U.S. Team Heads Home After Loss to Ghana
Friday, June 23, 2006; 9:24 AM
NUREMBERG, Germany -- Heads bowed, American soccer players walked off the field. There was nothing to celebrate. Three and out. Time to head home. They said goodbye to the World Cup with a 2-1 loss to Ghana on Thursday, said so long to some of the stars of 2002 and perhaps to coach Bruce Arena, too.
"I got a little choked up," Brian McBride said after the match, which turned on a disputed penalty kick in first-half injury time.
  Ghana's Razak Pimpong kicks ball away from USA's Oguchi Onyewu, right, during the USA vs Ghana World Cup Group E soccer match at the Franken Stadium in Nuremberg, Germany, Thursday, June 22, 2006. Other teams in Group E are Italy and Czech Republic. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz) (Jorge Saenz - AP)   Zinedine Zidane could face disciplinary action Thursday for his head butt on Marco Materazzi. Brazil Coach Alberto Parreira quits following a disappointing World Cup. Zidane apologizes for his head butt during the final, saying he was provoked by insults about his mother and sister. Italian soccer power Juventus is one of three teams demoted from Serie A to Serie B following a match-fixing scandal. Juergen Klinsmann resigns as Germany's coach after leading his native country to a third-place finish. France cheers on Zinedine Zidane but still wonders what provoked his head-butt. The 2006 World Cup had too many red cards and stoppages in play. Championship could help boost Italy's economy. Italian fans enjoy their country's World Cup title. The World Cup final television ratings are the best since 1994. Italy wins its fourth World Cup title, beating France 5-3 in only the second final decided by a shootout. After 31 days and 64 matches, the championship of the world's most popular sports event came down to one moment. Italian goalkeeper Gianlugi Buffon finishes the World Cup not having allowed a goal from the other team in the run of play. MULTIMEDIAPost's Jon DeNunzio and Jason La Canfora review the championship game. XM Satellite Radio's Dave Johnson calls of the key moments in Italy's win. U.S. REPORT After eight years at the helm, Bruce Arena, pictured, will not be back as coach of the U.S. soccer team. Video: The challenges facing soccer in the United States and ways to improve its national standing. U.S. Soccer Federation president, Sunil Gulati, defends Coach Bruce Arena. Arena draws the ire of the MLS. Arena weighs his next move. Though a commercial success at home, the U.S. team's performance in Germany is a disappointment. The Americans are eliminated after a 2-1 loss to Ghana. » Match Report WORLD CUP JOURNAL The road has reached Germany, and Post staffers continue to keep you updated with the latest tidbits. Save & Share |
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McBride, captain Claudio Reyna and defender Eddie Pope will never play in the World Cup again. Reyna said Friday he is retiring from international soccer.
Kasey Keller wants to stick around, but the goalkeeper will turn 40 before the 2010 tournament.
Arena, the longest-tenured coach at the tournament, might leave the job he's held since October 1998. Or the U.S. Soccer Federation might ask him to depart.
Asked whether he'd want to go through another four years, he said: "If you asked me right now, probably not" and then chuckled. He said he had "other opportunities" to check out.
"He didn't become a bad coach in these three games," said Sunil Gulati, the new U.S. Soccer Federation president. "He's had an extraordinary record for us."
There was plenty of blame to go around.
Tough group. Calls that didn't go their way. Balls that bounced off the post.
So they didn't blame themselves all that much.
Four years ago they were heroes when they walked off the field in Ulsan, South Korea following a 1-0 quarterfinal loss to Germany. This time they went 0-2-1, opening with a 3-0 loss to the Czech Republic before a wacky 1-1 tie with Italy in which two Americans and one Italian were ejected.
In soccer nations, a first-round exit would be a disgrace, but in the United States, it will likely be viewed by most as another period of soul-searching, wondering how much longer it will take America to catch up.