Donovan laments US loss to Ghana
(Zumapress)

For those of you crying or complaining about the national team coming up short in the second round of the World Cup, get over it. Suck it up.

Quit crying.

They did a great job in a tournament where they weren't even given a second look by many teams. They were the team that made Group C not so "EASY". It wasn't as easy a ride as American fans thought it would be either. The US, the proverbial monkeywrench in the plans of every team, did finally meet a team that had what some of the others in Group C did not in Ghana and were exposed.

The other teams in that group seemed like something out of the Wizards of Oz. England (heart), Slovenia (courage), and Algeria (brains) were all on display and the US were able to put all of their excesses of the three and win that group.

Let's face it. The US were the most focused team in the group and the team that showed the most intent in doing some damage. Ok, maybe they were only ahead three minutes out of the 490 they played in the World Cup and that a good part of their success also came at the hands of mistakes of others.

They did everything they had to do, and then some, to get to the stage where they were prior to Ghana. The team was not the most explosive or the biggest threat in any match, but it was their collective spirit that made them threats in any match. Tactically, they were very limited yet their individual desire and athleticism were able to counter anything that was thrown their way.

Maybe they weren't the most pleasing to the eye from a tactical-technical perspective, but their resilience made them a team that fans enjoyed watching- some to tears.

Ghana proved once again that they are the cream of the African crop. It was a team that had the organization and discipline not found in t Algeria; the desire to finish that Slovenia lacked, and the solid play in goal that England has been looking for during the past generation.

Ghana were disruptive in the middle. They shorted their passing circuit and their creation was limited at time. They were the masters of the counter attack, being able to capitalize on US mistakes. The two biggest ones cost the national team a potential quarterfinal spot. But they were able to take advantage of those dreaded early lulls that have had the US playing from behind in several opportunities. This time, just like many others, they came back.

The US pressed on and almost took the lead on a couple of occasions. The big question was how would the US counter back if Ghana would bounce back. The answer was a resounding no, and not because of lack of effort. By the time Asamoah Gyan scored in the 93 minute there was little time as well as little legs left in the US cause.

Now with this feather on their cap, it is time to really start to look at frying bigger fish come 2014.

In this humble servant's opinion, the US ended up in the right round of the tournament. They met their objective of getting out of the group stage and preventing yet another disastrous 2006-like performance. The ride was absolutely crazy and the dream of seeing the game on the mainstream stage was gold for me. Hopefully the team can deliver another magic moment four years from now when they return to the land of that historic win against England.