Soccer: U.S. soccer team listless in loss to Netherlands 2-1 - by Graham e L.Jones

Unless someone pokes a sharp stick in them, the Americans remain a team that can be taken, a team that all too often sleepwalks its way through games. This is especially true when it plays in Europe, where the U.S. has won only four of 26 games in the last dozen years. Despite the fact that several starters were playing for the opportunity to make the final U.S. World Cup roster that will go to South Africa in June, far too many players failed to rise to the challenge presented by a Dutch side that itself did not appear especially interested in the game.

The Netherlands did just enough to ensure that it won, accomplishing the feat on a penalty-kick goal by Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt five minutes before halftime and a second goal by AC Milan's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in the 73rd minute.

With Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder orchestrating things from the center, the Dutch controlled play, maintaining possession with apparent ease and leaving the U.S. to chase shadows.

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