PRETORIA, South Africa - One more game, one last chance to make their reputation.
When the Americans play Algeria at the World Cup today, they'll either live up to all the hype and earn a spot among the final 16 teams, or fall painfully short of their long-stated goal and lose a watershed opportunity.
"We have a great chance tomorrow night to get a win and advance on to the second round," captain Carlos Bocanegra said Tuesday. "It's important for us, because we had that disappointment in '06. It's not really extra motivation, but it's just in the back of our minds. You work so hard and you train for so long for the World Cup, and it can be over so quickly."
A win, or possibly a tie, would move the United States into the knockout rounds. Replicate the loss to Ghana that knocked the U.S. out in 2006, and it will start a new round of soul-searching that could cost coach Bob Bradley his job - not to mention dampening the burgeoning enthusiasm for soccer in America.
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Since returning to the World Cup in 1990 following a 40-year absence, the U.S. has alternated first-round elimination ('90, '98 and '06) with a second-round appearance at home in 1994 and a trip to the quarterfinals in South Korea in 2002.
This World Cup started with a come-from-behind 1-1 tie against glamorous England.
Then the Americans trailed Slovenia by two goals at halftime, only to fight back as Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley scored for a 2-2 draw. They appeared to go ahead, but Maurice Edu's 85th-minute goal was disallowed for reasons referee Koman Coulibaly of Mali did not explain.
"We're not going to worry about any calls or anything like that getting us down," Bocanegra said. "We had a good second half and hopefully we can continue with that momentum and put that into the Algeria game."
• South Africa 2, France 1: In Bloemfontein, South Africa, Bongani Khumalo and Katlego Mphela scored first-half goals to lead South Africa over a France team in turmoil. Despite the win, Bafana Bafana became the first host nation to be eliminated in the group stage.
Khumalo scored in the 20th minute when he outjumped France midfielder Abou Diaby to knock in a cross from Siphiwe Tshabalala. Mphela doubled the lead 17 minutes later, outmuscling defender Gael Clichy to reach a low cross from Tsepo Masilela and knock the ball across the line.
• South Korea 2, Nigeria 2: In Durban, South Africa, South Korea reached the second round from Group B as Lee Jung-soo and Park Chu-young scored.
Kalu Uche had given Nigeria the lead in the 12th minute, then Ayegbeni Yakubu netted a 69th-minute penalty kick to draw Nigeria level again - moments after Yakubu missed a wide open net.
• Argentina 2, Greece 0: In Polokwane, South Africa, Martin Demichelis and Martin Palermo scored second-half goals to help Argentina win Group B.
Argentina left seven regulars on the bench and created few good chances against the Greek defense.
