| In 1930, the US national soccer team got off | | | | world playing against the best opposition |
| to a roaring international career at the | | | | around. To elevate your game, you must play |
| inaugural World Cup. In a tournament mostly | | | | against worthy opponents who will push you to |
| dominated by South American teams, the United | | | | the limits. Take Brazil for instance. Every |
| States reached the semi-finals. However, | | | | single one of their starting players has left |
| since then, the USA's record has been rather | | | | the Brazilian league to compete in top |
| poor. And that is being generous. Apart from | | | | European leagues. On the other hand, at least |
| 2002, where they reached the quarterfinals, | | | | half of the US starting lineup plays in the |
| the men's national team has faired very badly | | | | MLS, a less talented league. And those who |
| in international tournaments. The latest | | | | actually do play internationally have only |
| incident being the 2007 Copa America where | | | | been doing so for a short time. How can the |
| the US was utterly and completely lambasted | | | | US team even pretend to think they have a |
| by its South American competition. You have | | | | fighting chance on the international stage? |
| to ask yourself, why? The United States is | | | | Without more experience, the US is just going |
| one of the largest countries in the world | | | | to get more of the same - disappointing |
| with, arguably, the most physically gifted | | | | results. |
| athletes. Furthermore, with an incredibly | | | | |
| powerful economy, Americans have almost | | | | On a brighter note, in recent times more and |
| unlimited resources for training and | | | | more US players have signed with teams |
| equipment. | | | | overseas. With players like Benny Feilhaber |
| | | | and Clint Dempsey becoming more techinical, |
| So, why can the USA never seem to reach the | | | | talented players, there is a shred of hope |
| highest eschelon of international soccer? The | | | | for the US national soccer team. Hopefully, |
| reason is actually very simple. We simply do | | | | they will be a shining example of how to |
| not have the skill that the rest of the world | | | | approach one's career and will be followed by |
| enjoys. US ball movement is less crisp, | | | | other talented youngsters. Otherwise, the US |
| slower and not nearly as accurate as some of | | | | team will never be able to compete with the |
| the better teams in the world. Also, the US | | | | Brazils and Frances of the world. |
| has become incredibly predictable in terms of | | | | |
| how it attacks. If it ever wants to become an | | | | Some say that taking all of the talented, |
| actual offensive threat, ingenuity and | | | | young players out of the MLS and sending them |
| creativity will somehow have to be embedded | | | | overseas is not a good idea as it prevents |
| into its game. Plus, defending has become | | | | future growth in America. I agree that doing |
| more of an option than a mandatory part of | | | | so will prevent growth. But my point is that |
| the game. The list of the national team's | | | | if the MLS retains the young talent coming |
| inadequacies goes on and on, from sub-par | | | | out of America, the national team will |
| distribution from the back to inefficiency in | | | | continually perform at a sub-par level. The |
| front of the goal. Simply put, when the US | | | | nations that have sent their stars away from |
| participates in international tournaments, it | | | | home have, in fact, suffered domestically. |
| is overmatched. | | | | But they are now forces to be reckoned with. |
| | | | Just look at Argentina, Portugal, Holland, |
| Now that the US finds itself in a hole, how | | | | the Czech Republic, etc… |
| can it dig itself out? The answer, like the | | | | |
| problem, is a simple one. US players must | | | | The choice is simple. Does America want to |
| leave the country and join the more | | | | bolster their domestic league which may never |
| prestigious leauges around the world, even if | | | | really be supported anyways due to the |
| that means leaving America prematurely and | | | | popularity of other American sports, or does |
| training with secondary teams for awhile. If | | | | it want success on the international level? |
| you look at the rosters of international | | | | This is one soccer fan who would prefer to |
| soccer powerhouses, you will notice a common | | | | see the US finally reach its potential and |
| trend - their players have a wealth of | | | | make a name for itself in the upcoming world |
| experience in the tops leagues around the | | | | tournaments. |