A funny thing happens when the parameters for success are so clear: focus can become so intense that the bigger potential slips away. The World Cup is huge, but Group C was a saga unto itself. After a dangerous close call with the English, USA fought through another self-imposed struggle to secure a draw against Slovenia. Surely the Americans were taxed, but their goal had yet to be met. The Algeria game was a must-win for the United States to survive the group, and the build-up for the team must have been tremendous. One more match. Then the match came, and it was a struggle so epic, with a climax and outcome so dramatic, it felt like a fairy tale. After years of physical and emotional exertion, the goal was achieved. USA wins, and they lived happily ever after.

While it must have felt like a triumph to parallel a legendary final, in the broader picture, it was not. The tournament was just beginning, and with only days to recuperate, the Americans were spent. They said they were ready, but we all remembered that anything beyond the group stage was a bonus—and we could read between the lines. Beating Ghana (or anyone at this level) was just too much.

The USA fell out of the Cup because of a goal. Not the one from Asamoah Gyan, but the one in the Americans’ heads.

Their obsession with a less-than-lofty goal ultimately led to a dead end, even with a gift of a round of 16 bracket. Would they have played differently with far-sighted and slightly vaguer hopes? I think so. With longer-term goals, people perform to maintain greatness, not simply achieve it. There are few ups and downs; indeed it’s a completely different mindset.

To be fair, the American objective in the abstract was enough to satisfy. It was a step up from 2006, and required hard work to achieve. In this way, the tournament was a success. In fact, I can’t remember anyone criticizing Landon Donovan for setting the team’s sights too low. We universally nodded in agreement; the goal had merit.

Yet today, in spite of meeting that very goal (exceeding—USA topped the group), the word ‘disappointment’ echoes on broadcast and social media. Disappointment? USA leveled its aim and hit the target we all accepted. Two ties, a win, and a loss aren’t spectacular, but it’s more than we expected in a group that was harder than we supposed. The team won on foreign soil (twice, ahem), scored many times in the run of play, outmatched a world power, and in the most grim moments showed surprising belief in itself. The only disappointment I feel is that everyone (players, coaches, media, fans, and me) once again lowballed the Americans’ potential.

EuroFail—France, Italy, Denmark and Greece are all gone in a continent-spanning shocker. However, the chances of The Netherlands, Germany, and Spain redeeming their neighbors are fairly high. England is still in but were bested in the group stage by USA and see a foreboding Bavarian storm on the horizon. If any European team makes it to the final, we’ll forget the EuroFail in favor of FranceFail or ItalyFail or maybe FormerFinalistsFail.

CONMEBOL power—All of South America made it through the group stage and Brazil, once again, looks unstoppable.

USA and Africa, fates intertwined—Home team spirit could not translate to success for any African team save Ghana, upon whose shoulders rest the hopes of a continent. USA has an incredibly lucky path ahead which could see them to the semifinal for the first time since Jesus played. The twist: USA plays Ghana today.

God hates communism—North Korea finished in 32nd. Out of 32.

What stars?—Who would have guessed Japan’s Honda would outshine Cristiano Ronaldo? The truly impressive performances have come from players with belief, energy, youth and team spirit. Massive paychecks and sexy hairstyles not required.

Has Europe’s new dark age begun? Will CONCACAF finally prove its competence? Can home-continent pride translate to any form of success? Could we crown a nation champions for the first time? Will this be a tournament of anomalies or a rehashing of the usual? The opening rounds of the group stage asked more tough questions than we expected. The third round is when the answers begin to unfold.

So little is set. After all, if we approach the third round with the same speculations we had before the tournament, many of the precedents will be upheld. Spain, England, Germany, Italy and even France could still move on. Most probably will. Mexico and USA could let their destinies slip away once again. The home team zeitgeist could still be captured (sorry Cameroon). The Netherlands, Portugal, and Argentina may never find their synchrony. The barely-got-ins and good-but-not-greats could still fade into history. And if ever a team can be expected to meet their potential, it’s now, with everything on the line.

Yes, the games have been fun to watch. Maicon, Tshabalala, and all that… just be prepared to forget it a week from now. (except the North Korean 7-0 defeat. That’s certified classic.)

To kick off one of the most anticipated games of the World Cup (and that’s a fact), FIFA has decided to put a referee in change that was suspended in his own country for corruption and incompetence. FIFA has allowed Brazilian Carlos Simon the chance to ref the England v United States game in the World Cup after said charges, another brilliant move from the federation.

To be awarded the opportunity to referee in the World Cup is a huge honor. If you are suspended due to corruption:

1. You should be suspended indefinitely, not just six weeks

2. AND YOU SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO REF AT THE WORLD CUP

US Soccer gives Michael Bradley a yearly quota of red cards he needs to meet. The US team is often seen as too physical and pays in major tournaments (anyone remember the 2006 World Cup game against Italy?).

A referee that was actually suspended for incompetence and a physical US team. Our only hope is Rooney blowing his cool early.

Some issues I have with her piece:

The proposition that one can enjoy the World Cup in spite of soccer. Would you date someone just because they wore cool shoes? To ignore the fundamental aspect of the event is to belittle it. So, if you are considering Howard’s advice to watch the Cup for inane or ironic reasons, save yourself the afternoon. You’re doing no one a favor by tuning in. Except maybe ABC (gasp!).

