Soccer still kicking for US men
Men's Soccer in the United States had been left for dead. This country's most storied coach, Bruce Arena left after a disappointing World Cup in 2006. He had taken the National team from a world ranking of #19 to a peak of #4 after the 2002 World Cup when they reached the quarterfinals, including a huge upset over Portugal. After only scoring 2 goals in 3 games and finishing last in their group in 2006, Arena was forced out. Bob Bradley was selected to replace him, and despite high expectations in the US, most had written the US off as "an appetizer, not one of the main dishes" around the world.
After the Americans lost in embarrassing fashion to Italy (3-1) and Brazil (3-0) in this 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, it seemed like our men's soccer had taken a dramatic step backward. To the casual soccer fan, it was difficult to imagine this team drumming Egypt 3-0 and breaking Spain's 35-match unbeaten streak to win 2-0. And to take a two-goal first half lead over Brazil was impossible to comprehend.
As my phone was blowing up with text messages from friends not believing what they were watching, Twitter was exploding with celebrities like Ashton Kutcher and Ryan Seacrest tweeting away as the game was unfolding. Suddenly it seemed like a large percentage of Americans were holding their breath to see if the US could beat Brazil for only the second time in our nation's history.
By now, we know we couldn't hold off the great Brazilian team as they scored at the very beginning of the 2nd half to make it a one-goal game. The rest is history as Brazil masterfully scored two more times and another time that should have counted. The Americans let a golden opportunity slip through their feet. But a win might have been too much too soon.
Just playing well on a world stage and losing might be the best way to proceed. If we had won our first FIFA tournament in US history with wins over Brazil and Spain, expectations would be through the roof. Our players would have made victory laps on the talk show circuit and been on the front of every sports magazine in this country. But they aren't ready for that yet. American soccer certainly isn't dead. But it's still got a long way to go.
The match against Brazil clearly demonstrated why Brazil is always among the best teams in the world. They have their own creative style of play and new superstars that blossom for them every few years. The world's best player in 2004 and 2005, Ronaldinho, wasn't even on the field this weekend. They have other superstars now like Luis Fabiano, Kaka and Robinho. Brazil dominated possession and showed how explosive they can be on set pieces and counter attacks. It was only a matter of time before the US team wilted under the pressure.
But the grit and determination the US showed, particularly goalie Tim Howard, Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey, proved that slowly but surely the US is making progress on the world stage. Our players don't match up individually to Brazil, Italy, Argentina, Spain and many other countries, but collectively they are capable of being competitive. And that alone is a milestone.
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Categories (click for archive)Eric Bickel | Junkies |
The great post topics keep coming...that said, I hope that the U.S. Soccer team does improve. Soccer is definitely under represented on the television stage when considering the number of kids who play. I guess it's probably because there are fewer soccer players getting paid $20M around the globe than there are NBA stars, but whatever, this was a good step - if they can get stronger over the next year, all the better.
WJFK is going to an all-sports format? Anyone have any more information on this?
6/29 - A reliable local radio source tells DCRTV: "7/20 is the start date for WJFK sports/talk... The Junkies re-branded as the 'Sports Junkies' in the morning... Mike Wise from the Post in midday... Chad Dukes and Lavar Arrington in the afternoons." Where's Mike O'Meara? No response (no denial) this morning from WJFK General Manager Michael Hughes.....
Being a foreigner myself and a soccer fan, I regretfully say that soccer will never be more than it already is in this country. I’m constantly joned on by my friends for liking it and talking about it. The US could win the World Cup and the excitement would last maybe a week. Afterwards it would be quickly forgotten. Especially since a week after the WC final game, NFL training camp begins.
The American people just can't fathom the passion, team work, and beauty involved in the greatest sport in the world, football. The teams make more money than most American sports team. They have throngs of fans that not just cheer for but, LIVE for their teams. Most teams have an even deeper history than Baseball. One of my favorite authors, Chuck Klosterman, brought up the point that, "soccer" wouldn't pick up because it is one of the only sports where the merit of the player can be judged without them actually touching the ball. There are many players who are considered some of the best in the world and rarely get touches. To Americans, that seems like an outcast sport. You can just skate by and not be in the limelight as long as you run and stay in formation. I really hope to see it gain popularity. You guys had a caller say the perfect thing, until we actually learn how to play football and not "kickball", we won't be able to play at the next level, we will not get respect, and we won't win international tourneys. Hustle, does not translate to skill but, it is a good start.
Hey Corey,
If you're gonna talk sports on an American website, use the proper terminology. Your lousy sport is soccer, not to be confused with America's true pasttime, football.
Hey do you and your wife need a travel agent? You can contact me at effedupjohnsvacation.com
If you are qualified to talk about soccer, then Cakes is qualified to run his own life.
Comparing American football, which I played for 7 years in school and true football, it doesn't even compare. True football is a much better sport. I compare American football to Rugby with pads.
Those young men need to stop wasting their time and go to church...but hey atleast they are not playing online poker.
I'm not sure if Corey G is living in the US of A right now, but if he is he needs to leave. Soccer, what a joke...
Corey, you're free to believe that soccer is the greatest sport of all, but saying that Americans are too dumb to appreciate its intricacies is ridiculous. That's not the reason soccer will never become a mainstream sport in America. The real reason is simple enough: our sports calendar is jampacked already. Seasons get longer and longer, and the average American sportsfan will prioritize our big 4 sports before even considering soccer. July is the only bare bones month with only baseball going on, but even then, there are NBA summer leagues happening for basketball junkies and by the end of July, football training camps.
I loved watching the last World Cup, and figured maybe I'd get into soccer some more and check out the English Premier League that fall - nope, couldn't do it, cuz a true sportsfan knows that in order to get the most enjoyment out of a sport, you need to dive in big time, so I'd rather be completely into basketball and football and maximize my enjoyment there.
Ewic,
Do you like my eggwolls?
I think the thing that pisses most Americans off is when the 'rest of the world' complains that America doesn't appreciate the 'beautiful game.' The bottom line is that soccer is boring as hell. Watching a ball bounce out of bounds every thirty seconds is not what America wants. It is pretty funny, though, when one player comes within a foot of the other and then falls down like he had been gut-shot! I think that it is safe to say that if a first round NBA playoff game went head to head against any World Cup game, at least in the US, the NBA game would have better ratings.
Bickel, go outside and get some sun, dude - you look like a friggin corpse.