<a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/sports-news-june-2010/image/9150827?term=koman" target="_blank"></a><div><figure class="image"><a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/sports-news-june-2010/image/9150827?term=koman" target="_blank"></a></figure></div>
Visit&nbsp;<a href="http:\/\/www.fifa.com" target="_blank">FIFA’s official website</a> to watch the <a href="http:\/\/www.fifa.com/worldcup/highlights/video/video=1249730/index.html" target="_blank">highlights of the World Cup game between Slovenia and the United States</a> today, and you’ll see that in the <a href="http:\/\/www.fifa.com/worldcup/highlights/video/video=1249730/index.html" target="_blank">two minute highlight video</a>, FIFA shows exactly zero seconds of the controversial free kick incident when Maurice Edu scored but the goal was disallowed by referee Koman Coulibaly.
FIFA’s decision to exclude the incident from the highlight video is appalling. FIFA included several highlights from the game but the biggest talking point was conveniently ignored. If you’re FIFA, why draw more attention to the horrible decision by Coulibaly? But, at the same time, by excluding the incident from their video clip, it only draws more attention to the incident and makes it look like FIFA is trying to pretend it never happened.
In the 432-word&nbsp;<a href="http:\/\/www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=249722/match=300061463/summary.html" target="_blank">match summary of the Slovenia against United States game on the FIFA.com website</a>, only one sentence is focused on the controversial decision by Coulibaly. It reads “The Americans might even have won the game only for referee Koman Coulibaly to rule out a goal from Maurice Edu, who volleyed home Donovan’s free-kick from the right.”&nbsp;The way it’s written, it sounds like no big deal. Shucks, if only Coulibaly hadn’t just ruled the goal out. That’s incredulous.
And in the <a href="http:\/\/www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=249722/match=300061463/analysis.html" target="_blank">other report of the game on the FIFA website</a>, the 492 word article also only contains one sentence about the incident, which reads “And had Edu not had a goal ruled out four minutes from time, Bradley’s adjustments would have paid even more handsome dividends.” So much for a thorough analysis of the incident.
One last point. If you view the <a href="http:\/\/www.fifa.com/worldcup/photogallery/gallery=1249554.html#1249548" target="_blank">photo slideshow of the Slovenia against United States</a> on the FIFA.com website, you’ll notice there is not one image of the controversial free kick incident. This is absolutely ridiculous.

FIFA.com Conveniently Ignores Referee Koman Coulibaly Mistake - World Soccer Talk

FIFA.com Conveniently Ignores Referee Koman Coulibaly Mistake

&nbsp;<a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/bradley-the-celebrates/image/9147526?term=us+soccer" target="_blank"></a><div><figure class="image"><a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/bradley-the-celebrates/image/9147526?term=us+soccer" target="_blank"></a></figure></div>
June 17 2002.&nbsp; Mexico 0 – US 2.&nbsp; That is the last time the US won a game in the World Cup.&nbsp; It is time to do it again.
Since that day eight years ago, the US has had a courageous defeat (Germany in 2002), several heroic fight backs (Italy in 2006 and England and Slovenia in 2010) and a couple of pathetic collapses (Czech Republic and Ghana in 2006).&nbsp; It is time to put a W up on the scoreboard.
For the US to advance into the knockout round next week, they need to beat Algeria.&nbsp; There may be some mathematical models which allow the US to draw and still go through, but that is immaterial.&nbsp; If you cannot win a game in group play, and you cannot beat a middling team like Algeria when it really counts, you do not deserve to see the next round.&nbsp; The US has to prove that it is ready to do that.
What is the first step?&nbsp; It is time for the US to score the first goal and take a lead.&nbsp; The US team has not actually taken a lead in a World Cup game since that battle with Mexico in Korea.&nbsp; In the following six World Cups games in which the US has played, the other guys have scored first in all six.&nbsp; The US has found itself in a hole and has had to stretch and push to climb out.&nbsp; Sometimes that pushing has given the other team more chances to score (Czech Republic 2006).&nbsp; Sometimes that pushing has been heroic (Slovenia 2010).&nbsp; In either case, it is a bad position to be in if you value victories as opposed to heroism.
This pattern is nothing new for the US.&nbsp; Counting World Cup Qualifications games, you have to go all the way back to September 9, 2009 and the US’s 1-0 defeat over Trinidad &amp; Tobago to find the last time the US scored first in a competitive match.&nbsp; Since then, in draws to Costa Rica, England and Slovenia and a victory over Honduras, the US has always given up the first goal, often early in the first half.
The US is well positioned to reverse this trend on Wednesday.&nbsp; For Algeria have any hope of going through, they have to beat the US, and to beat them, Algeria will need to do something they have failed to do against Slovenia or England – score a goal.&nbsp; Truthfully, they have not really had a dangerous shot on target in this tournament.
Nevertheless, Algeria will have to press forward in search of that goal, and they should leave themselves vulnerable to a counter.&nbsp; Algeria have been well-organized this tournament, but they are not as quick or as athletic as the US team, and if they press they can be beaten.
Four years after the disappointment of Germany 2006 and eight years after the false dawn that may have been Japan/Korea 2002, this is the chance for the US to show the world that our brand of soccer has really arrived on the world stage.&nbsp; To go through the group play undefeated and head into the knock-out round on the back of an important victory would prove that last year’s Confederations Cup run was not a fluke.&nbsp; However, those theories need to be proved with a victory on Wednesday.&nbsp; Nothing less will do.

