The brilliant Orange, plus a word on U.S. players

PRETORIA, South Africa – Once every four years I get a smack-in-the-face reminder of how journalists from around the globe really can be, as my man Sam from Burn Notice likes to snark, "a bunch of whiny little bitches."

Take the response to yesterday's 2-0 win for Holland, a fairly comfortable afternoon for the 'brilliant Oranje,' although apparently not quite sparkly enough for many.

I get the sense that everyone showed up expecting a carnival act, with goals galore and fancy-schmancy tricks and perhaps a result that was more brutally dominating, a la the way Germany made 'Roo pie of the Aussies a night before.

Me? I think I get it, and I’m not opposed to the more pragmatic Dutch approach. AOL FanHouse’s Brian Straus said to me as we left the match, "Well, it wasn’t the brilliant Dutch game." To which I replied, "No, but remind me how many World Cups the Netherlands have won playing that way?"

I know I'll be a contrarian voice on this one. But If you want to know more (and also why a 2-0 Dutch win should not surprise anyone), read my story about it here.

Speaking of whiny journos, the United States had a dandy little press availability at the Irene Farm today. Besides providing me with a chance to pick up another tasty milk tart, it was great access to the players. It’s something to truly appreciate about U.S. Soccer, the player and the way they do things. Because I’ll take a Cristiano Ronaldo free kick in the face right now if someone shows me a major country here willing to sit their players around tables and let journalists sit close and get chummy for 30 minutes or so.

More on that later, after I go back over my notes.