Its big guns may not be there, but a familiar story is brewing for the USA at the 2007 Copa America: its performances are better than the score line would indicate, but soccer’s a zero-sum game and the final score is all that matters. The USA may have dominated midfield, won the majority of 50-50s and looked a much fitter and more athletic outfit than Paraguay Monday night, but it all amounts to nothing if you can’t take your chances. This is the hardest and most important lesson that Bob Bradley’s young Americans will (hopefully) take away from this tournament.
After the game, U.S. striker Taylor Twellman, who played well, supplied the clichéd excuse: ”I definitely thought we were the better team.” Defender Jonathan Bornstein called the result “disheartening.” Coach Bradley, however, seemed to take it all in stride, characterizing the performance as a good team effort marred by poor finishing and a big mistake (by Jimmy Conrad) that gifted the Paraguayans their second goal.
As it did against Colombia, Paraguay conceded possession and waited for the U.S. to make mistakes — a strategy that worked, although coach Gerrardo Martino will be displeased with the amount of good chances the Americans created. Nevertheless, the Paraguayans move on to the next round alongside Argentina. The battle now is for third place, but with a record of two goals and seven conceded in two losses, the U.S. faces almost certain elimination unless it beats Colombia by at least two or three goals and other results go its way. (Playing on the last day of the first round, the USA will go into Thursday’s finale knowing what, if anything, it needs to do to get into the next round.)