2002 was a great year for US soccer. The team's performance was magnificent, and it gave hope for its fans.

This year's [2006] World Cup for the US wasn't so great. 2 Goals For [one being a 'gift' of an own goal], and 6 Goals Against. 2 Red Cards. 0 Wins. 1 Tie. 2 Losses.

Well to make matters worse... I give USA's Performance... a C-.

 Why?

in my opinion... they did TERRIBLE! The Czech Replublic game was aweful. No momentum. No Attack. Hardly any possesion... They're attacking with ariel balls 90% of the time, and they only got about one scoring opportunity out of it. That is NOT they're style of play... and maybe they are just 'changing' things around... OBVIOUSLY IT WASN'T WORKING OUT... SO WHY NOT PLAY DIFFERENTLY WITH ANOTHER PLAY STYLE?!? ...USA : CZE - grade = F/D-

Their performance against Italy was great., but it wasnt enough. That was their retaliation from their aweful loss to Czech Republic, but obviously, they didn't come off with a win. Review Italy's goal, and you'll see that ONE mistake which cost them the win. The whole team has to be on the same page, and they have to communicate... ...the offsides trap doesn't work with one player... ...as you can see if you view the replay.
Yes, U.S did play magnificently and they were ruined by the Ref. The long balls didnt work the last game, and they played differently. They played more WING. Bocanegra, Convey, Reyna, and Dempsey played magnificently on the Wing, and that is what they needed to do.
Eddie Johnson should have been put out that game... USA with 9 players, ITA with 10. there are less players out on the field meaning more space. Eddie Johnson could have been used to counter-attack with a long ball... since they were just kicking it away anyways... they could have done it tactically.
The ref. ruined the game... it was TERRIBLE!!! The elbow from ITA was indeed a Red Card. [maybe a yellow...] But Mastroeni's Foul did not deserve a red card. ...it barely even deserves a yellow card... And the ref was just throwing out his bookings like he was 'putting money in the collection basket...' TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i swear... that better be the last i EVER hear about him...
USA : ITA -grade=B

USA vs. Ghana... aww... you know... people say US was unlucky... but really... i think they were given soooo much luck AND soo much misfortune... ...it evens out. the USA : GHA match had one terrible call... obvioiusly a call that ruined the game... HOWEVER... there was still 45 mins. to work with... if Ghana managed to score 2 goals in 45 minutes... why couldn't USA?!?!?!?!?
NOW... i'll just say it... US : GHA -grade=F/D-
why?
they played magnificently against ITALY... they played wing. and stopped with the long-ball bullsh!z. Then they start playing long-ball again... WTF?!?!?!?!?!?
and look at US's goal, it was from a turnover but played from the pressure of the Wingplayers.

okay... now here are some notable grades...
Beasly = F/D-
he definately dribbled too much... it seemed like whenever he dribbled he lost the ball... his touches were horrible... and he got no momentum going. he got no attacks going. he was in a FEW [like... one or two... so that actually makes a couple] attacks, which is the only reason why he got in between F and a D-.

Donovan = F
sure. he was in a few attacks. he was in a few chances... but he definately... DEFINATELY under performed. he was expected to do so much... as a matter of fact, he was given the captain's arm badge after Reyna's injury... THAT ARM BADGE MEANS SOMETHING... YOU NEED TO DESERVE THAT BADGE! YOU NEED TO PROVE YOURSELF WORTHY OF IT! AND YOU MUST PROVE THAT ITS WORTH WHILE THAT YOU WERE GIVEN IT! YOUMUST AND I REPEAT, YOU MUSTPERFORM AT YOUR BEST AT ALL TIMES WHILE WEARING IT... ...and while wearing the badge, Donovan did NOTHING!!!.
and i believe i heard a quote from donovan... [indirectly or directly...] saying: [actual quote may vary] 'When i feel that people are counting on me, i'll step up my game; i'll give it my all. Right now, im not giving my all, so when i know people are counting on me, i'll play perfect.'

***...that quote shows his ignorance. Ladies and gentlemen... being from San Jose, CA, and a fan of the S.J. Earthquakes [R.i.P Quakes^^^] he left SJ and played for SJ's rivals... LA. i know, he did it for himself... but that just shows that he has no love for the fans, for the support we gave to him. He backstabbed me once. and with this quote, he plunged the knife into my heart. and left it there...***

Dempsey = A
the lone goal scorer. one of the wingplayers as mentioned during the ITA game. i saw no mistakes out of him. ***Applause, Applause***

Bocanegra=B
He played well. no specific +/-, sry...

McBride = B-
Didn't see/hear enough of him. he was practically the only one on the attacking side, receiving passes, or being the target... no goals... but we should have heard more from him.... but he is on the receiving side of the ball, not really the playmaker... so you cant really blame him all that much...

well... thats all i can put on paper now... i still have thousands more to write. so i'll get back to you...

-AnotheR_StaR 062706 11.42P