U.S. exits World Cup with 2-1 loss to Ghana

~ The Americans capped a disappointing tournament with a loss in a must-win game against Ghana.

NUREMBERG, Germany -- They were confident. They were hyped. They promised that the world's game had arrived in the United States -- and that the world best beware.

Instead of building on their World Cup glory of 2002, much less matching it, the Americans crashed out in the first round just like in 1998, overmatched by superior opponents and their own expectations.

They were unable to take shots, much less score goals. They were outmuscled and outsmarted. And, after a tournament-ending 2-1 loss to Ghana on Thursday that turned on a disputed penalty call, they were reluctant to blame themselves.

"The guys did everything and fought to the end to get a win," U.S. captain Claudio Reyna said after his last World Cup game. "The expectations have changed."

Those expectations were the product of both canny image crafting and the surprise quarterfinals success that had the Americans thinking big.

Thursday's loss was that much more galling because despite frequent sloppy play, the United States would have advanced with a win thanks to Italy's 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic in a game played simultaneously.

Ghana is a country with a fine soccer pedigree, but it is a World Cup newcomer. Now it joins Italy in the tournament's single-elimination second round, its reward a Tuesday match against defending champion Brazil.

After the final whistle, U.S. coach Bruce Arena waved an arm at the officials in disgust and stalked off the field. Instead of congratulating Ghana's coach in plain view, he did it outside the dressing rooms.

Arena came into the 32-nation tournament as the longest-tenured coach, the architect of a team ranked No. 5 in the world by FIFA. Now, his future is unclear.

Early in the tournament, he called out his players for their lackluster play. After the Ghana game, he called out German referee Markus Merk.

The referee whistled 32 fouls against Ghana and 16 against the U.S., but only one really mattered.

"I think we'd all agree it wasn't a good call," Arena said of the penalty. "We had control of the game and we go in at halftime down a goal. But those things happen, and they happen a lot to our team."

It happened in first-half injury time, just after a rare flash of offense had let the Americans tie it 1-1.

Defender Oguchi Onyewu, the tallest U.S. player at 6-foot-4, was jostling with 5-foot-8 Razak Pimpong for a header at the edge of the penalty area.

Pimpong fell. Convinced the contact was slight, U.S. players angrily argued the awarding of a penalty kick by one of the world's top-rated officials.

On the shot, goalkeeper Kasey Keller dived to his left. Ghana captain Stephen Appiah booted the ball high to the goalkeeper's right.

It was the second time the U.S. fell a goal down. But this time, Ghana was up for good.

Haminu Draman first put the Black Stars ahead in the 22nd minute. Colliding knee to knee with Reyna, Draman stole the ball and then beat Keller on the breakaway.

Reyna was carried off the field on a stretcher, a knee ligament sprained, though he did return briefly before being replaced near the end of the first half.

Soon after, Clint Dempsey tied it in the 43rd minute with a 10-yard volley off a cross from DaMarcus Beasley. But Dempsey's funky dance and the American joy that followed was short lived, crushed by the penalty.

Not everyone wanted to discuss the call. Onyewu ignored reporters, Ghana coach Ratomir Dujkovic wouldn't discuss it and Merk couldn't be contacted through FIFA.

Four years ago in South Korea, the Americans were praised for their attacking play, a turnaround from their last-place finish in 1998. They advanced to the quarterfinals before outplaying Germany in a 1-0 loss.

They entered this World Cup without ever having won a point in a World Cup played in Europe. They left with one point from Saturday's 1-1 tie against Italy.

They also left with just four shots on goal over three games -- the lowest total of any nation at this World Cup. And two of those hit the post.

Attacking midfielder Landon Donovan, a startling success when he scored twice in 2002 at age 20, was perhaps the biggest of the U.S. underachievers.

He sputtered during the Americans' opening 3-0 loss to the Czech Republic. The Ghana game was a chance for redemption, but he finished the tournament with just one shot, none on net, and showed little enthusiasm for challenging defenders. His streak of scoreless games with the national team stretches back nearly a year.

"He didn't have one of his better days, that's for sure," Arena said.

When Reyna exited, Donovan took the captain's arm band. It is a role he appears likely to assume permanently, with Reyna, Brian McBride and Eddie Pope expected to retire from the national team before the 2010 tournament. Keller hopes to return, but will be 40 by then.

Donovan was promoted heavily this spring along with teammates, with huge billboards proclaiming: "THE WORLD NO LONGER WANTS TO PLAY US" and "BEWARE."

Their play was far less slick than their marketing. Dempsey's goal was the only one a U.S. player scored -- the Americans' other was an own-goal by Italy.

Arena and players cited the difficult Group E competition -- Italy (2-0-1) and Ghana (2-1) advanced, with the Czechs (1-2) third and the Americans (0-2-1) last. While it played out as the toughest group, the United States did little to distinguish itself or fulfill its lofty ranking.

"We've got a long way to go to be competitive with the best teams," said Sunil Gulati, the new U.S. Soccer Federation president. But, he added, "It's not light years."

Arena took over in 1998, and his current contract expires in December. After the game, he was asked whether he'd want to go through another four years.

"If you asked me right now, probably not," he said, chuckling.

Arena said he had "other opportunities" and Gulati said discussions with the coach will take place after a period of post-tournament evaluation.

"He didn't become a bad coach in these three games," Gulati said. "He's had an extraordinary record for us."

The extraordinary thing Thursday was that Ghana, ranked 48th in the world, had advanced. As star midfielder Michael Essien went into the stands to celebrate, the Americans trudged off, many with heads bowed.

"The worst part is the finality of it," Donovan said. "Even during the game, you don't get the sense, 'This is it.' The whistle blows and it's over."