It Is Time for the US to Win a World Cup Game - World Soccer Talk

It Is Time for the US to Win a World Cup Game

US soccer fans and players must feel pretty cheated today after referee Koman Coulibaly disallowed a perfectly fine goal by US player Maurice Edu.
Watch the video evidence above. So far, all of the analysis of the USA against Slovenia games shows that referee Koman Coulibaly made the wrong decision. That includes Match Of The Day who felt that the US were cheated.
What’s your opinion regarding the controversial call? Share your feedback in the comments section below.

Koman Coulibaly Disallows USA World Cup Goal: Video - World Soccer Talk

Koman Coulibaly Disallows USA World Cup Goal: Video

<a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/football-slovenia-united/image/9148313?term=Koman+Coulibaly" target="_blank"></a><div><figure class="image"><a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/football-slovenia-united/image/9148313?term=Koman+Coulibaly" target="_blank"></a></figure></div>
The most hated man in America today is referee Koman Coulibaly who denied the US a certain goal which would have been the game winner against Slovenia. However, Coulibaly, a referee from Mali, called for a foul. It was one of those phantom decisions that bewildered everyone watching the game and is one of the reasons why FIFA needs to consider helping referees with the aid of TV replays. The debate will rage on. But in the meantime, here are some pictures of Koman Coulibaly and the controversial decision:  <a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/football-slovenia-united/image/9148317?term=Koman+Coulibaly" target="_blank"></a><div><figure class="image"><a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/football-slovenia-united/image/9148317?term=Koman+Coulibaly" target="_blank"><img loading="lazy" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20100618_WST_9521_football-slovenia-united.webp&amp;width=500&amp;height=633" border="0" alt="June 18, 2010 - South Africa - Football - Slovenia v United States of America FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010 - Group C - Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa - 18/6/10..Landon Donovan (R) remonstrates with referee Koman Coulibaly at the final whistle." width="500" height="633"></a></figure></div> 
<a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/players-argue-with-referee/image/9147778?term=Koman+Coulibaly" target="_blank"></a><div><figure class="image"><a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/players-argue-with-referee/image/9147778?term=Koman+Coulibaly" target="_blank"><img loading="lazy" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20100618_WST_9521_players-argue-with-referee.webp&amp;width=500&amp;height=344" border="0" alt="US players (in blue) argue with referee Koman Coulibaly of Mali after a shot at goal taken by team mate Maurice Edu was disallowed during a 2010 World Cup Group C soccer match against Slovenia at Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg June 18, 2010. REUTERS/David Gray (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: SPORT SOCCER WORLD CUP)" width="500" height="344"></a></figure></div> <a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/slovenia-usa/image/9146985?term=Koman+Coulibaly" target="_blank"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20100618_WST_9521_slovenia-usa.webp&amp;width=500&amp;height=336" border="0" alt="June 18, 2010 - Johannesburg, South Africa - epa02209389 Referee Koman Coulibaly tries to separate players after a collission between USA&apos;s Clint Dempsey (2nd L) and Slovenia&apos;s Zlatan Ljubijankic (not pictured) during the FIFA World Cup 2010 group C preliminary round match between Slovenia and USA at the Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, 18 June 2010." width="500" height="336"></figure></div></a>

