Thoughts on USA Soccer

The USA national soccer team gave its fans a taste of big time soccer during the 2010 World Cup. Unfortunately, that ride ended a bit prematurely on Saturday when the USA fell to Ghana 2-1.

Prior to the World Cup, I wrote that the USA had a chance, with their game vs. England, to spark interest in the sport.

2010 World Cup is a great opportunity for USA

Well, the USA tied England, and interest was sparked. Believe it or not, with all the talk about the poor calls by the referees, more interest was sparked.

Americans like to jump on a bandwagon and come together for a common cause. Rooting for their country in soccer certainly applies to that.

At first, many people flocked to bars and restaurants at strange hours in the morning simply to socialize and to have a few drinks on a weekday morning.

By Wednesday afternoon and Saturday, these people were turned into fans, and they were heading out to watch the game, not to socialize, but to root their country on in the World Cup.

Look no further than this worldwide reaction to Landon Donovan’s stoppage time goal against Algeria as evidence that USA interest in soccer was at an all time high during this World Cup.

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Now, prior to the tournament, I had said that advancing to the knockout round and showing a respectable performance in the round of 16 should be considered a success for the USA.

Well, the bracket for the USA opened up similar to the bracket for the Terps last March.

The USA had an unprecedented chance to advance to the semifinals of the World Cup without facing a truly elite team such as Spain, Brazil, Germany, or Argentina.

It hurts because of that opening, but it hurts even more for me because of the continued interest that would have been there had the USA advanced.

The country really rallied around the team heading into Saturday. Guys like Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, and Tim Howard were developing into household names.

Had the USA won on Saturday, the interest in soccer from Saturday night until Friday when the USA would have played would have been the greatest that this country had ever seen. The soccer hype would have been totally unprecedented.

That’s what the killer is for me.

Performance wise, the USA won a group that no one really had them winning, and they took Ghana, a smaller but much more of a soccer nation in comparison to the US, to extra time in the knockout round.

Coming into the tournament, fans of USA soccer would have likely taken a group win, and a 1 goal difference in the first knockout game.

It is good news that expectations are higher now. Americans are getting a taste of soccer at its highest and most intense level. Soccer is getting more exposure, which is what absolutely needs to happen if the USA is ever going to be considered an elite soccer nation.

The USA had a very nice showing, but they did miss an opportunity. Although, an opportunity missed may actually be an opportunity gained down the road, if throughout the next 4-8 years, the US manages to make strides both nationwide and internationally, as a result of the taste of the big stage that all soccer fans in America experienced over the past 3 weeks.

2010 World Cup is a great opportunity for USA

Every four years when the World Cup is played, the United States has a chance to establish themselves across the soccer landscape.

Every four years, they have an opportunity to spread this universal pastime through a country with 4 more valued sports.

In 2010, that opportunity is even greater, due to the game today between the US and England.

Casual soccer fans in the USA recognize the England Brand. They’ve heard of Wayne Rooney.

They’ve gotten more familiar with David Beckham over the past few seasons, and while he will not be playing in this game, it is still a connection to the England team.

Being the first game of this World Cup for the USA, it’s  been hyped up for a while now.

Now, realistically, does the USA have a chance to win this game?

I won’t claim to be a soccer expert, but I think it’s fairly evident that a tie for the USA today would be a very good result for them.

A loss just means that they need to take care of business against Slovenia and Algeria.

This is not the end all game for the USA. I wrote in December that the USA got a favorable draw, and by most accounts, this is one of the most winnable groups the USA has ever played in.

While a loss would not kill the team, a win would mean so much to this country.

A win vs England would be talked about not just nationally, but across the world. For a country so far behind with soccer popularity, having the interest sparked like that would mean so much.

Now, on the flip side, if the USA beats England, but goes on to not get out of the group, then the win will be greatly diminished.

If the USA goes on to lose to England, but advances out of the group, then a lot of interest is going to be sparked there as well.

Still, opportunities do not come around like this very often, and I hope that the USA can take advantage of it, and at the very least, play a hard-fought, respectable game against England.

Here are my 3 main thoughts surrounding this World Cup…

-Can Donovan have an elite tournament, and be the leader and elite national team player that fans have been expecting for quite some time? Can he be a finisher and put away all of his opportunities? Can he be consistently very good?

