Friday was one of the more incredible matches that I have seen the US play. The first half was a tragedy. The second half was unbelievable. And when the final whistle blew, we had come away with a point, still in contention to get out of group play and into the round of 16.

But when the post-game interviews started, all anyone could talk about was the horrible call that the ref made. And it’s true. It was a horrible call.

We get angry about the things that we can’t control. It is misdirected anger. It is unproductive. Better placed anger would be our lack of intensity and leaving wide open spaces for Slovenia in the attacking third to score those first two goals. That kind of anger can motivate change where it is needed.

But I think we are doing with this game the same thing that we do with real life. We get so angry about our crappy circumstances which we can’t control rather than angry about our own lack of discipline or self control.

Frustration with results is healthy.  Frustration with circumstances you have control over is healthy.  Frustration with circumstances you cannot control is wasted energy.

Let’s quit wasting energy.  That goes for Team USA as well as us ‘normal’ Americans.