Posted on 07/01/2014 10:02:58 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
SALVADOR, Brazil Every four years, soccer cleans its slate and allows nations to reinvent themselves. Forgotten teams resurface. Small programs make big strides. Champions uphold their legacy or, in the case of Spain this summer, show their age.
For the second consecutive World Cup, the United States is in position for a breakthrough, a fresh narrative, a defining moment.
[From Fancy Stats: How the United States can beat Belgium | What to expect from U.S.-Belgium (not much scoring) ]
Four years ago in South Africa, the Americans won their first-round group in a heroic manner but lost to Ghana on an extra-time goal in the knockout stage. It wasnt an upset; rather, it was a missed opportunity to reach the quarterfinals for the second time in three tournaments and set the tone for the next World Cup cycle.
On Tuesday, the U.S. squad enters a round-of-16 match against Belgium with another chance to nudge the program along a little further. The Belgians are a more formidable foe than Ghana was in 2010, having arrived in Brazil with a stable of top-flight talent and a deserved label as dark-horse candidates to hit the semifinals or beyond.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I think this tournament signalled the end of the Tiki Taka era. Now it’s fast break all the time.
For the first time, the quality of play in the World Cup actually approaches the highest levels of club play.
I think he’s obsessed with making the US a power in soccer.
As opposed to tripping over blades of grass and being hauled off on stretchers?
I DO avoid the pink games, tho./..touche’
Too, the better players aren't going to waste their developmental time playing school soccer. They will gravitate to the academies.
I say this as a youth coach of many years standing. The best should go to the best so they can help me realize my dream to see the United States win a World Cup before I die.
I think the best way is for MLS teams to become farm teams for the Big Euro clubs, and setup academies that can bring in coaches from the best Euro clubs to develop our youth.
I don't think so. There are some good direct teams, yes, and you have to be able to break and score, but in the end, if you have the ball you can't be scored on. Possession will always have a prominent place in the game. Even Alexi Lalas noted it after the match. This team just was not good enough at holding onto the ball, which makes you play defense, which wears you out.
And when you have the worst travel schedule in the World Cup after being placed in the most competitive qualifying group at the World Cup, eventually that takes a toll.
Klinsmann had a good point about this recently. He said that European teams don’t tend to want American outfield players for whatever reason. Hopefully that changes after this World Cup.
But in the end, though the best team won. No shame in that.
trivia.........who is responsible for organized soccer in America ?
Lamar Hunt.
Unquestionably. The better team won and there’s no doubt about that at all.
The challenge for the USMNT is to figure out a way so that they are the better team in four years. It’s going to be a long, long wait, unfortunately.
nope
I was 12 the last time we hosted a World Cup. But living in a podunk Ohio town doesn’t give you many chances to play ball past that age.
maybe I need to hone the question....who made it what it is today via pay, cities and accountability
Klinsman is a Germany, is that correct?
If so, it is interesting that it took Van Braun to make the space program in the US work.
Perhaps it takes a German to make the US a world soccer power?
Glad to hear you’re enjoying it.
So many seem to have a bad attitude.
I read that Klinsmann refused to take questions in German before the USA/Germany match. It does appear that he walks the walk.
Klinsmann is considering dual citizenship. He was born in West Germany but loves living in the United States and wants to see the USA become a world power in soccer, which it is certainly capable of doing.
I like him. He understands how the game is supposed to be played. I don’t think Bob Bradley or Bruce Arena gets this team this far.
Ive been living here for 15 years, I would like to elect the president. I need the U.S. citizenship for it, he said. For me its only a formality. I feel great here, but will keep my German citizenship as well.
-- Jurgen Klinsmann
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