LOS ANGELES: The United States national team needs to re-evaluate its position in North America and the global soccer world after it was stunned by a Panama squad that looked the better team from the first boot. The match was reminiscent of the American's performance in South Africa last summer. They started slow, allowed a first goal early, then made another massive error and found themselves in a hole that they couldn't overcome, but should have. For a long time, the Americans have been on the cusp of greatness. In South Africa, a poor start to regulation cost them dearly versus Ghana, needing a second half equalizer to push the match to extra time, where, again, a lackluster first few minutes left the Americans out of the quarterfinals. This time around, Panama's opening push was rewarded with two goals that proved the difference. Only Clint Dempsey appeared rearing and ready to go in Saturday's match against a team that the Americans should have put four or five goals on. Panama is not a bad team per se, but they are no Ghana and they certainly are not Mexico or Costa Rica. The US should have dominated from the beginning, but instead showed their tentativeness in beginning matches, and it left them with their first group stage loss in the Gold Cup … ever. We can comment on the team's ability to roar back and put pressure on the Panama goal for the final 30 minutes. That's great, but where was this solid play for the first hour? It didn't exist. The Americans must regroup and find a way to succeed if they are to advance to the final of this tournament. Right now, they look more like the Americans of the early 1990s, when a victory against supposed weaker opponents was always in jeopardy. National team manager Bob Bradley needs to be evaluated after this tournament. Anything less than a championship and he should be fired. If the United States wants to take their game to the next level, it has to begin addressing the issues that continue to hold it back. Managing appears to be the pitfall for this current team, which has talent, but somehow is unable to harness this for a full 90 minutes. Landon Donovan must step up his game. He needs to become a leader once again. He and Dempsey must become the focal points of the team. Their experience and their level of skill is solid. But they must do more. Not necessarily on the pitch, but they need to motivate their teammates to achieve the success that is demanded and expected of them on a match-by-match basis. Bradley's managing leaves much to be desired. His tactics are not getting the job done. The US has the midfield to compete with the best in the world. But defensively there is little to praise. Panama exploited the defense over and over again. In the end, the US lost. It's not the end of the world, in fact, looking back at the last World Cup, Spain – the eventual champions – was not up to the task in their opening match. Nobody remembers that any longer. That's what championships do, but for the US, it is a long road ahead and one that must see major changes to the lineup and to the tactics and motivation of the team. Without these changes, the US will see an early exit and all the success of the past decade will be for nothing. Let us hope that Bradley and the players will figure out what needs to be done before it is too late. BM
