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Emotional US hit out at critics

RUSTENBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - After their dramatic 3-0 victory over Egypt in Rustenburg on Sunday night, the United States were moved by their own performance and hit out at critics back home that had slammed the team after losing their first two Confederations Cup matches.

Those contests, 3-1 and 3-0 losses to Italy and Brazil respectively, both saw the US reduced to 10 men and largely ineffectual against two of the best teams in the world.

But coach Bob Bradley said the side always had the third match in mind as decisive.

“Without a doubt, we were focused on all three games knowing it was a tough group. We knew that in the last game that we needed to get after it in a way that would give us a chance,” he said.

Going into the match with the African champions, the US knew they had to win, Italy had to lose and they had to make up a hat-full of goals, which is what they did with thanks to Brazil’s 3-0 trouncing of the world champions.

Michael Bradley, the coach’s son, embodied the emboldened American attitude after the contest.

“To be able to be in a team that was so committed and so passionate for 90 minutes was a great feeling. It’s why you play, to do something special like that.” said the scorer of the second goal.

“When everything is against you, everybody wants to say how bad you are, everybody wants to write you off. All of the critics in America who said we were no good after losing to Italy and Brazil, let’s see what they say now,” continued the Borussia Moenchengladbach midfielder.

Man of the match Clint Dempsey, who headed home the decisive third goal, said that the team would use this newfound momentum heading into their semi-final with world number one Spain.

“It’s a weight off of our shoulders,” said the Fulham forward.

“Everybody else was against us, but we believed. No one thought that we could go to the next round, but we showed what you can accomplish by fighting hard and sticking together.”

Defender Jonathan Bornstein said that the kind of fight on display against the Pharaohs is a hallmark of the side, who came from a goal behind to beat Mexico 2-1 in the 2007 Gold Cup final to qualify them for the Confederations Cup.

“I think we have a lot of resilient guys on this team, guys how don’t put their heads down after two hard losses,” he said. “We never doubted ourselves.”

No matter the self-belief, many of the US players did admit to their shock after word came through that they had advanced.

“I think there’s a little bit of disbelief,” said Jay Demerit. “Nobody thought we’d be in this position when the game started, but we certainly earned it.”

Charlie Davies, who scored the night’s first goal was all smiles, saying “It basically felt like we did the impossible tonight.”

The United States take on Spain in Bloemfontein on Wednesday at the Free State Stadium. The other semi-final is between Brazil and hosts South Africa on Thursday.