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