A disappointing effort from the US, particularly in the second half. They let the Guatemalans' constant fouling and diving get into their heads and lost composure, even the supposed "captain" Carlos Bocanegra. Onyewu must learn to defend with using his hands. And I'm sorry, I hate having Hejduk on the field. He does not belong on the National team. The entire back line was terrible last night. Please, it's time to start DeMerit, Simek, Spector, maybe even Heath Pearce. Let's see what they can do. As for the attack, they created some good chances in the first half, which was nice, but they only got one goal out of it.

It is definitely time to give DeMerit the start. You do not hear Ruiz's name after DeMerit came into the game.

This may be a bit of topic, but I was wondering if there was any inter national games on cable tv(the cable with things like espn, espn 2 and fsn) because I am constantly looking at the Spanish channel or Espn 2 and there is no soccer games on. Luckily, I am going to europe and will watch Eurosport TV.

Ok kids' calm down now, come down. Everybody knows the American national team stinks so take it easy on the yanks here as it's hard for them to hear the truth. The dopey American team will win the odd game here & there but that's about it. They will never be a world power in soccer.

I really don't know what the big deal is. So the US won a game, against who? They play all these weak teams & once in a blue moon they come away with a victory & you would think they won the lottery. They never beat strong teams as their kickball style doesn't work well against teams with high levels of skills & sound & proven tactics.

i guess beating portugal is not very impressive seeing as portugal is a strong contender for euro and world cup every time. and we were the only team besides france to score a goal on italy which that game against them could easily have been won if there was a different ref. and then we just barely lost to ghana on an awful call that gave stephen appiah a pk right before halftime which just killed our momentum. we could have easily advanced out of that bracket if we didnt get so unlucky in both games.

The USSF has been around for over 100 years in America so soccer is not actually a new sport to Americans. Some of the other various countries all over the world that always seem to be doing well & ranked high have not had their soccer federations around nearly that long so what's the excuse for America's overall poor track record on the international level within the sport. Soccer is big with kids' in America of course but it never has been big, or ever will be with the adult level there. American football, basketball, baseball & even tennis & golf draw more attention with adults as far as sports' go in America & always will.

As for all this banter you go on about America beating Portugal. When was that? I can't seem to remember. As for last years world cup against Italy it was the typical big mouthed Americans' running their mouths to the press before the game about how they were going to war with Italy. The Italians' sure didn't lower themselves with such idiotic comments. That game was nothing but one foul after another & the call's were just. Italy's only mistake was letting the big mouth Americans' get into their heads & throw them off their game. As for Ghana they won fair & square. As for The Americans' first game they were rolled over. You Americans' always want to cast the blame of your own mistakes on others. You were knocked out of last years world cup for the same reason you always get bounced in big cups >>> Your second rate & just not good enough! Soccer is a religion in almost every other country in the world & that's why so may other countries have much better national programs than found in America. In America it's looked at as good exercise for children & a cheap sport that won't cost parents an arm & a leg to put their kids' into. On the adult level most Americans' don't even consider soccer a sport & there is where the problem is! Your overall mentality of the sport of soccer in America is in the wrong direction. It's never going to be considered a major sport & America will never be a power on the world's stage.

First of all, "Ken" "Nutter" "Arbat", it's so obvious that you are the same person that I don't understand why you bother constantly changing your name. There's nothing wrong with Americans supporting our team and rooting for them to improve. We know that team needs to improve. Anyway, congrats on derailing another conversation that actually had some merit.

Oh and here's the fact check on your half-truths:
-USSF was founded in 1913, not quite 100 years ago, and it's true that's a long time. American football and some other sports are younger and more popular here, that is also true. But the USSF isn't older than other soccer federations. England's FA was founded in 1869. And they've only won the cup once in almost 150 years. Scotland's was founded in 1873 and they've never won anything. Holland's KNVB in 1889. Argentina's in 1893. Italy's in 1898. Germany's in 1900. Sweden - 1904,France 1907, Spain-1909, Ireland - 1912, Portugal and Brazil - 1914. I think it's safe to say the founding date of the federation has very little to do with the current strength of these national teams.

My opinion is that the current strength of the US team is more tied to the fact that the US is in a weak region for soccer. We have one natural rival, which we're outgrowing, and that's Mexico. We need to find better competition more often. A big win or two every decade isn't going to energize this country to support soccer and it's not enough to get the best US athletes to choose soccer over the NFL, NBA, or MLB. And neither are ritual beatings of teams like Trinidad & Tobago in the CONCACAF.

