czech press reports about Arena opinion about the group.

[bltleo]

The coach Bruce Arena is happy that his team is not under pressure as Italy or Czech Republic. The czech press reports that USA finished against Germany in quarterfinale last world cup,but from the world cup in Germany it is not expected that they wil repeat their success.

Arena said: "All the pressure is on Bruckner and Lippi" - said Arena about czech and italian coach because their fans expect that both will advance in the group (based on papers).

Bruckner said that USMNT squad 2006 has more experienced and better players than in 2002.

LANDON DONOVAN also said that USA will play without any pressure. Donovan said" I don´t think on any pressure, it is a fun".

My OWN COMMENT ON THIS:
Yes I think both Italy and Czech thinks that they will advance the group. Many experts thinks that both are favorite. I have heard that Bruckner and Lippi made jokes who will be first and who second from both teams:). But I think in this group is everything possible. I think USA can advance this group. The question is only - what will happen if Czech don´t advance or Italy don´t advance?. I already can see the press. I think the fact that Arena and his team don´t need to play under big pressure, is HUGE ADVANTAGE. US team will have more free spirit, they will fight and risk a lot because they know that they have nothing to lose. If they don´t advance, american press will not critize it, many Americans will not notice it because they don´t follow soccer. So I think it is advantage. ARENA is going to world cup and will play with no pressure. Big advantage!. Remember Greece in European Cup. They also played without no pressure and they did beat favorite Czech. So anything is possible.

source
http://www.sport.cz/fotbal/ms2006/85656-kouc-usa-arena--tlak-lezi-na-brucknerovi-a-lippim.html

[VBSoccerFan]

US team will have more free spirit, they will fight and risk a lot because they know that they have nothing to lose. If they don´t advance, american press will not critize it, many Americans will not notice it because they don´t follow soccer. So I think it is advantage. ARENA is going to world cup and will play with no pressure. Big advantage!

I'm glad the team feels no pressure, but the reasoning behind it is wrong. The American press WILL criticize the team if it doesn't advance, and many Americans WILL notice it. Most American sports fans know what we did in 2002, and if we don't advance, they will consider it a failure and take the opportunity to snicker at the team and be dismissive. If we don't advance, it will jeopardize a great deal of the casual interest that has arisen since 2002 and strengthen the hold of the soccer haters. So, there are adverse social consequences to a failure to advance, but the team apparently doesn't perceive them, which is fine with me.

[Hustletown]

Any pressure that might be on the US to perform is just miniscule in comparison to what Italy (especially) and the Czech Republic are under. I think that's the point of Arena's and the players' comments.

If Italy doesn't advance, that entire country will go into depression. If Czech doesn't advance, they'll be very dissapointed as well given that this is considered their "golden generation" of soccer talent. They won't be quite as depressed as Italy though because they still have hockey to fall back on as a country :) .

As far as we're concerned, it's obviously a much different kind of pressure. Of course, we need to keep showing progress as a soccer nation but I think we can possibly do that without advancing by being competitive and pushing the teams in the group.

When the groups were first released, I was skeptical of our chances to advance but I get increasingly more confident as the tournament draws closer. As a team, I think we'll be more cohesive and tight knit than just about any other that will take the pitch.

Most of the top countries are loaded with so many stars that it makes the team aspect tough to form. A big worry is figuring out what roles to have everyone play. England is a great example of that. For a non-soccer example, just look at our USA basketball teams of late.

Marco Van Basten of The Netherlands has shown a way to combat that by not calling in various national mainstays since he took charge of the side after Euro 2004. Instead, he rebuilt the Dutch team with the idea of finding the correct parts (even if not the highest paid, most well known) to fit the style. It led to his side winning the toughest qualifying group in Europe. It was a bold move on his part, and I think he deserves credit for taking that approach to get The Netherlands back to the World Cup where they belong.

It seems only Brazil and maybe The Netherlands and Italy have really mastered how to get the stars to play well as a team over the years because they have a clearly defined and recognizable style of play as national sides.

All that said, I think there's always pressure to perform in a World Cup because no one wants to show up and finish without getting any results. Obviously, there are different tiers of pressure given certain countries place a certain emphasis on soccer and their athletes.

[bltleo]

actually I think that the biggest pressure has our country Germany. We are host country, we have high goals, Klinsi wants to persuade german fans that his "unusual" and modern practise and his "young " squad - with that many Germans don´t agree - will work. So we Germans are under biggest pressure.
I´m positive about our team. I think Germany always managed to play under pressure. We are still the second best nation based on performance in lastworld cups after Brazil. :). It will be much bigger catastrophe if we don´t advance or are not successful. And the biggest tragedy would be if Holland win the world cup in Germany!. As Revange for Finale 1974, world cup in Germany (Holland-Germany) when we won:). But I think german team will make it this world cup. I´m optimist. Finale is also possible for us.

