US Out of World Cup on Bad Performance

Yesterday, the US soccer team proved that they are over-hyped and that they consistently under-perform. Coach Bruce Arena had a thousand and one reasons why the Americans aren’t in the final 16 of this tournament. Not one of his excuses makes up for the fact that Brazil’s Ronaldo in one game outscored Team USA in their three games of the first round.

Mr. Arena's excuses don't really hold water. When Markus Merk, the German referee in the match against Ghana, awarded a dubious penalty to the African side, he didn’t cost the Americans a place in the final 16. Thanks to goal differentials, he hurt the Czech Republic more. The fact that the US was unseeded, and therefore wound up in the same group as Italy and the Czechs, may have hurt their chances, but Ghana is through to the next round. So is it really a “Group of Death?” FIFA’s insistence on a slew of yellow cards for challenges that might not be a big deal may also have hurt, but that didn’t affect the game with Italy’s outcome. The US secured a draw.

Coach Arena might want to consider a few other reasons for the Americans’ early departure. For example, America’s offense scored one (1) goal in three matches – the Italians gifted his side with an own goal. Australia, a second-tier soccer power at best, is through to the next round in part because they put together five goals in three games. America’s players couldn’t finish on those occasions when the service was there.

Another reason for the loss was the line-up. Eddie Lewis, defense in the first game, left the pitch after the third game as the left wing, and he didn’t make that appearance until the second half. DaMarcus Beasley was usually in the wrong spot, much too deep, and Landon Donovan probably shouldn’t have made the team, a journeyman has-been. And maybe announcing who’s starting less than two hours before the game isn’t such a good idea.

US Soccer, the guys who are ultimately responsible for this effort, should get serious. The MLS has DC United and Real Salt Lake, but borrowing the names of genuine world class clubs won’t get the job done. Youth programs offer a future for the sport, but winning at the international level demands effort to build an international level team – not just assembling a bunch of good players and hoping for the best. Qualifying out of the CONCACAF, which is basically North America and the Caribbean, isn’t all that tough for a nation of 300 million. Winning the America’s Cup (Copa de las Americas, as its winners always call it) is. That should be the next objective, with a new coach, some newer talent, and a dedicated effort to win the damn thing. And stop telling the press how great everything is until some goals get scored.

© Copyright 2006 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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