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The Nairobian

What a story the US team has written

Pulse

By The Standard Sports | Jun 26, 2009

Robin Toskin in South Africa

What a story! A story Harambee Stars are not willing to tell us yet Team USA has told us twice.

While everyone anticipated a dream final pitting Spain against Brazil, Bob Bradley’s men had other plans other than packing their bags back to the land of opportunity.

In the first place, no one gave Team USA a chance to make the semis just as no one has given Harambee Stars a chance in the race for the World Cup slot in Group Two of the qualifiers.

As for the USA, everything was going according to book after they were routed by Brazil and Italy.

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But rather than lie down like lambs awaiting slaughter, Bob Bradley’s men dug deep to coast to the semis ahead of world champions, Italy.

Incredibly, Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey revealed he did not know how significant a 3-0 win over Egypt was but that they just kept going.

Immense talent

That is the spirit lacking with Harambee stars despite the immense talent.

After the 2-0 win over Spain, Bradley said: "When you play Spain you certainly have to work very hard as a group to defend. We made a special point to close down Xavi as best we could to prevent his penetrative passes," said Bradley.

"We felt strongly that when we got the ball we needed to be aggressive and have confidence that we could keep the ball and move it."

That is the spirit Stars lack. The US team demonstrated the significance of scoring a goal. That goal in their 3-1 defeat to Italy put them in good stead when it came down to goal difference.

Looked at through the same prism, Antoine Hey’s men could regret letting Mozambique’s Dominguez Pelembe to score at Kasarani last weekend. But if Harambee Stars is content with rhetoric, Team USA is not.