Steve Sampson on the past, present and future

[davide]

The '98 team was already eliminated before the Yugo game. The US players that played against Yugo were under very little pressure compared to those that played against Poland.

Poland played loose and used a younger lineup and they built a quick two goal lead. We have a goal called back on a phantom foul that would have tied the game. The '02 team played poorly, but the games are totally different.

One game is the biggest game of the tournament up to that point and the other is simply play it out and get on a plane.

Still, the '98 USA team had nothing to lose against Yugo and yet we still gave up the early goal. Yugo allowed us to play with the ball and dared us to get the goal back, but we couldn't break them down or finish.

The '98 played from behind in every game because our offense didn't create enough quality chances and/or the team didn't finish anything.

[TomEaton]

I think we can agree that in retrospect, South Korea at home in 2002 was a much tougher opponent than Iran in France in 1998. I also agree with the previous posts asserting that 1998 Yugoslavia was tougher than 2002 Poland.

But I also agree with the previous post that said that if your team can't finish, it can't score goals, and if you can't score goals, you can't win. In the context of one or two games, you might simply be unlucky. But the 1998 team had problems scoring goals in all their warmup games in addition to the tournament itself, and most of those games were against less than stellar opponents. Not only were they shut out by Germany and Yugoslavia in the WC, but they only scored 1 against Iran despite numerous chances. In prior games, they were shut out by Scotland and FYR Macedonia, and even in a home game against Kuwait they could only manage two goals. So in that respect, it wasn't just luck.

Even assuming for the purposes of argument that the 2002 team was not significantly better than the 1998 team in the group round, just more fortunate, the 2002 team still must be considered the superior team because of the fine performances they put on in their two elimination round games. In fact the loss against Germany was possibly the best overall game the U.S. played even though they failed to score a goal.

But back to Sampson. I hate to pile on because Sampson-bashing is so fashionable and I feel Sampson took more than his share of the blame for 1998, but I couldn't help but smile when he said, "I'm a far more experienced coach since '98...." Really, Steve? How many coaching jobs have you had since then?

[Brownswan]

Originally posted by kasai
I am sure Sampson and his psychology will lead Costa Rica into the dumps just like he did with the US national team.

I am just as sure that Sampson has learned from the past, and has benefitted from the past four years -- getting back to the basics of youth soccer and player development. He also has good connections south of the border, where he still commands respect for the US performance in Copa '95 and in the qualifying matches for '98.

It will be just as tough for us in Saprissa, and tougher when we face CR here in the States. Plus, he is the architect of the US turn-around vs. Mexico, the start of our playing against them with confidence and winning -- although credit must also go to Bora, who was the skipper when we beat Mexico in a friendly just a week before WC'94.

If he gets the job, then names Wanchope Captain for Life, we'll know it's the same, ole' Steve.

[sidspaceman]

Originally posted by Brownswan


If he gets the job, then names Wanchope Captain for Life, we'll know it's the same, ole' Steve.

He allready has the job.

[Mel Brennan]

In a FIFA press conference one month before the Paris Group F match with Germany in 1998...

"This is the best US team that we've ever had. We've certainly got the right mixture of experience and creativity. In June, we'll represent the USA not just in name alone but with our own style of play."

No matter what this man ever says, he's a failure at managing a team, and his tactics are absolute rubbish for playing at an international level. Costa Rica just took two HUGE steps back.

[efernandez9]

WHERE do you guys think that Steve goes from here?

is there some future or place open for him the MFL or MLS?

[numerista]

WHERE do you guys think that Steve goes from here?

is there some future or place open for him the MFL or MLS?

His international coaching resume is patchy at best, and his club resume is non-existent. Seems like he ought to take a lower-division job to prove he's up to the task.

[efernandez9]

sounds like perfect fit for chivas USA
with his international experience in concacaf