A round of sixteen match, two countries, facing elimination and the weight of expectation, playing without their first-choice center backs.
A long, desperate clearance is allowed to bounce as an opposing striker marauds through the center and finds just enough strength to get some purchase on the ball to beat the goalkeeper and take the lead.
One goal came early in the game, setting off a powder keg of goals that would knock out tournament heavyweights England. The other came late, sending out tournament surprise, the United States.
USA and England. Two countries, both knocked out of this World Cup in similar fashion. Two sides unable to come up with goals when necessary, two sides unable to perform to the level expected by their supporters.
For the Americans, this was an extra time let down for an exhausted side that gave everything at this World Cup but that, in four games, only ever led for three minutes.
For the English, it was a poor showing by a side that expects better given the caliber of coach and player that populate their roster.
And yet, they both find themselves in the same position, looking in different directions.
For the English, one now has to look back; back to a qualifying campaign with little energy, to 1966, back at this past generation of players, not yet done but surely past their best come World Cup 2014. Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Jamie Carragher--all world class, all with so little to show from international competition this decade.
If Wayne Rooney thought himself under pressure now, imagine in 2014 without so many other big names to keep tabloid pens focused beyond him.
For the Americans, this is a time to look forward; to what might be, to players under development, to stars yet unknown . While Landon Donovan has surely cemented his reputation among the all-time players for the country, he will be 32 come the next World Cup. While his goals are crucial, this is a young team that has to look forward to players like Clint Dempsey, Benny Feilharber, Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore.
Altidore, most of all. His strength and nose for the ball is readily apparent and his placement in Europe will give him the technical prowess necessary to put that natural ability to use. I say without reservation that he could be the leading goalscorer of this tournament right now were his development further along, so rich have his chances been.
And yet, he goes home without a goal, though with the consolation prize of some crucial development.
His hold up play is superb. He's incredibly strong and is composed on the ball. His understanding to lay the ball off to Clint Dempsey against Algeria got the U.S. their goal in that game and his square ball to Benny Feilharber in the box should've resulted in another against Ghana.
And yet he seems to lack that polished finishing touch that mark the great strikers of the game. He just didn't seem to find his scoring touch in this World Cup. But at just 20 years of age (21 in November), he's got a big four years ahead of him for club and country.
While the U.S. has to completely revamp their defensive setup before next World Cup, there is hope up front for a country that has never had a world class striker. The Germans showed England, with Miroslave Klose nipping the first goal of that game, just why that's so important.
You don't need a player likely to win a World Player of the Year, as Klose likely never will, to do well in a World Cup. You simply need someone who knows how to put the ball in the back of the net in any way possible, as Klose does.
It's not fair to pin American hopes to Altidore and rely on him to lead this team. He's the youngest player on the roster. Much is expected, but others must shoulder the load.
Still, Altidore and the other young Americans can look at this experience and be proud of their effort while looking forward to the future with cautious hope. Clearly the increased visibility of Americans playing for European clubs is paying dividends as Americans have the technical ability and training to survive overseas, where true talents are reformed.
This is not an indictment of MLS, but the U.S. can't expect its players to develop the kind of technical ability required to reach a World Cup in the MLS's open, unrefined style.
The Americans have a long road to walk and a lot of development before they can consider a round of 16 knockout a disappointment, but they're on the right track.
England and those national team players now look back at this era with a bit of wistful despair, knowing that one of the best generations of English talent has been unable to ever find the right combination of touches to play at the level they're capable of for their clubs.
They've walked a long road and come a long way together for club and country, but they have to look at this round of 16 exit as nothing short of a disappointment, proof they never found the right track.
A generation on the rise, a generation now gone.
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