HAMBURG, June 13 -- U.S. men's soccer coach Bruce Arena said he would make changes to the team's starting lineup before Saturday's World Cup match against Italy, a game the team almost certainly must win in order to advance in the tournament after yesterday's crushing 3-0 opening loss to the Czech Republic.
During a 28-minute news conference at the team hotel Tuesday, Arena was alternately solemn, defensive, funny, optimistic, contradictory and humbled. He said he did not yet know what the lineup changes would be.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/13/AR2006061300424.html
“For the future the US has got to get quality athletes not undersized track stars.We are constantly beaten by European teams that are 2 inches taller and 50 pounds heavier.The same guys that are playing Football and Baseball in this country.Beasley played in reverse all day because he couldn't take the punishment not because he was on the wrong side.”
I think this is looking at it the wrong way. The USA team is not lacking in fitness. What it lacks is flair and creativity, the things provided by Nedved and Rosicky. Admittedly finding a flair player is not something you can do overnight.
The big Czech player Koller is a handful for any team, not just the USA.
There really is an ingrained PC belief in American soccer circles that soccer is the ultimate democratic sport where size and speed don't matter. IMHO, having been through the ODP system back in a former life, the coaching staffs are wowed by quick, little flashy guys and not by a big, domiant grinder.
Not much else can explain why Cobi Jones spent so many years zipping about but not accomplishing much against stout competition. I see Donovan and Beasley as the next generation of the same old thing.
Those bigger guys *are* out there, they just aren't developed.
(For the future the US has got to get quality athletes not undersized track stars.)
You're right. But as of now, there is much more money in football, baseball, and basketball. Therefore the top US athletes end up there, and soccer ends up getting third rate athletes. The athletes we currently have are way better than we used to get. Hopefully that will continue as MLS gives them a shot at being professionals in their own country. However, our best players had better go to Europe to improve their skills.