USA Gets Set for Pivotal Matchup with Algeria

Tomorrow morning USA will take on Algeria in their last group match with a chance to qualify for the knockout stage. USA is in a great position because if they win, they will advance regardless of what happens between England and Slovenia. Algeria has been held scoreless in their first two games and is certainly a team that USA should be able to beat. Any reason for US fans to be nervous? Well, Slovenia was a team the US should certainly have been able to beat. In fact, USA has a terrible history when it comes to big games against teams they should beat. USA had a chance to take control of group C last Friday, but soon found themselves facing a 0-2 deficit. USA did manage to battle back, but they did so because they were the better team and should never have been in that position in the first place. In the 2006 World Cup, USA came in ranked 5th in the world, their highest ranking ever. They were immediately brought back down to Earth with 3-0 loss to the Czech Republic. They tied Italy 1-1 but it was off an own goal. Despite their struggles, USA was still in a position to advance if they won their last game over Ghana. What happened? They lost 2-1. In the 2002 World Cup after upsetting Portugal and tying host South Korea, USA could seal their spot in the next round with a win or tie over Poland and they lost 3-1. They still advanced, but their loss made sure it was no guarantee. In the 1998 World Cup USA walked away with 3 losses. A loss to Germany was perhaps not surprising, but losses to Iran and Yugoslavia certainly were.

Algeria also proved they will not go down easily in their game against England. England was never able to establish themselves as the dominant team. Goalie Rais M'Bolhi had a solid game saving the 6 shots a sleep-walking England did manage on net. The Algerian offense constantly harassed England throughout the game managing 11 total shots of their own. So far, USA has had poor starts to both of their games. If they do that again, this Algerian team can make them pay with another early goal. If they manage that, they'll sink back into their disciplined defensive style of play that will be very hard to break. Do not forget that the one goal Algeria did concede was off of a bad goalie error. Otherwise, this defense can be air tight.

What is most important for the US is to forget about what happened against Slovenia. They have to be worried about Algeria and Algeria alone. Granted, the heartbreak of having a legitimate, game winning goal taken away for no reason is a hard pill to swallow, but what's done is done. If they continue to dwell on the fact that they should have 4 points right now instead of 2, then they will be thinking about it all the way home because Algeria will send them packing. If anything, USA should consider themselves lucky that despite a terrible start leading to a 2-0 deficit and a win stolen away from the referee, they still control their fate. While I believe Algeria will be a tough opponent, the fact is that if the US cannot beat Algeria, they do not deserve to advance. They are better than both Algeria and Slovenia, and even maybe England if they continue to struggle. Group C was a great draw for the US and it would take a collapse equal to those I listed above to prevent them from advancing into the next round.