Will it be another slow start for the U.S. on Wednesday, or have the lessons of the World Cup been learned?
Michael Bradley's goal in the second half ignited the United States' comeback against Slovenia, but the U.S. team is hoping for a faster start in Wednesday's critical group C finale against Algeria.• World Cup: United States vs. Algeria, Wednesday, 10 a.m. TV: ESPN
Grahame L. Jones
Los Angeles Times
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- It took England barely four minutes to pierce the U.S. defense before the back line stiffened. It took Slovenia all of 13 minutes to find a way through the U.S. rear guard before American resolve came to the fore.
So, after salvaging a 1-1 tie in its first match and a 2-2 tie in its second, what sort of performance is U.S. coach Bob Bradley's team going to produce Wednesday, when Algeria is the opponent in Pretoria?
Will it be another slow start, or have the lessons of the World Cup been learned?
Landon Donovan, who has stepped up as one of the team's leaders on and off the field, made a significant point this week.
"In the two World Cups I've been a part of [before], we didn't string together three consecutive good results and good performances," he said. "I think this team has the experience and the ability to do that."
If so, it will be a first. In its six World Cup appearances dating to 1950, the U.S. has lost its third game on all six occasions.
Complicating matters at Loftus Versfeld Stadium: Algeria is just as alive in the competition as the U.S. Both teams need a victory to advance to the knockout stage. A tie would eliminate both if, as expected, England defeats Slovenia in the other Group C match, which will be played at the same time in Port Elizabeth.
A cold start for either the U.S. or Algeria could therefore be decisive.
"For whatever reason, we turn on the switch whenever we go down a goal," U.S. defender Oguchi Onyewu said. "We have to mentally prepare ourselves better."
American midfielder Clint Dempsey said he expects a cautious beginning, but that "people are going to start taking risks because we know that pretty much a draw is not going to get you through."
Algeria is fast, strong and technically adept. Whether coach Rabah Saadane's players are disciplined enough for a do-or-die encounter is another matter. On one hand, they survived a dramatic playoff with Egypt to land a World Cup berth. On the other hand, forward Abdelkader Ghezzal was tossed out of the game against Slovenia after getting two yellow cards, and two other players have been cautioned.
Of course, the U.S. has also been shown four yellow cards to date and has a hot-headed player of its own in defensive midfielder Michael Bradley, although he has managed to keep himself in check so far.
"I think in any game you want to have a feel for how the ref will handle things, for the way the game is going," Bradley said. "You don't want to put yourself in a situation where you're in card trouble or are committing a lot of fouls that are dangerous for our team."
Unlike the U.S.' game against Slovenia, when World Cup novice Koman Coulibaly of Mali was in charge, experienced Belgian referee Frank de Bleeckere will handle Wednesday match.
Each team has scouted the other closely.
"A lot of our guys play with or have played with or against their players," Donovan said. "Collectively, they can be unpredictable, and on their day they are a very, very good team."