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2006 US Team has set soccer back 30 years

By Vin, Section Other Sports
Posted on Thu Jun 22 2006 at 12:51 PM EST
More on: (all tags)

This team was ranked #5 in the world.

This team was the best we've ever sent to the World Cup.

This team was going to show the world that US Soccer is thriving and competitive.

This team is a disgrace.

In high pressure situations, some athletes step up to the plate and deliver. No one is going to confuse anyone on this team with Dwyane Wade. The US squad played today like a team afraid of its own failure. They felt the beckoning noose around their necks and meekly allowed themselves to be lead to the gallows. Remember that for all of the feel-good atmosphere surrounding the Ghana team, they are ranked 48th in the world... in a 32 team tournament.

The poor showing in this World Cup can be heaped on every single member of the US squad. The captain of the team, Claudio Reyna, made a crucial mistake that lead to the first Ghana goal. Bruce Arena's tactics and substitutions were ineffective, especially his head scratching lack of aggressiveness in the second half of the Ghana game. And finally, Landon Donovan, the "savior" of U.S. soccer was invisible for the entire tournament.

Let's talk about Landon Donovan for a second. Anyone who is anyone in soccer plays in Europe, that's just the thing to do. It's the pinnacle of the soccer world and it's where the world's best develop and showcase their skills. Donovan showed such spectacular talent that Bayer Leverkusen signed him when he was 17 years old. But Donovan missed being in Southern California so much, he left his German team to play for the LA Galaxy. This is like leaving the Yankees to play for the Toledo Mudhens. Donovan insisted that he could still develop his game in the MLS -- clearly he hasn't. Not making the sacrifices to be the best player you can be is cheating your talent.

Throughout the tournament, various players made mistakes. Onyewu made mistakes. Reyna made mistakes. Even Kasey Keller made mistakes. Landon Donovan didn't make a single mistake. You know why? Because Landon Donovan wasn't in the game. Oh, he played for 270 minutes -- he was just nowhere to be found. Donovan doesn't have the fortitude to play among the big boys. Shrinking under pressure on the biggest stage in the world is either a personal flaw or showed a lack of preparedness for world class competition. Neither one is acceptable.

So Donovan, go back to your beachfront property life and enjoy playing against second rate talent. If you're happy to be the star of ~~NFL Europe~~ the MLS, then we can't muster enough energy to care much about the sport you're the American face of.

So, where does the U.S. team go from here? Well, the simple answer is -- does it matter? This was their chance to attract some sort of following in the United States. But how can you sell soccer to Americans when the "best team we've ever fielded" scores exactly one goal in three matches. There are some among us that will tune in 4 years from now simply because we're sports junkies. But the majority Americans will just go back to thinking about soccer in terms of minivans and orange slices.

Me? I'm going to root on Brazil. Now that's a team that doesn't shrink under pressure.

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2006 US Team has set soccer back 30 years | 10 comments (10 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

I agree (#1)
by dmanderek24 on Thu Jun 22 2006 at 4:05 PM EST

but watching some of the calls today made me realize how much NBA basketball is turning into soccer. All the flopping, BS calls, decent action. Dwayne Wade needs to play soccer!! But then again, he wouldn't get half the calls he got in the playoffs.

you know what (#2)
by Jackson Govatos on Thu Jun 22 2006 at 7:21 PM EST

I couldn't be more glad that the US soccer team has been eliminated. That means we get to hear less about the World Cup. Can't wait till July 9 so soccer isn't even on anyone's sports radar for four more years.

I'm sorry Vin, but how much do you know? (#3)
by alexferguson60 on Thu Jun 22 2006 at 7:22 PM EST

You can't slate the USA because they were ranked 5th in the world going into the World Cup. They got to that point by scheduling crap opposition and playing in an exceptionally weak qualifying group. Sure they beat Mexico, but who ELSE did they exactly play against?

Didn't you see it happen in the friendly against the Germans prior to the World Cup, when they were embarassed? And Bruce Arena honestly thought they would beat Italy and the Czechs?

