A WAKING GIANT - US Soccer Comes of Age

DER SPIEGEL ^ | June 11, 2006 | Andreas Tzortzis

[goldstategop]

Its a testament to American exceptionalism. If American football had never caught on, we'd be a football crazy nation too, just like the English and the Mexicans.

(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")

[eleni121]

Well I grew up playing and watching most sports you refer to ...except soccer. My first experience was watching it played by ethnic teams in my hometown...I wasn't bored because several of my boyfriends played at one time or another.

The game itself---ho-hum.

[rb22982]

So did I, and I'd put soccer at #3. But then again, opinions are like a$$holes..

Nothing gets me more pumped than UNC in the finals in Basketball though or Duke vs UNC

[goldstategop]

They have experience in European leagues. Some of our best talents play abroad so they should be comfortable in Germany. We can do worse in our first game tomorrow than Trinidad and Tobago. A tie would be an accomplishment. A victory would be stunning.

[Rightwing Canuck]

CONCACAF is basically the USA and Mexico, all other teams are fodder. It's sad but true.

Some members of the US team play in Europe, but those that do are usually second-string. Tim Howard is a bench-warmer after a few fairly poor perfomances a Man Utd. Donovan was a failure at Leverkusen. I think the star of the team is definately Beasley, since he's had Champions League experience with PSV. McBride's at Fullham, but then I could walk into Fullham's starting XI LOL.

Like I said, they may indeed surprise, though I personally hope not since as I said I'm an Azzurri supporter. I would love to somehow see you guys go up against Iran though :)

[burzum]

Its a testament to American exceptionalism. If American football had never caught on, we'd be a football crazy nation too, just like the English and the Mexicans.

The rest of the world should be thankful for that. Otherwise, the US team would dominate men's soccer just as much as we dominate women's soccer. The US simply has too much money and too many people not to dominate soccer if any significant amount of attention was placed on it. I think that is going to change within the next 10-20 years.

[dfwgator]

It would be better to split with Italy and the Czech Republic, than tie both, there are more points for winning one game than getting two ties. US needs to go for broke in those games.

[Roy Tucker]

Agreed, we got a tough group. We feel somewhat aggrieved that Mexico (who we beat for the CONCACAF Cup) got a seeding ahead of us and seems to have gotten a quite easy group by comparison.

I don't think they will embarass themselves, they are a good team and therefore I don't think it will set back US soccer at all if we don't make it out of the Group.

I am hoping the Ghanaians run the Italians ragged and we get lucky against the Czechs.

[Rightwing Canuck]

Oops forgot about Reyna being at City - I didn't know he was still on your team! He must be 36 by now!

[Utahrd]

Indeed.

For those of you who aren't patriotic and who hate the United States, try dailykos.com

[Atlantic Bridge]

They'll never become celebrities in the way foreign football stars are icons in their homelands but they have talent.

If they have success I do not see any reason why they should not become popular. The American lack of interest in soccer is in close relation to the permanent failure of its teams. If this depression could be overcomed this wonderful sport will conquer the hearts of the American sportsmen.

BTW - it is the same thing with baseball on our side of the Atlantic. This is something most Germans smile about since they think it is girlish, unsportive and American BS. A sport for elderly men with beerbellies. A dumb prejudice of (in this case European) dumbheads.

We all should be more open since then we will have more fun. :-)

[Jameison]

"No offense intended, but FIFA rankings aren't taken seriously by any soccer fan"

We got to the quarter finals in the 2002 World Cup, where we barely lost by 0-1 to eventual finalist Germany.
That was far as England got and far better than France did.
Next you are going to tell us the World Cup is not taken seriously as well, no?

We haven't even started talking about you Cauncks yet.
Let's face it, Canada does not even appear on the radar screen when it comes to soccer.

[rb22982]

Same thing in '94 with Brazil lost 0-1, but in the 2nd round.

[Rightwing Canuck]

Next you are going to tell us the World Cup is not taken seriously as well, no?

Don't be foolish. But the fact remains that the FIFA rankings are a joke. You guys did quite well in 2002, all things considered. But you also lost to Iran in 98. Don't forget that.

What does Canada have to do with it? I mentioned several times on this thread that I'm an Italy supporter, since I am in fact Italian.

[Jameison]

"If they have success I do not see any reason why they should not become popular."

Wrong.
American can win the World Cup, and soccer is still going to be behind, the NBA, NFL, MLB and even the NHL.
Might give soccer a bit of a boost for about a year, and that will be it.
After all we did better than Mexico in the last World Cup, clobbering then 2-0 to advance to the quarter finals, yet soccer is far far far more popular in Mexico than it is in America.

[1066AD]

Too bad, football/soccer is a zillion times more physically demanding and visually appealing than never-ending basketball. (Flame suit at hand).

[Rightwing Canuck]

I would think though, that the farther you lot progress the better it would be for the sport's exposure, no? If you go out in the group stages, the WC would become a footnote on the news (if it isn't already in some markets).

[FreedomNeocon]

Ironically I feel the US Soccer team has gained what little 'fame' is has because it is largely shunned at home.

Typical and predictable... and more the reason to let the 'hard core' rock on and enjoy the underdog status, while I watch tha' birds (Eagles for you heathens)

[Jameison]

"Don't be foolish"

Talk about the pot...
You are the one making foolish statements.

"But the fact remains that the FIFA rankings are a joke."

Says who?
The top nations in the FIFA rankings regularly come out on top at world Cup competitions


"You guys did quite well in 2002, all things considered. But you also lost to Iran in 98. Don't forget that. "

Your point being?
Italy lost to South Korea in 2002, and if I remember correctly drew with the Cameroons in 1982 in Spain.


" mentioned several times on this thread that I'm an Italy supporter, since I am in fact Italian."

Well we did better than Italy in 2002.
At least we got to the quarters.
Italy didn't.