Armour: Lackluster efforts at World Cup bound to catch up to Americans
EDMONTON, Alberta — The U.S. is going to sleepwalk itself right out of the World Cup if it's not careful.
Their spot in the quarterfinals was all but gift-wrapped for the Americans. While some other group winners had to face second-place teams in the round of 16 — that muttering sound you hear is Brazil — the U.S. drew a third-place team in Colombia.
A third-place team without its starting goalkeeper, no less. Who'd been sensational so far, mind you. In her place Monday night was a 20-year-old who'd made four appearances for Colombia before Monday night, a scenario that had goalapalooza written all over it. Or should have.
As if all that wasn't enough, Colombia went and ran its mouth off before the game, dissing the Americans as trash talkers and snobs. In the insult of all insults, Yoreli Rincon said the Americans "don't have the heart that we Colombians have."
Heart is a little harsh. But passion is not.
This is the World Cup, not a friendly or even CONCACAF qualifying. Yet aside from about 40 minutes against Nigeria and the 43 minutes after Colombia had to pull someone out of the stands to play goal because Catalina Perez tripped Alex Morgan on the edge of the penalty box, the Americans have been underwhelming despite a 2-0 win Monday night.
They have better athletes, better fitness and better resources than anyone else in the game, and all they have to show for it are three victories and a draw that were too close for comfort and six goals. Give Colombia's backup backup goalkeeper an assist on one of those, too, tipping the ball back into her net as she tried to stop a rocket from Morgan in the 53rd minute.
And yet, the Americans think they're doing just fine.
"This is the World Cup. I'm really satisfied with advancing," U.S. coach Jill Ellis said.
Others aren't, to put it mildly.
"If she is pleased with the way we played tonight then what the hell is she doing coaching our U.S. team," Michelle Akers, a star on the 1991 and '99 World Cup champion teams, said on SiriusXM FC's post-games show.
The bad news is, it only gets harder from here on out.
Yes, the U.S. gets China in the quarterfinals, a team that hasn't made it this far since losing on penalty kicks to the Americans in the 1999 World Cup title game. But the U.S. will be playing without Megan Rapinoe and Lauren Holiday, both of whom are suspended after picking up their second yellow cards of the tournament against Colombia.
Beat China, and two-time champ Germany looms in the semifinals.
Germany has had its own moments of lackadaisical play. But it has also shown that it can flip the switch when it needs to. It thumped Sweden 4-1 in its round of 16 game, and that scoreline doesn't even reflect how dominant the Germans were.
Anja Mittag and Celia Sasic are liable to score anytime they get close to the ball, leading the tournament with five goals each. For those keeping tabs, Mittag and Sasic alone have four more goals than the entire U.S. team. Germany's defense is sturdy, allowing only two goals, and Nadine Angerer might be the only goalkeeper in the same class as Hope Solo.
If it's not Germany, it will be France, another equally formidable team.
It will take nothing short of a spectacular effort to beat either Germany or France, and so far, the Americans haven't shown that they've got it in them.
The desire is there, no question. This is the last chance at a World Cup title for Abby Wambach, who has already said she won't be around in 2019. Likely for Carli Lloyd, Shannon Boxx and Heather O'Reilly, too, players who are too good and have done too much for the game to leave that asterisk on their resumes.
But the U.S. is playing tentative and uninspired soccer. The team should be getting better with each game. Instead, it's the same story every game, soccer's version of Groundhog Day. Except this one isn't funny.
"We know we can do better," Julie Johnston said. "But we have another opportunity."
The opportunities are not endless, however. Nor are they guaranteed.
Get it in gear, Americans. It's long past time.
Follow columnist Nancy Armour on Twitter @nrarmour.
PHOTOS: U.S. vs. Colombia