[MikeLastort2]

I'm glad the team feels no pressure, but the reasoning behind it is wrong. The American press WILL criticize the team if it doesn't advance, and many Americans WILL notice it. Most American sports fans know what we did in 2002, and if we don't advance, they will consider it a failure and take the opportunity to snicker at the team and be dismissive. If we don't advance, it will jeopardize a great deal of the casual interest that has arisen since 2002 and strengthen the hold of the soccer haters. So, there are adverse social consequences to a failure to advance, but the team apparently doesn't perceive them, which is fine with me.

Hardly any American sports fans know what we did in 2002.

Regardless of results, win it all or lose all three group games, the mainstream sports media will barely notice.

[rgli13]

i agree wtih vb, and id go so far as to say there is more pressure on us than italy or the chechs.

the pressure on us isnt that of "underachieving", its of keeping soccer alive in this country. i dont mean to be dramatic but im not exaggerating by much.

that lack of "pressure" from the media and fans in this country is NOT a good thing- its a glaring, unavoidable that they dont care. 02 pricked up their ears a bit, but a showing similar to 98 would be a seriously damaging blow to soccer in this country.

you can say all you want about respect and credibility, but at the end of the day u.s. soccer (specifically mls) need money and a stage. right now our domestic league has one game a week televised...until college football starts, and then its a crapshoot. that one game isnt promoted at all. highlights are nonexistent on the network that runs those games.

american soccer is the proverbial "one payday away from homeless"- and weve got to earn our paycheck in germany.

so maybe im in the minority in saying that that pressure is much, much greater than having every major newspaper in this country calling us chokers and bruce getting fired under headlines of "one hit wonder?"...at least that would be out there to be read.

[Hustletown]

I don't know bltleo, it seems most in Germany are pretty convinced this group will be a failure. All of the important soccer people seem to be taking turns blasting the team going in instead of trying to get the country to unite behind them.

It probably shouldn't surprise me, but it does. You'd think Franz Beckenbauer and other important German icons would be a little more supportive of their country leading into a World Cup instead of taking turns kicking.

[VBSoccerFan]

Any pressure that might be on the US to perform is just miniscule in comparison to what Italy (especially) and the Czech Republic are under. I think that's the point of Arena's and the players' comments.

No disagreement, nor is that what I was addressing. "Pressure" is what the actor feels. What I was discussing was consequences. A failure to advance by the US will have important negative consequences.

Of course, we need to keep showing progress as a soccer nation but I think we can possibly do that without advancing by being competitive and pushing the teams in the group.

Yes and no. To the knowledgeable, yes. That includes most of the rest of the world and American soccer fans. If we have a strong showing and miss out on advancement on tie breakers, the knowledgeable will see the progress in our team's quality. But the vast majority of American sports media and fans will not see progress, they will see regress. It will likely hurt the growth of the sport in this country (as more than just a kiddie activity), which will suit many in this country and abroad just fine, thank you very much.

[dabes2]

I'm glad the team feels no pressure, but the reasoning behind it is wrong. The American press WILL criticize the team if it doesn't advance, and many Americans WILL notice it. Most American sports fans know what we did in 2002, and if we don't advance, they will consider it a failure and take the opportunity to snicker at the team and be dismissive. If we don't advance, it will jeopardize a great deal of the casual interest that has arisen since 2002 and strengthen the hold of the soccer haters. So, there are adverse social consequences to a failure to advance, but the team apparently doesn't perceive them, which is fine with me.

Ok, maybe it's not NO pressure, but USA's pressure is like AYSO compared to what the Italians are under.

[VBSoccerFan]

Hardly any American sports fans know what we did in 2002.

Regardless of results, win it all or lose all three group games, the mainstream sports media will barely notice.

I dispute both points. I contend that most American sports fans know what we did in 2002, at least in general terms. They will know that we did well.

Also, the mainstream media most definitely will trumpet either of those results. Either the soccer haters (of whom there are legion) will jump and down and hoot and holler, kicking the corpse with wild glee, or the rest of the mainstram media -- not just sports media -- will turn those guys into heroes. Remember the Miracle on Ice? You watch if the impossible happens and we get to the final: that game will be the second most watched single game on TV this year, behind the Super Bowl. American nationalism will kick in big time.

Results in between will get notice, but not big notice. Come on, USMNT reports and results get front page listing on all the major sports web sites now. The country notices -- in passing. It's in stark contrast to 1994 when we hosted the darn thing and I bet most Americans had no idea.

[Hustletown]

VB, I agree that the casual sports fans here won't notice improvement if we don't advance/play well but I really don't think they'll notice period. The national media might be on it for a day or two cracking jokes (without having watched a single match), and after that they'll be off of it completely. They'll most probably have that same reaction even if we get to the quarterfinals again in my opinion. "Yay we can play soccer now, but it's still a wimpy sport that isn't score-a-minute American entertainment."

I don't see the actual soccer community here being negatively effected in a noticeable way unless we get completely destroyed by everyone in the group. I don't see that happening at all.

[StillKickin]

I dispute both points. I contend that most American sports fans know what we did in 2002, at least in general terms. They will know that we did well.

