The US has a reasonable team with a great work ethic. But sorry, not “highly talented players”. Not yet. When you produce a Zidane, Cantona, Ronaldo, Giggs, Beckham or Rooney - somebody who can take the game by the scruff of the neck and blow the opposition away with a moment of brilliance - then you will be respected at the top table.
The US is very similar to South Korea in the 2002 World Cup - they got to the semis but South Korean players are yet to storm the world.
They work hard, but now if they could only get that darned teamwork thing down. Against Mexico, half the time they passed the ball it went to a Mexican because there wasn't a teammate there ready to get the ball.