-Will Bob Bradley prove himself the right man for this job? I’ve said in numerous soccer discussions that I was not happy with Bradley being named full-time coach following Bruce Arena’s firing. I feel the USA should have closed the deal with 1 of the 2 big time national coaches they were talking to in Jose Peckerman and Jurgen Klinsmann.

I realize Bradley was pegged to be a future national team coach, perhaps in 2014, but it was quite obvious that he was no where close to their 1st choice. Once that is established, I do not understand not giving a more respected and successful national coach the money that they want.

I don’t understand firing a guy saying a change was needed, and then promoting his very good friend, and long-time assistant.

Bradley very well be a very good national team coach. I’m certainly going to be rooting hard for him today. I just can’t help that the USA had a chance to have a more experienced strategist on the sideline for this Cup.

Will Jozy Altidore establish himself as perhaps the one true explosive player on this roster? He was coming on strong last year in the Confederations Cup. I’ve heard that he may be the one guy who could really separate himself from the bunch on this USA team, so will be interesting to watch him play throughout this tournament.

Obviously, I’m rooting for a win vs. England, and again, I feel it is a tremendous opportunity.

That being said, I guess a more realistic goal and reasonable goal, is to expect the USA to advance out of their group, most likely as the #2 seed, which would put them on a collision course to play Germany.

If the USA advances as the #1 seed, they would play Ghana, Serbia, or Australia, assuming the favorite Germany would go on to take Group D.

I get the feeling that playing a respectable game against England, getting out of the group, and playing a tough game in the round of 16 would be considered a success by most USA fans. Advancing to the round of 8 would be a huge success that would be much talked about.

Anything after that, and soccer in the USA is going to get some series recognition.

For now, the main focus is setting the tone for this World Cup, and making a run at the Brits.

US Soccer gets favorable draw, Thoughts

The 2010 Fifa World Cup groups were drawn on Friday, and the United States could not have asked for a better result.

The United States was drawn into Group C along with England (Fifa ranking of 9) Slovenia (Fifa ranking of 33) and Algeria (Fifa ranking of 28).

The schedule for the US is as follows:

June 12 – vs England
June 18 – vs Slovenia
June 23 – vs Algeria

This drawing presents the United States with a prime opportunity to advance past the group stage of the World Cup into the knockout stages.

The match vs England will be a tough one that is likely to be played conservatively by both teams. The US should be able to take care of business against both Algeria and Slovenia. All that is needed is a win vs those 2 teams in order for the US to advance.

The match vs England does carry some significance as well, as the winner of that match is very likely to finish at the top of Group C.  A second place finish in Group C likely will guarantee a date with Germany in the second round, something that both the US and Germany will want to avoid.

The opportunity to advance to the knockout stages in the 2010 World Cup presents great possibilities for the team, as well as for the future of US soccer. Taking their success in the Confederation Cup into a very winnable group in the World Cup will bring some spotlight back on the US. At a time when interest in the MLS is at a high, success in the World Cup will drum up more interest in soccer here in the US. Furthermore, it will put Landon Donovan on the big stage once again. Donovan is not extremely well-respected by the premier players and clubs in the world because of his decision to play at home in the MLS. Donovan will get the opportunity on a worldwide stage to prove that he is an elite player. Landon Donovan being the best player on an advancing US team can only be a good thing for MLS and soccer in America.

Furthermore, the first game matchup of US and England will feature a faceoff between the 2 stars of the Los Angeles Galaxy, David Beckham and Donovan. Certainly, this will be talked about, which again will spark interest in the MLS situation.

This is a big time for United States soccer. Will the national team take the next step and build on their successful Confederation Cup showing, or will they revert back to their 2006-2008 standing as a declining, mediocre team?

Will the national team act as a collection of ambassadors in support of US soccer, or will their play in 2010 spark continued complacency and a general lack of interest?

These questions will linger and go unanswered until the 2010 World Cup.

Until then, all US soccer fans should take comfort in knowing that if there were ever going to be a perfect time and place for the United States to take the proverbial next step, June 2010 in South Africa is setting up to be just that.