America showing head for heights

"This World Cup looks a little different now to the one the experts were predicting three weeks ago. There are no experts outside the game, the only experts are the 11 players."

Arena added: "We understand the Germans are the overwhelming favourites. On paper it looks no match. They have got one of the best goalkeepers in the world and the top scorer in the tournament so far. But I believe in my guys. We will enjoy this victory for a couple of hours and then start working on a gameplan for Friday."

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre continued the trend for losing coaches to blame everyone and everything but their own players. He said: "We were unlucky to concede a goal at a bad moment when we were trying to get control of the game.

Then the referee made a decision which made everything go wrong.

"It was very bad for the team. It was replayed on the big screen, everyone could see their player handled the ball."

True, it was a bad decision. And there's no doubt the Mexicans lost their heads after that.

But the United States never looked like losing theirs after McBride put them in front in the eighth minute with his second goal of the finals.

In what was their first real attack of the match Sunderland's Claudio Reyna burst down the right and, after beating two players, delivered a low, driven cross to the near post. The ball was neatly laid back by Josh Wolff to McBride, who picked his spot with a firm drive.

Mexico tried to hit back instantly with Cuauhtemoc Blanco presenting their best hope of getting an equaliser. The 29-year-old Valladolid player, famous for his bunny hop trick in France 98, came close with a shot in the 15th minute and then forced Blackburn's Brad Friedel into two fine saves before the break.

But after half time the Americans managed to silence him and once Donovan added their second goal - a fine header from a cross by Fulham's Eddie Lewis - it was all over for Mexico.

World Cup top scorers