(From TWD)
USA lineup: Howard; Cherundolo, DeMerit, Onyewu, Bocanegra; Dempsey, Bradley, Torres, Donovan; Altidore, Findley.
Slovenia lineup: Handanovic; Brecko, Suler, Cesar, Jokic; Birsa, Koren, Radosavljevic, Kirm; Novakovic, Ljubijankic
The danger men for this diligent and fearless Slovenia team is their terrific young goalkeeper Samir Handanovic. The Udinese man is highly sort after throughout European football, and he has all the attributes of being a great goalkeeper. He leads, he saves, and he's steady.
Handanovic will have to be at his top level today for Slovenia to have a pray in this game.
Valter Birsa and Robert Koren are very capable midfielders who exemplify this true Slovenian team down from player 1 to player 23 on their roster. They can pass and venture forward if you're not careful, and they will not have any fear against anyone.
And finally, Milivoje NOVAKOVIC, is a capable striker up front for Slovenia. A goal scorer in the Bundesliga for Colgne, the veteran foward will be despite to improve from a poor performance against Algeria in their opener .
But despite all of that, none of these men strike the fear in the US, and with the insertion of Jose Torres in this match, I think the US will have one way traffic dominance in this match. Coupled with Slovenian players taking trash leading up the contest, and the US will certainly be motivated and thensome.
Final score: USA 3, Slovenia 0
The thread is live, and commentary will come as the game starts.
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And already, a crazy moment to begin, Dempsey elbowing a hurt Ljubijankic
As it will be, a physical match here, but who will have the quality in the final third is the key to this contest.
Corner to the #USA here, and Torres and bradley were the key. But the delivery was bad from Donovan.
Brasic with a good ball to Novakovic, and the space has to be closed out there by Bocanegra.
That's poor from Bocanegra there, he's been not good so far in the early stages. And Altidore shows his quality there.
Birsa with too much space there, and scores....it's a brilliant strike.
Handanovic shows his class there, handles business with the clearance for #svn.
Findley tried to find Altidore, but couldn't there, the US with a nervous start so far. Bradley too ambitious there.
#USA giving too much time on the ball here to a #SVn midfield that works worse when pressured.
Good defending by #Svn there, but Dempsey and Donovan have to attack the fullbacks, and have Torres handle business in the middle.
Can Donovan and Dempsey, and Torres, who hasn't been anybody to do anything, be anybody to break down #svn here?
Chance here for the USA.
Hanadanovic with a brilliant stop there to stop Torres effort there. That is why he is well sort after, the Udinese man.
Oh dear as me.......2-0 to Slovenia here.
Poor from Onyewu, and Slovenia with a perfect counterattack, and that's on Onyewu there......after when it seem the US would equalize.
Well, the USA have it all to do here in this 2nd half, big time goals from Birsa and Ljubijankic
and Slovenia with a commanding 2-0 lead at halftime.
Oguchi Onyewu was outstanding against England. He has been the reason why the #usa are down 2-0 now.
Edu and Feilharber coming in for Torres, and Edu comes in for Findley??????????
DONOVAN WITH A GREAT GOAL, one of the goals of the tournament.
And Onyewu was so close there.
The defender ever so lucky there.
Koren, poor on the day for Slovenia, will poor giveaways there.
When will Gomez or buddle to come for the US?
THE COACHES SON!!!!!!!!
What a mistake of a call by the referee here.
Well, this match has ended in a stunning 2-2 draw here, as the US were denied a late winner by awful refereeing in this match. Full review to come right now.
"Koman Coulibaly, I'm going to let you finish, but I HAD THE WORST CALL OF ALL TIME, ALL TIME!!!!!"
The full review:
Okay folks, here's the quick review.
- Koman Coulibaly should never be allowed to ref another World Cup game again, until he has proven that he can be a competent officer of any future contest on the highest of level. What a disaster he was.
- Landon Donovan exhibits why he is semi-world class at the very least. Terrific 1st goal, and should of had an assist on the what should have been the winning goal on great service at the back of the post there. Awesome performance.
- Michael Bradley will not be playing at Borussia Mononchglabach next season. His performance in that second half, especially his VITAL 2nd goal, shows that he is worth a bigger club in either the Bundesliga, or somewhere in the Barclays Premier League
- Oguchi Onyewu, and even Steve Cherundolo, were shells of their terrific shelves from England on Saturday. Onyewu made the two crucial mistakes just like he did against the Czech four years ago, leading to the two Slovenia goals and having the US come from behind yet again.
- Finally, the United States has got to play like favorites, as always.