Koman Coulibaly Denies US Win Against Slovenia: In Pictures - World Soccer Talk

Koman Coulibaly Denies US Win Against Slovenia: In Pictures

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Let’s face it. We soccer fans live in a bubble. We eat, live and breathe soccer. So much so, that it’s sometimes hard to get a perspective on how popular, or unpopular, the sport is in the United States.
I really enjoy speaking with people who aren’t rabid soccer fans to hear their perspectives on the beautiful game. It often brings me down to earth and I get to better understand what the average American, who may not be a soccer fan, thinks.
For better or worse, soccer becomes an American mainstream topic every four years. No matter how much soccer grows, many of the same questions and same complaints about the sport are raised.
Luckily, in the past week, I’ve had a chance to experience what people in the street and in the press are saying about soccer, and the observations are quite revealing, so I thought I’d share a few with you.
First, The Guardian published a story today entitled <a href="http:\/\/www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/jun/18/world-cup-2010-usa" target="_blank">Horns Stay Silent For the Underdog USA</a>, which includes a couple of choice quotes from me and some surprisingly pessimistic viewpoints from Jason Davis, a red-blooded American soccer blogger for Match Fit USA. Ed Pilkington, The Guardian’s New York correspondent, penned the piece but it feels as if he’s disappointed by the response so far from American and its residents in terms of getting into the World Cup. I discussed this with Pilkington on the phone a few days ago when he interviewed me. He mentioned how he sees very few flags or cars honking horns in New York when a team scores a goal. My response was that it’s not part of American fan culture. Americans love their flags probably more than any country in the world, but they don’t take to running through the streets or honking the horns in delight. Americans are more likely to party inside — whether it’s their homes or the many bars that are showing games.
Second, I spoke this morning with the exterminator my wife and I hire to keep those pesky Florida bugs out of my home. My wife started talking about the World Cup to him to get a sense for whether he’s been watching any matches. He’s not a soccer fan, but he admitted he turned on the England against USA game for a few minutes to see what the fuss was about. But when my wife asked him whether he was going to watch the rest of the first round games featuring the US, his response was surprising but enlightening. He replied “I heard that the US has no chance of winning the World Cup, so I’m not bothered to watch it.”
Americans are extremely competitive and always want to excel in everything they do. So, rather than watch a sport where the US will not succeed, the exterminator (and presumably countless other Americans) want to watch something else, something they can win.
Third, I’ve heard the following two arguments aimed at soccer too many times to remember. The first is that soccer is boring. The second is that soccer is low-scoring. Both criticisms are related, but they are difficult to argue against. I’ve had the good fortune to be interviewed by two radio stations this week about the World Cup and the way I positioned the answer was to say that soccer is a sport that is extremely different than most American sports. The closest resemblance is ice hockey and, even then, it’s nothing like the NHL. Soccer is a team sport played by 11 players on each team. It’s not a sport like American Football where it’s much easier to score. And it’s not a sport where one goal equals six points.
Non-soccer fans in the United States can be pretty dismissive and harsh against soccer when given the opportunity. But a shining light for me has been my week at Wowies, the sports bar in Boca Raton which is where MLS Talk is hosting its official World Cup viewing parties. While sitting in the booth working on my coverage of the World Cup, I’ve found myself eavesdropping on the conversations at the bar where there is a mix of soccer fans with some that know a little about the sport and others who have no clue and aren’t interested in it. Among all of the topics discussed at the bar this week, the World Cup has been the most prevalent. Yes, it’s a World Cup sports bar (at least for the next three weeks), but it’s a typical (but nicer) American sports bar. It’s not a soccer pub. However, the conversations have been surprisingly positive about soccer and many of the patrons sitting at the bar seem genuinely interested in how well the USA does but in the tournament itself. After living in this country for more than 25 years and having to endure so much negativity aimed at soccer, it’s refreshing to hear positive things being said about the sport.
Perhaps that’s why I’m so positive in the story. The TV ratings back up my belief. Now the most important thing is for the United States men’s national team to come through with their end of the bargain and to progress out of Group C. Then, mainstream America (and perhaps my exterminator) will become more interested.
What do you think? Is Davis too pessimistic? Am I too optimistic? What are you hearing from people on the street? Is soccer getting bigger in this country where you can see evidence with your eyes? Share your opinions in the comments section below

Is Soccer Popular In The United States, Or Not? - World Soccer Talk

Is Soccer Popular In The United States, Or Not?

