Clint Dempsey scores hat-trick as USA thrash Honduras 6-0 in World Cup qualifier

hindustantimes.com ^ | Mar 25, 2017 | Agence France-Presse

[dfwgator]

No, the USMNT just has to improve incrementally like we have been. We were just near the level of the best in 2002. We humiliated Portugal, Mexico and with good honest refereeing, would have beat Germany in the Quarterfinals.

And that was with Arena as coach.
Arena might wind up being the beneficiary of replacing Klinsmann as Joachim Low has been with Germany. Klinsi did some good things to change the team culture, as he did with Germany during his tenure there. But I just think players don't respond well to him, and that is his downfall.

[safeasthebanks]

Agree with all points.

[kearnyirish2]

What are you talking about? Portugal was eliminated in the group stage in 2002; the US and South Korea advanced from that group (England and Germany weren’t even in it - in fact, they were in different groups altogether).

I know what Ronaldo is talking about; beating Portugal isn’t the same as beating Germany or Italy (and I’m not German or Italian).

[oldplayer]

I was talking about getting to the World Cup. Portugal beat all those teams to get there. I didn’t mean the Group stages at the actual WC, where the rigged FIFA “draw” puts the favored teams in the best groups. The USA is often in a so-called “group of death,” although lately it wouldn’t matter given the way we played. But in 2002 Portugal was eliminated in the WC group stage largely because of our victory.

Sorry for the confusion.

Again, Portugal is the reigning European Champion, regardless of what Ronaldo may think about the national team.

[kearnyirish2]

I see, and understand the difference (in qualifying for the final month of the tournament versus round one of that final).

I believe Ronaldo’s comments followed on the heels of the last World Cup, where apparently the whole nation thought he could win it for them. He is a great player, but double coverage can neutralize a threat like that if the rest of the team is less than exceptional (which is exactly what happened). I really only watch the World Cup games (as many as I can), and don’t really pay any mind to the four years in between.

I guess we’ll see if being # 1 in Europe translates into a World Cup victory next year in Russia.