America, and the world, are abuzz today with the news that the "US got robbed" during its World Cup soccer match with Slovenia. It's true. Malian referee Koman Coulibaly did make a bogus call at the end of the game. When Maurice Edu slotted home the game-winning goal off a free kick, there was no foul. This is true. There was no offside infraction either. It was a totally incorrect call.
We are outraged. Americans everywhere are livid and feel that the World Cup win was snatched from their very own hands. This may well be true. But the thing is, in sports, you can only control certain things.
Had the game been tied 0-0 and Edu's strike was the only goal, perhaps I'd think differently. But, the game unfolded in a different way, with the US asleep at the wheel for the entire first half. Had they not let in those two goals early, they would never have been in desperation mode for the entire second half.
Having played the game myself, I can appreciate the ebb and flow of each match. As frustrated as I was after the game today, I just kept thinking that the US team played an amazing 45 minutes. If they would have played an amazing 90 minutes, none of the calls or refereeing would have been an issue.
Amazingly, the US is still in contention for one of two berths into the next round. With a win over Algeria, the US is in. There are a multitude of other scenarios should the US draw, but let's hope it does not come to that.
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