US Steals Win Because Klinsmann

So the US Men’s National Team opened World Cup play with a victory. I can’t say it was a well-deserved victory, because it really wasn’t. After an early goal by Clint Dempsey, Ghana really had the better of play. After Altidore went down, they absolutely dominated.

After the half, with Besler also out with an injury in central defense, it really was just a matter of time before Ghana equalized, and sure enough in the last 10 minutes that’s exactly what happened.

And yet, somehow, the decisions made by Jurgen Klinsmann, which seem so confusing to those of us who aren’t savants like him, somehow worked out.

Besler goes down and forces him to bring in John Brooks, a guy who many didn’t feel would make the squad, let alone play. While desperately defending a 1-0 lead, he brings in an attacking midfielder in Graham Zusi.

Naturally, after the equalizer, and with Ghana completely dominating and looking to get the winner, the US wins a corner kick, and Graham Zusi finds John Brooks for the winning goal.

Because….. Klinsmann, am I right? 😉

On to the next game against a wounded Portugal on Sunday. It’ll be interesting to see how they respond to their drubbing by Germany today. I expect they will come out angry and desperate for 3 points against the US. Can the US turn that desperation against them? They may need to get points from this game to advanced, it looks like getting points out of that final game against Germany will be a tough one to get any points out of, but you just never know!