While we wait for USA's big match against Slovenia, Germany and Serbia and the referee in their match just completed a dramatic first half.

The referee has been card happy, handing them out like candy. He sent off Klose on a non dangerous foul. After the sendoff, Serbia scored. At the end of the half, Germany sent one off the crossbar and a Muller bicycle kick was cleared off the line by a Serbian defender.

FINAL - Serbia 1, Germany 0.

USA-Slovenia live blog below the fold. Of note - Jose Torres for Ricardo Clark in midfield is the only change in the USA starting lineup.

USA lineup - Howard, Bocanegra, Demerit, Onyewu, Cherundulo, Bradley, Jose Torres, Donovan, Dempsey, Altidore, Findley.

Slovenia - : Samir Handanovic, Bojan Jokic, Marko Suler, Bostjan Cesar, Miso Brecko, Valter Birsa, Robert Koren, Alexander Radosavlevic, Andraz Kirm, Milivoje Novakovic, Zlatko Dedic.

So it is Torres for Clark. Findley stays in the lineup. Do not like it at all. As I argued yesterday, I prefer Holden for Clark and Buddle for Findley.

Kickoff.

Nice attack by the USA at 5 minutes. Corner.

Torres demonstrating that he can hold the ball. What is the going to be worth in this game? Not much imo.

10 minutes - Slovenia is playing the way the USA should be playing. Possession football does not work with this Adidas ball. Slovenia looks the more dangerous team.

13th minute - GOAL! Slovenia 1, USA 0.

Predictably, Slovenia scores with a shot from outside the box. Possession football simply does not work with this Adidas ball.

20 minutes - Bob Bradley has put his team behind the 8-ball by pretending he has a European possession side instead of playing long ball/long shot/finisher football. Now of course the USA must go forward against an even more packed in Slovenia defense. This will be almost impossible for the USA.

Terrible decisions by Bradley.

25 minutes - So if Robbie Findley gets the ball at the nd of an attack, what exactly does anyone think he is going to do with it? Precisely nothing imo. He has no business being in the game.

30 minutes - Who can finish for the USA? Not Robbie Findley. Gomez and/or Buddle need to be in this game. Bradley is blowing it.

35 minutes - You can't win if you can't score. This USA lineup can not score. Robbie Findley is a complete waste. Altidore looks terrible. I would take them both off.

36th minute - Torres actually hits the ball. Nice ave by the Slovenian keeper.

40th minutes - Apparently shooting at gooal is not part of the USA plan.

Goal Slovenia. 2-0.

Turn out the lights, the party is over.

USA could not score 2 goals in 2 games.

HALFTIME - It's over. Slovenia has won. The difference between playing finishers and not playing finishers. Bradley thought he was coaching Spain.

What I wrote last night -

After watching a week of the World Cup, I have become convinced that the new Adidas ball is not conducive to possession-based attacks with long buildups. It is conducive to long runs and passes, and shots from outside the penalty box.

USA should put on the field on the offensive side good shooters and players with pace. That of course means Donovan, Dempsey and Altidore. But, in my view, it does not mean Robbie Findley, who has speed, but no long run potential nor is he a finisher. Edson Buddle is opportunistic and shoots. He should clearly start over Findley (if not Buddle, then Hercules Gomez.)

[. . .] I would play conservative at the back and hope that our stars- Donovan, Dempsey and Altidore - can find ways to shoot, and score.

Given the conditions (including the ball) and the relative skills of the teams, this is, in my view, the best strategy for USA.

I think the first half proved my point.

2nd Half - Bradley brings on Edu and Feilhaber for Findley and Torres. Dempsey moves up. Too little too late imo.

GOOOOAL! Donovan. What a hit.

2-1 now.

60th minute. Bradley needs to bring on another finisher. That means Buddle or Gomez. Probably for Altidore.

70th minute - Good shot from Altidore. Still, Bradley needs to bring on Buddle or Gomez.

75th minute - Time running out.

80th minute - Gomez coming on. Gooch coming off. All in now.

GOOOOOOAAAALLLLLL! Bradley!!! Great play by Altidore.

What a comeback.

ROBBERY!!!

3 minutes extra time.