5 observations from 2-1 US vicotry over Ghana

The US won a thrilling game over nemisis Ghana in their opening game of the World Cup. Their performance was far from flawless, but at the end of the day a W's a W. Here are 5 things you need to know about the team we learned from the game.

5. When Center back Matt Besler went out at halftime with a hamstring injury, Klinsman turned to John Brooks, not Omar Gonzles.

This is significant because through qualifiers Gonzalies looked like he was going to be a starter, and play a major role in defense on the US team. Brooks, one of several German-Americans on the team, is one of the youngest players on the roster and has only played in a handful of games for the US National team. Putting Brooks in at halftime payed obvious dividends in his go-ahead goal (his first for the US) but he was also huge in defending Ghana's last surge before the end of the game. He's a talent, and it looks like he's going to earn his stripes this tournament.

Also loved his reaction to the goal. Shocked that he scored, and seemed very humble

4. There is no question about Clint Dempsey as the leader of this team, and one of the toughest dudes on the planet.

Let's start with this goal in the opening minute of play for the US (!!)

That's a world class move and finish. This goal also set the tone for the evening, and it was needed because the US created very minimal chances throughout the game. We'll get into that in a second.

The other piece of Dempsey's night that has to be mentioned, take a look at this picture:

Lets just say you don't have to be a doctor to tell that's a broken nose. 

Dempsey got kicked in the face in the first half, spent all of three minutes on the sideline and came back in the game. Not only did he play, but he was still throwing his head in front of crosses trying to get a goal for the US. Ever broken your nose? Even if not, imagine what taking a soccer ball to the face would feel like with a fractured bone in your face. In a word, it would feel straight evil.

Pain aside the guy could barely breathe, and still ran for 90 minutes and covered a lot of ground. In a culture where writhing around on the ground after incidental contact is the norm, our captain gets up, brushes him self off, and comes back in the game with a busted face. Game on, America.

3. Defensively this team looks sound, offensively is another story

Jurgen Klinsman's decision to start Kyle Beckerman (that dude with the dreds) and Jermaine Jones (that other dude with the shorter dreds) lends to a very sound defensive team. These two are the hardest workers on the team, will run box to box and generally wreck what the other team is trying to do. Also starting Alejandro Bedoya on the wing essentially puts another hard working, defensive minded midfielder on the field.

Beckerman, who is easily the winner of 'best hair' on the squad. Also good at kicking, slide tackling, etc.

Here's where the problem comes in though: with that much focus on defense it leaves some of the more creative attack minded players on the bench. Beckerman and Jones are two of the best players we have on the team at what they do, but I don't know if playing them together will generate enough spark to advance in this tournament. Substitue Graham Zusi came in for Bedoya and seems to be a better choice in the final third, though in limited action he did not have much of a chance to contribute.

2. Michael Bradley simply has to play better

I've touted Bradley as one of the most talented players the US has ever fielded. I still stand by this sentiment, but this was Bradley's worst game in a US national team jersey in a very long time. Especiialy with the defensive shape mentioned above, so much of the focus of this team's attack shifts to Bradley charging out of the midfield and picking the right pass to the wings or up front.

Bradley is generally speaking the one guy on the US who when the ball is at his feet is a pretty good bet to do something sensible with it. In this game though he over-hit passes, failed to pick out runs on the outside, and lost posession far too easily. While it's not all on Bradley to be the creative spark, a lot of it is. Outside of some brilliance by Dempsey to open the game, the US really did not create a single chance outside of a corner kick.

If I was being optimistic (I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN Let's go outlaws!!!!) I would think its a positive sign that we could win this game when our best player is playing so poorly. Hopefully this game was an abberation, and he will be back to form against Portugal.

1. Injuries have left the US perilously thin at already thin positions.

In addition to Clint Dempsey's shattered nose and Besler's hamstring, forward Jozy Altidore went down with a hamstring in the first half of play. If you're counting at home, that's one nose and two hamstrings to the middle of your team. Safe to say if you lose that many players you're going to be thin.

Besler will probably be back, and as John Brooks proved there's not much of a dropoff from guy A to guy B. Dempsey, on the other hand, is arguably the U.S. second most important player and is absolutely indespensible. If Bradley needs to be the organizer, Dempsey needs to be the finisher.

Jozy Altidore, for all his struggles, is still by far the most useful holding forward the US has on the roster. His work rate is outstanding, and as he proved in last summer's Gold Cup, when it rains it pours. Aaron Johannson came in for Altidore, and made no impact on the game. Assuming Dempsey can go (and I think you would have to break his legs to keep him off the field, even then it would be a challenge) the question now becomes who do you start up front alongside him? Your two options are Johannson and Chris Wondolowski, and both are unknowns on a stage this big.

Of course this would happen at this position. Certainly calls in the question to leave

You. Know. Who. off the roster.