What if? What if Robert Green had spilled that shot from Clint Dempsey in the World Cup, but then he managed to grab it before it crossed over the line.
Watch this video to see what could have happened if things were different. It’s a handy piece of revisionism that England fans would much prefer to watch than what actually happened.

Robert Green and England: If Only Things Had Been So Different: Video - World Soccer Talk

Robert Green and England: If Only Things Had Been So Different: Video

<a href="/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/wowies-group-usa-england.jpg"></a><div><figure class="image"><a href="/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/wowies-group-usa-england.jpg"></a></figure></div>
<a href="/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/wowies-group-usa-england.jpg"></a>Friday is a big day for readers of this blog as we prepare to watch two massive World Cup games, both of which are must win matches. USA against Slovenia kicks off at 10am ET. Followed by England versus Algeria at 2:30pm ET. And we have the added bonus of the early kick-off at 7:30am featuring Germany against Serbia in another game of immense proportions.
No matter where you live, I encourage you to get out of your home or office and go see the game in a public setting such as a bar, pub, restaurant or cafe.
If you’ll be in South Florida on Friday, I’d like to invite you and your friends to watch the World Cup games at Wowies Sports Grill in Boca Raton, Florida. Here are seven reasons why you should join us there:
<ol>
<li>Enter a free raffle for your chance to win a copy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa video game for the PS3, courtesy of EA Sports. The drawing will take place at the end of the United States against Slovenia game. The videogame is in stores now and it enables you to take your favorite nation to World Cup glory.</li>
<li>Bring <a href="http:\/\/www.worldcupbuzz.com/wowies" target="_blank">this flyer</a> with you and redeem it for a free Red Stripe or Sierra Nevada beer. Yes, there is such a thing as free beer.</li>
<li>Happy hour is 12-7pm everyday. Who can argue with half priced drinks?</li>
<li>All games are shown live in HD on 31 big screen TVs. It’s one of those venues where it’s impossible not to see a TV no matter where you sit.</li>
<li>Come support your country with fellow passionate soccer fans who are as serious about the game as you are.</li>
<li>Be interviewed for a chance to appear on EPL Talk. After the games on Friday, I’ll be taking my digital recorder with me and interviewing opinionated soccer fans at Wowies to get your reaction to the games and how the teams played. This is your chance to get on EPL Talk. For those who can’t make it, I’ll be streaming the World Cup Viewing Party live on the homepage of EPL Talk.</li>
<li><a href="http:\/\/wowiesgirls.com/official%20site.htm" target="_blank">Wowies girls</a>. Take a look at their website to see the Wowies bartenders and waitresses, and then come in Wowies to be served by them.</li>
</ol>
Wowies is located at 7036 W. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton, FL 33433. The sports bar is open at 9:30am ET each day and is showing every World Cup game (except the 7:30am ET kick-offs).
Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to interview two soccer fans who were there at Wowies to hear their opinions about how the US played against England, as well as to ask an England fan about his desire to see either England or his club team, Manchester City, win a trophy in his lifetime.
Thanks to Paul and Christian Sachleben for taking time out of their busy days to be interviewed.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "usa" - Page 9

Leagues: MLS

FIFA.com Conveniently Ignores Referee Koman Coulibaly Mistake

Leagues: MLS

It Is Time for the US to Win a World Cup Game

Leagues: MLS

Koman Coulibaly Disallows USA World Cup Goal: Video

Leagues: MLS

Koman Coulibaly Denies US Win Against Slovenia: In Pictures

Leagues: MLS

Is Soccer Popular In The United States, Or Not?

General

Robert Green and England: If Only Things Had Been So Different: Video

General

7 Reasons to Attend Wowies for USA-Slovenia and England-Algeria World Cup Viewing Parties