THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: July 9, 2014

I'd like to think of myself as a water half-full kind of person.

Always seeing the good in things.

But considering it a victory for the United States to have made the round of 16 in the World Cup, I'm not sure about that.

ALL THAT being said, the United States went 1-1-1 in pool play, only to lose in the round of 16 to Belgium, which felt like a win to 95 percent of the nation.

We were in the top two in our group anyway, so with the things worked out, we likely were going to move on anyway.

But there's that draw with Portugal - with the U.S. leading 2-1 in the final seconds - that shouldn't have been close to a tie.

A tie.

With the lead late.

A stinking tie.

C'mon.

And that was just the second game of the tournament. With our destiny in our own hands, the U.S. couldn't find a way into the net against a good Germany squad, losing 1-0, but advancing anyway thanks to other results in the group.

Advancing, with at least two wins - that might have been respectable - but backing into the next round is bound for disaster in almost any sport.

Last Tuesday, the U.S. managed to get to extra time against Belgium, but couldn't generate enough offense in a 2-1 loss, despite goalkeeper Tim Howard making 16 saves - a World Cup record.

Even U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann didn't think we could win the World Cup, because we were young, a little inexperienced at some spots, and according to him, this group wasn't ready.

I guess he was right.

Although, it is his job to get the players ready, right?

FOR ALL they accomplished, they're still a .500 team.

The Arizona Cardinals, who finished 10-6 in the NFL last year, didn't make the playoffs.

Only an early season loss to New Orleans kept them out of the playoffs.

They talk about the group that the U.S. was placed in - featuring Germany, Portugal and Ghana - as "The Group of Death," but the NFC West might be the "Division of Death" in the NFL.

Especially when two of the other teams - San Francisco and Seattle - have represented the conference in the Super Bowl the last two seasons.

By comparison, if a manager went 81-81 during a season in baseball, depending on the situation, that guy might be fired for failing to reach expectations.

Klinsmann went 1-2-1, not close to .500 but if it hadn't been for the late goal, the least we could have done was 2-2, at least a respectable outcome.

If we weren't ready to win this year, then that should be main focus in four years, when the World Cup is played in Russia.

Once is excusable.

Twice isn't.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter at JEPressSports.