A Strong Start Slips Through Americans’ Fingers in World Cup Opener
It was a strong start. The U.S. went 1-1 in its first three matches before losing to Belgium, 2-1, in the next round and then defeating England, 5-1. It was, in other words, exactly the kind of start you want early in the tournament, especially in the first two group stage games in a World Cup for a new tournament.
But there was one key element missing: a win against France. The U.S. has never drawn with the French in a World Cup, and now it’s been one goal and one goal draw to nothing.
Why is this? Well, for the first time since 1994 when Mexico and Argentina went down to a goalless draw in the quarterfinal, the U.S. didn’t really try to score against it.
“We didn’t try to score on them,” defender Tim Howard said. “Because, look, we had the quality. We got the goal. It was a great effort by the team.”
In the first game of the tournament, the U.S. played a one-zip-one-zip game with Germany before its penalty shootout win. And even though the U.S. had an outstanding performance in that game, and the squad was clearly on the way to success — one that was not as easy as the opening two games — not scoring a goal against a team like Germany or France is not how the U.S. is supposed to win a World Cup.
“I think in two years, if we keep being good, winning, I might even say we’re going to be able to beat France,” goalkeeper Brad Guzan said. “But I think we have to make sure that we don’t let people down. Because if you do, then you’ve lost the World Cup in the first