The characterization of “Euro-snobs.” “…more sophisticated than us,” she projects? Soccer is the working-man-and-woman’s sport around the world. Its popularity is—no hyperbole—without parallel. Elitism is intrinsically exclusive, and there is no activity more inclusive in Europe than soccer. In fact, I would argue that the most abrasive snobbery over soccer exists in countries where the sport’s popularity is small enough to exist as a minority—like the USA.

The perpetuated injury myth. Yes, sometimes soccer players dive and feign injury. Like it or not, it is a strategy with real, game-changing potential. But, players also actually get hurt. Players who often make as much or more money than the biggest American football or baseball stars, for whom physical condition is the difference between the good life and early retirement. With soccer’s minimal padding, flowing play, and delicate fouling rules, personal safety is often one’s own responsibility.

The denigration of foreign names. This is silly, and in my opinion, unprofessional.

I would bet Johnette could write an amazing piece highlighting the FIFA World Cup as a respectable and exciting event. Such an article would at least help to counteract this one.

Jozy Altidore : On Thursday, the United States starting striker suffered an injury to his right ankle and is currently listed day-to-day. Altidore did not participate in field training on Friday (June 4th). The US has a friendly with Australia on Saturday June 5th and it is currently looking like Altidore will not play.

Rio Ferdinand : England’s captain and central defender has sustained a knee injury that will keep him out of the World Cup. Michael Dawson from Tottenham will be brought in to replace Ferdinand and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will become captain of the England squad. This is good news for the US team as Ferdinand is considered England’s best defender.

Andrea Pirlo : Italy’s star midfielder experienced a calf strain and will miss the open match against Paraguay on June 14th. Pirlo is expected to return for the last 2 group games.

Didier Drogba : The Ivory Coast captain and most important player fractured his arm 16 minutes into a friendly with Japan. Drogba has been ruled out of the World Cup in what is a major blow to the Ivory Coasts chances to advance out of the group stage. As stated by @astroheader on twitter “With #Drogba out, all hand balls at the World Cup are now the sole responsibility of Thierry Henry. What pressure!”

The number of injuries to headline players is disturbing considering we still have 7 days till the World Cup in South Africa kicks off. Will there be more? Any Mexican players hurt? (ASTROHEADER does not want to see anyone get hurt, but would like to see Mexico not get out of the group stage… just saying)

This picture does not help my case

“Off the field, I have always felt American. On the field I’ve always felt Italian.” This quote from ESPN magazine has not treated Rossi well. While the quote was ignorant as he is trying to get the best of both worlds, he is in a position to make the statement.

What I believe is the largest misunderstanding in the typical US soccer fan version of the Giuseppe Rossi story is where his football loyalty lies. Rossi started going to a football camp near Parma in Italy at age 9. By 12, Giuseppe moved to Italy to join the youth academy of Parma FC.

Giuseppe moved up through the Italian youth ranks from U-16 to the senior national team. While it seems apparent that Rossi had focused his efforts on playing for Italy from the beginning, US Soccer let 4 years slip by without pursuing Giuseppe while he was becoming more comfortable in Italy. It was always Giuseppe Rossi’s dream to play for Italy and he has always told US Soccer that it was his intention.

Rossi only attended one US Soccer camp when he was in the States for the summer in 2001, it was the U-14 youth squad. He was later asked in 2005 to join the US team for a friendly in Scotland, which he turned down even though it would not have tied him to the US team. Former US coach Bruce Arena was brutally honest about it, “We tried to make it as easy as possible for him, and in no way jeopardize his eligibility. But it was pretty clear his dream was to play for Italy. He didn’t mislead us for a second.”

Why do the US fans feel that Giuseppe Rossi wronged US Soccer?

Rossi never lied, mislead or played for the United States. It just sounds like a bunch of bitter fans that don’t fully understand the story. His whole life has always revolved around Italian soccer. He was raised in a traditional Italian family, watched Serie A every week on television growing up and  idolized the Italian players. He was conditioned and flourished in the Italian system. They groomed and invested in Rossi and are getting the rewards of that work. What justification does US Soccer have on Rossi?

Now the hypothetical: If you were born in Panama but raised in a traditional US family, watching US Soccer and aspiring to be like Brian McBride and Tab Ramos, would you move? US Soccer offered you to join the youth academy and brought you up through their system. You are given the opportunity to play for the USMNT.  Now everyone in Panama is calling you a traitor because you don’t play for Panama…Are You?

I would have to say “no”. I don’t believe the hypothetical person above is a traitor and I don’t believe Giuseppe Rossi is either.

Rossi was cut from the final 23-man Italian World Cup roster and will focus on finding a club team after his contract with Villarreal runs out this summer.

The Mexican squad has since gone to South Africa to continue preparation for the World Cup as they are in the first game against host South Africa. However, the inclusion of one brother and not the other has not gone over well with the father of the dos Santo brothers, Zizinho.

Zizinho now wants both of his sons to quit the Mexican national team permanently. “Gio is very hurt and he wants to be at home with us. He is there now and he’s not well. We don’t know if he will play or not. We still don’t know anything.”

Jonathan Dos Santos is prepared to quit the national team after the decision, his father added, “Jonathan told me that he is going to quit the Mexican team and I don’t want him playing for them anymore anyway”.

It is time to grow up. You abandon your national team because you are left off the World Cup squad? Jonathan Dos Santos is 20 years old. He is young enough and has the talent to make the next two World Cup teams.

On the other hand, there is nothing I would like more than to see Mexico fall out of the World Cup at the group stage and two of their talented players quit the team. Go Dos Santos brothers!!