Also, the mainstream media most definitely will trumpet either of those results.
This guy disagrees with you.

http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=104643&ran=27704

[SCBozeman]

i agree wtih vb, and id go so far as to say there is more pressure on us than italy or the chechs.

the pressure on us isnt that of "underachieving", its of keeping soccer alive in this country. i dont mean to be dramatic but im not exaggerating by much.

you can say all you want about respect and credibility, but at the end of the day u.s. soccer (specifically mls) need money and a stage...american soccer is the proverbial "one payday away from homeless"- and weve got to earn our paycheck in germany.

so maybe im in the minority in saying that that pressure is much, much greater than having every major newspaper in this country calling us chokers and bruce getting fired under headlines of "one hit wonder?"...at least that would be out there to be read.

You are correct. That may not be the same type of immediate pressure that weighs on the players, but it's a pressure that the European powers never face.

If Italy craps out of the first round, there will be editorializing and hand-wringing, Lippi will be fired or resign, and the team may even be greeted with tomotoes on landing in Rome or Milan or wherever. But all of those players will be secure in their knowledge that their clubs will exist in perpetuity, even Juventus. They will be millionaires. The Serie A will live on. Gazetto dello Sport will soon be distracted by other games. In four years, the same pressure will mount on the Azzurri who will be a favorite again.

If the US craps out, there is a chance that attendance declines further at MLS games and it gets no World Cup boost. ESPN buries the league yet further. As a result, there is always the chance that one of the two great patron saints of US soccer (Phil and Lamar) say, "you know, this ain't ever going to pan out and make money" and pulls the plug on the teams each operates. MLS goes under and US soccer is forever lost in the wilderness. While this becomes less and less likely every year, it is a real worst case scenario. Future generation of US soccer players will never have the advantages that this one has. All is lost. That's quite a bit of pressure if you look at it that way.

[bltleo]

I don't know bltleo, it seems most in Germany are pretty convinced this group will be a failure. All of the important soccer people seem to be taking turns blasting the team going in instead of trying to get the country to unite behind them.

It probably shouldn't surprise me, but it does. You'd think Franz Beckenbauer and other important German icons would be a little more supportive of their country leading into a World Cup instead of taking turns kicking.

I know many Germans are more pessimistic about our team. But it was in 2002 too. We had even difficulties to qualify first:). We had easy group last world cup. We did not play brilliant, but we finished in finale. I think we have easy group this world cup too. So I believe that we will be first in the group and after this is anything possible. For many we are not favorite. But since we play home I think our team will play under pressure, but I don´t think we have problem with playing under pressure. But it is only my opinion of course. I belong more to optimists:)

[MikeLastort2]

I dispute both points. I contend that most American sports fans know what we did in 2002, at least in general terms. They will know that we did well.

Also, the mainstream media most definitely will trumpet either of those results. Either the soccer haters (of whom there are legion) will jump and down and hoot and holler, kicking the corpse with wild glee, or the rest of the mainstram media -- not just sports media -- will turn those guys into heroes. Remember the Miracle on Ice? You watch if the impossible happens and we get to the final: that game will be the second most watched single game on TV this year, behind the Super Bowl. American nationalism will kick in big time.

Results in between will get notice, but not big notice. Come on, USMNT reports and results get front page listing on all the major sports web sites now. The country notices -- in passing. It's in stark contrast to 1994 when we hosted the darn thing and I bet most Americans had no idea.
How many sports fans (not hockey fans, but sports fans) have noticed the US hockey team since the Miracle on Ice?

The results of the 2006 World Cup will be forgotten by the average American sports fan by the time the NFL pre-season starts.

THAT'S why there's no real pressure on the USMNT. The sports media in soccer countries scrutinize every move those national teams make. If Italy beats Ghana but plays badly in their opener, the Italian media will go nuts.

[VBSoccerFan]

This guy disagrees with you.

http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=104643&ran=27704

Please do not get me started on Bob Molinaro. I am quite familiar with that moron and his odious opinions. He's a sterling example of the worst kind of American sports media hack.

[StillKickin]

Please do not get me started on Bob Molinaro. I am quite familiar with that moron and his odious opinions. He's a sterling example of the worst kind of American sports media hack.
First I'd ever heard of him. Sounds like a real jerk. Is that a real paper or just a blog?

[VBSoccerFan]

First I'd ever heard of him. Sounds like a real jerk. Is that a real paper or just a blog?

You just happened to link to my home city newspaper. :cool:

[MikeLastort2]

Please do not get me started on Bob Molinaro. I am quite familiar with that moron and his odious opinions. He's a sterling example of the worst kind of American sports media hack.
Did you read the article? I think he sums up the attitude towards soccer in this country pretty fairly and accurately.

Americans don't care about soccer. I wish they did, but they don't.

[VBSoccerFan]

Did you read the article? I think he sums up the attitude towards soccer in this country pretty fairly and accurately .

Obviously you think that, because you agree with him. I don't agree with him, so I think he overstates the case, as I think you overstate the case.