USA: There's a lot more to this team than stars and stripes

Yes, they can.

They left it to the very last minute, the 92nd to be exact, but the United States managed to top what proved to be a much tougher group then anyone suspected.

After a tough couple of games with unfortunate referees disallowing perfectly good goals, the USA never gave up hope, and neither did their fans.

Every time the USA took to the pitch, they never looked defeated. They always fought to the very last whistle, and it paid off for them. Donovan appeared to be the team’s motivator, keeping the energy level up and leading one attack after another at the other team’s defense.

Donovan, who divorced his wife of two and a half years in 2009, has really grown up as a player over the past few years, spending some time on loan to European teams most recently a successful ten-week stint with Everton.

The experience he has gained really showed, as Donovan appeared a leader and motivator on the pitch.

The USA, at least for me anyways, are becoming something of a sentimental favourite in this tournament. Especially after my good friend Mike Brown told of the story behind USA midfielder Clint Dempsey and his lifelong journey towards the sport of football.

Dempsey was the younger of two siblings, and while he began to distinguish himself as a talented player, his family faced serious financial constraints. Dempsey’s family lived in a trailer park, and their time and money went to his older sister, Jennifer, who was a highly ranked youth tennis player thought to be destined for greatness – thus Clint was forced to quit the game he so dearly loved.

Several parents of his teammates at his youth club offered to help the Dempsey’s with travel and other expenses and therefore he was able to rejoin the team.

Every goal that Dempsey scores, every minute he plays on a pitch, it’s for his sister. Jennifer died from a brain aneurism in 1995, at the tender age of 16.

It took Clint a year to get over the loss of his sister, but when he turned to his first real love, football, he attacked the sport with a new perspective and fresh determination. And a new goal celebration – where he looks and points to the heavens, uttering a few words to his sister.