President Barack Obama called the U.S. World Cup soccer team Thursday to congratulate it on an ``extraordinary victory'' this week and to wish the team luck in the next round of the tournament.
The U.S. team scored in injury time at the end of the second half Wednesday to beat Algeria 1-0 to advance out of group play.
The game was poorly timed for the president, coming as he accepted the resignation of Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who had served as his top commander in Afghanistan. Obama was meeting with McChrystal's replacement, Gen. David Petraeus, in the Oval Office when he heard staffers in the West Wing erupt in cheers when U.S. midfielder Landon Donovan scored the winning goal.
During his call with the team, Obama congratulated Donovan on the goal. He also asked goalkeeper Tim Howard how his ribs were feeling after the injury he suffered in the team's first game, and checked on midfielder Clint Dempsey, who got a split lip in Wednesday's game.
Obama told the team the entire country would be cheering when the Americans face Ghana on Saturday.