Why in the hell did he stick with DeMarcus Beasley? He hasn't started a game in a year! Eddie Johnson's quick, strong, and hard-working.

As for giving up, the USA never stopped fighting. They hit the post, and the penalty given against them was a joke.

As for your best team in years, you sacrificed youth and zest for age and experience, and it didn't really pay off. Reyna's a fantastic midfielder still playing at the highest level- unlike a lot of your players.

And unless you missed it, Landon Donovan scored a goal.

And as for supporting Brazil, I'm shocked you'd even contemplating rooting for another team. Unless, of course, you just want to be associated with a winner....Isn't that why people like you hate Yankee fans?

: What? (#4)
by Vin on Thu Jun 22 2006 at 7:39 PM EST

1) I didn't say the FIFA rankings were spot on but the #5 ranking does mean there were expectations. Clearly after this debacle, the FIFA rankings are about as important as the Power Rankings we do for fun.
2) Landon Donovan scored a goal? Yeah.. in the last world cup. What tournament were you watching?

[ Parent ]
: Landon scored??? (#9)
by s2mdelli on Fri Jun 23 2006 at 1:35 PM EST

When did Donavon score? Who were we playing? Which Cup was this?
He couldn't have been more invisible if he were the Hollow Man. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if he weren't being shown on ESPN every night prior to the Cup Finals saying that he thought that "we had a chance to win the whole thing" or that we "were going to prove everyone wrong" ect. He was being praised for having "swagger" entering the cup and for having the type of us-against-the world- attitude that we need to compete. But then the games started and he was absolutely no factor. I'm not ususally one to dump on atheletes that much, but you gotta be able to back up your smack or else you'll get dumped on...

[ Parent ]

My bad..... (#5)
by alexferguson60 on Thu Jun 22 2006 at 7:42 PM EST

I got it into my head that it was Donovan who scored the goal vs Ghana, not Dempsey.

Apologies

My question is... (#6)
by RJ Warner on Thu Jun 22 2006 at 8:23 PM EST

why would the U.S., who possibly nedded 4 goals if Italy and Czechs tied, come out with only ONE forward in the starting lineup? Donovan blew hard today and the tournament, but he was listed as a midfielfer. I don't know much about soccer, shit I dont know ANYTHING about soccer, but I thought midfielder was more of a defensive role.

Sadly, its a 1-0 U.S. win with Eddie Pope there (#7)
by Larry Kaplan on Thu Jun 22 2006 at 10:49 PM EST

1) THey say a soccer game is "won and lost in the midfield." Midfielders are just as they sound. There job is to run up and down the field, on offense and defense (typically have to be the most fit). Typically they take shots from the outside, or send balls into the box, and then bust their asses back on defense in a counter attack. In short, control the flow of the game.

A lot of coaches, like Arena, have the mindset that you can have one roving forward, who goes all over the width of the field, supported anywhere he goes by a midfielder who can also set him up for some shots.

That being said, I think we needed one more roving forward to put more pressure on a suspect Ghana defense.

2) What irked me most is that after the bad call, the team seem to let it deflate them. Granted it was a momentum shifter, but though they played hard, they didnt really show the will and the fortitude that good teams have- the ability to keep that swagger and fight through adversity.
They just kind of seemed to sit back and howl at the moon.

[ Parent ]

It's funny (#8)
by Vin on Thu Jun 22 2006 at 11:23 PM EST

now that I've had some time to digest... I'm still mad at the US team but I'm also pissed off about the ridiculous penalty in the box in the 2nd minute of extra time. What a terrible call.

[ Parent ]

: 4 years from now... (#10)
by JDWC on Sun Jun 25 2006 at 1:54 PM EST

The only way I watch and root for my home country is if I see Johnson, Dempsey, and Bobby Convey at least starting every game. Otherwise I'll take the typical American route and stand behind Brazil or Argentina (depending upon which team has more players with one name).
J.D.
[ Parent ]

2006 US Team has set soccer back 30 years | 10 comments (10 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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