Koman Coulibaly

Coulibaly has replaced Bin Laden as the most wanted man in the world to the U.S.  I have watched the replays a thousand times and still have been unable to see a penalty.  I should say a penalty on the U.S.  There were penalties on that play.  Bocanegra, Altidore and Bradley were all being held with Bocanegra thrown to the ground.  I watched again and could not see it.

What makes it all the more fascinating is that Coulibaly's refusal to even explain the call.  When asked by players on the field he refused to give an explanation.  He just stood there.  Landon Donovan asked him in a non threatening way and Landon was not sure if he understood what he was saying.  I can see that when you have referees from all over the world, there is always a language barrier.  But even now he still refuses to comment.  I am not a conspiracy theory type of person, but something is not right about this.  FIFA will not address the performance before Monday.  Yahoo sports reported from an unnamed FIFA person that Coulibaly was given a "Poor Performance" in the match.  He could see action again as a linesman or 4TH referee.  It is highly unlikely he will be in charge again.  He should be sent home.  He should receive the Red card for his performance.

To put it all in perspective, the U.S. should never have been in a position to have that happen.  Again they started slow and went in the hole 2-0 at half.  Landon Donovan gave his teammates hell in the dressing.  Telling his teammates; "If you do not believe in miracles, I do not want you out there."  He backed it up on a spectacular goal and helped set up Michael Bradley's tying goal.  Thankfully the football Gods have a way of making everything right when Algeria shocked a hapless England into a 0-0 draw later that day.  We control out own destiny.  We win were in.  No matter what happens in the England match.  We cannot start slow.  The U.S. team grew up a little bit on Friday.  Now we must seize the opportunity. 

In other news:
-  Marking the 60TH anniversary of Winston Churchill's famous speech to Britain in 1940 the UK Guardian's headline about the English draw to Algeria: "Never have so few, given so little to so many."  Wayne Rooney cursing out English fans and his teammates not sticking up for him.  I understand that there is going to be a "Clear the Air" meeting today in the English locker room.  Here is an idea:  too many chiefs, not enough Indians.  Too many star players and no role players.

-  France continues it's implosion.  Nocolas Anelka was sent home after telling coach Raymond Domenech to go bleep himself.  He reused to apologize.  The coach hates the players, the players hate the coach, the players hate each other and the country hates the team.  What a winning recipe.

Until next time,
USA USA USA