In a recent post, I asked rhetorically whether anyone thought the US would make it out of the Group of Death. Thankfully, mercifully, I was wrong, we did survive.

But if you think too hard about it, as is my wont, the whole thing was decided in the first 37 seconds when Dempsey scored an early US goal on a very bad mistake by the Ghanan defense. Thereafter, Ghana clearly played the better game, better chances, more energy, more creativity, and a very good goal. The US defense was adequate, goalie Tim Howard was brilliant in this game and every other. Were it not for a brilliantly executed set play to bring the score to 2-1, and that early goal at 37 seconds, the game would have ended a 1-1 tie. That would have unsatisfying, but fair.

Another shout out to Germany who helped us by beating Portugal 4-0 for an almost insurmountable goal differential, and again to Howard who helped keep the German defeat with bounds at 1-0.

As to the late goal for a tie against Portugal, well, that’s why Renaldo is one of best players around. Like Messi and Robben, he defines games, and makes the plays that win games, and while this may not have been for a win, it did keep Portugal in the running.

So, in three games, we won one (37 seconds in), tied one (last 30 seconds), and lost one (only one goal against), and in retrospect, we are going because of the results of Day 1: 37 seconds for us, 4-0 for Germany. We are playing well defensively, and Howard has been one of the best in the tournament, but can we beat Belgium? And if Belgium, then, probably Argentina?

I doubt it, but would be happy to be wrong yet again. We’ll see: go USA.