U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
The U.S., much like England, never seems to make life easy for itself. So it was surely meant to be that the two would find themselves paired together in Group C. All too often, the U.S. falls behind early and has to chase the game, which is exactly what happened in 2006 and in its opening two group games this time around, which the U.S. came back to tie. And despite not allowing Algeria to take the lead in the final group game, that decisive goal just didn't look as if it would arrive, with one goal disallowed and numerous chances missed. But as the game entered the dreaded injury time, Landon Donovan justified his being called the greatest American player of all time by slotting in the winner — which meant the U.S. not only progressed from the group but topped it for the first time since 1930.