-US beat Portugal in the 2002 World Cup, 3-2, on the way to the quarterfinals. If you can't remember the world cup that happened 5 years ago, then you have no place making historical arguments.

As for your main opinion, that the US will never win and soccer will never catch on. That's fine, say it all you want. It doesn't bother me. It's your opinion that is supported by half-truths and stereotypes. It won't stop us from critiquing, supporting, or celebrating the US team.

Now I know why I dont come here to post very often. It's because of you nerds. I'd be shocked to find out that any of you really play soccer at all beyond your local kick abouts down in the school yard. You people have nothing better to do than post here & argue like little girls about who beat who on what date who plays in a weak region whh does this, who said that & ba ba ba! You clowns have too much time on your hands. I used to get a kick out of coming here & rile you muppets up just to see you go bonkers but now I realise you all have mental problems along with no social life to speak of so maybe it's wrong & unfair of me to hammer you all the time. Now I'm off to do something more important like go watch the grass grow in my front yard. Dang! What a bunch of babies.

Hey Dave...I am on a 91 tulsa, OK team that has gone to Dallas cup, phoenix, florida, and san diego tournaments. We have also gone to nationals twice in which we beat the eventual national champions. who are you to criticise every one any way?

By the way...you said "bonkers" without joking. seriously?

wow, daveykens. You were confronted with facts and a reasoned argument and you responded with what?...3rd grade level name calling. That's impressive.

Here's some facts for you red white & blue flag waving soccer wannabes. US has never won a world cup. Never even come close to winning a world cup & chances are never will. US has to qualifiy out of the weakest region in the world for the world cup. Their only real test in that region is Mexico & Mexico has been going backwards with their national team program for decades now. The USSF has more money & more resources than all the other national soccer team federations in their region combined & they still can't get it right. It's one thing to give a pounding to some small poor country in your region who's national soccer program is lucky if they have enough funds' to buy a complete set of uniforms for their team. It's quite another thing though to say your team gives the same type of poundings to the powerful soccer nations like Italy Germany Holland Spain Portugal England France Argentina & Brazil. What's the US overall track record against these teams I've just mentioned? Come on! Let's here it! America has a lot of good things as a country. It also like any other country has bad things as well. One bad thing is you people think your better than everyone else. You think it's your right to go & shove your way of life down everyone elses throats & it's just not working anymore now is it! You win a game in soccer once in a while & then you pump up your chest like your master's of the soccer world. What a crock! By the way how did your guys do in last years world cup? Let's here it. Oh of course you will say your team's failure had nothing to do with the team. You push it all off on bad calls from the Refs'. Dirty teams,he said she said & this & that. That's one thing you Americans are very good at which is the blame game. When something goes wrong you can't get your fingers up fast enough to point the blame at somebody else. Your reality is based on what you like & dislike. It's never based on the truth at hand. Take a good look around you & even more so take a long hard look at history in general. How the view at the peak? Enjoy it while it last as nobody stays on top forever & you, like it or not will one day remember what I said here in this post. The slide down is always faster than the rise up.

The U.S. has gone all of the way to the quarter finals in the World Cup. So yes they have been two games off from winning the world cup.

Ok Lad what's your point? So what? Many countries have made it to the quarter finals in past world cup. Nothing special about that Lad. Whats special is if a country wins it. How many times has the US won the world cup? I think we all know the answer to that one Lad. Face it Son. The US are just small guppies in the giant sea of soccer.

hey arbat if you are not from america than where are you from?

The US does not use kickball tactics. If they did they would never be able to score and there would be a pitchers mound and a catcher on the team.

The U.S.A. Womens National team has won the world cup.

Your right about the US womens' national team. They play good soccer. If the USSF is smart when the next world cup comes up they should send the womens' team in place of the mens' team & then the US would stand a very good chance of becoming world champions. The women play 100% better than the men that's for sure. David Carradine Kung Fu Master from the hit show .. Kung Fu! The legend continues. Signing off.

I have loads of respect for the US womens' national team. Unlike the mens' team the ladies have very good skill. They use very good tactics & it seems year after year they always do well. Good for them! At least when they play in the ladies version of the world cup they always do very well for their country. The mens' team cant say that.