitalize on it. This is a very big play for them. What a crap ball! A horrible cross by Donovan and the ball sails out. Italy just scores again after a player literally dribbles around the Czech goalie. The Italians know how to get it done while Landon Donovan has not been a factor at all. So much for the "future of US Soccer."

11:58 AM - Game over man, game over. The US had a lot of set pieces (corner kicks and free kicks) and had a lot of good chances towards the end but just couldn't do anything with them which is what good footballers do - they convert those chances. It doesn't matter what the FIFA rankings say, the US is not that great of a team. My ego has taken a bit hit here; I used to think we were so good and that we had really buiit on our success from '02. They scored 1 goal in 3 games. Italy won but they lost. They are going home and hopefully will qualify for 2010 in South Africa. Damn it. My whole day is shot. All I say to say is, "3 Lions on the shirt....Go England!"