American Dream

USA and England beat Slovenia

The Slovenian national team failed to advance to the playoffs of the World Cup. A goal scored by American Donovan in the final minutes of the match against Algeria made the US team the winner of Group C at the very last moment. England modestly settled into second place.

England - Slovenia. The England national team and its head coach Fabio Capello have had a difficult week. Yesterday's Italian savior of British football, if there had been a misfire in the third match of the group stage, could well have turned into a pariah. And then there are the players walking around with some petitions in which they ask to weaken the regime and give reserve Joe Cole a chance in a meeting with Slovenia, which loves to knock out the favorites from the game.

Cole eventually appeared on the field, but only at the end of the second half. And he replaced Wayne Rooney, for whom this World Cup is in no hurry to turn into his finest hour. By that time, England were already in the lead - Defoe's luck smiled midway through the first half, when he caught Slovenian goalkeeper Hajdanovich off guard with a volley. But a one-goal advantage is very precarious when it comes to a team like Slovenia, where luck is combined with dedication. The first of these factors allowed Matjaz Kek's team to avoid another goal - the shot of Rooney, who went one-on-one with goalkeeper, hit the post. Thanks to the second, the Slovenians managed to create perhaps the only truly dangerous moment at the goal of the British veteran James, whose possessions the British defended with the entire team, throwing themselves under blows and making tackles. But all this was still not enough for at least a draw.

USA - Algeria. The fate of Slovenia was decided in the second match of the group. Although, it would probably be unfair if a team that barely scored the winning goal in the first match, with the help of the judges kept a draw in the second and lost in the third, would eventually make it to the playoffs. But in order to restore logic, the same Americans, vying for a second pass to the 1/8 finals, needed to confirm their class with a victory over Algeria.

For a long time, the US team did not succeed in this. Having a territorial and game advantage, the Americans continually missed sharp counterattacks. However, their opponents preferred to finish them off with long-range and inaccurate strikes. And in addition, referee Frank de Bleeckere made a strong-willed decision to cancel Clint Dempsey's goal, and the second goal taken away from the USA in this tournament could definitely cost them a place in the playoffs. But when the Americans' chances seemed completely illusory, the Algerian national team still helped them: the goalkeeper and defender, already in stoppage time, did not fully figure out which of them should have the honor of saving the next goal, and Landon Donovan was the first to catch the rebounded ball - 1:0.

Match results. Group "C". England - Slovenia - 1:0 (Defoe 23), USA - Algeria (Donovan 90).

Group "C" I V N P M O

1. USA	3	1	2	0	4-3	5
2. England	3	1	2	0	2-1	5
3. Slovenia	3	1	1	1	3-3	4
4. Algeria	3	0	1	2	0-2	1

Andrey VDOVIN