Why USA not in Copa America???

[Pingudo]

Why are we not in Copa America? the USSF declined an invitation to play copa america 2004! can anybody explain why? what's the ussf email? i find the need to complain for this horrible decision

[Bruce S]

Originally posted by pingudo2
Why are we not in Copa America? the USSF declined an invitation to play copa america 2004! can anybody explain why? what's the ussf email? i find the need to complain for this horrible decision
purely a a scheduling conflict issue.I have copied this from my post in another forum:
in a nutshell, it is difficult ( to say the least!) to get our Euro's released, without totally disrupting their club seasons.CONCACAF plays a RIDICULOUSLY long quali schedule- and we have to play all the minnows. So, in the end, Arena must decide to use his call-up chips for WC quali's OR for Copa America-but can't do both.Is there any serious fan thinks that O'Brien , Reyna, et al should play Copa America instead of WC Qualis for the USA?Unless you believe they should do Copa instead of WCQ, then you really can't trash USSF or Arena for this.This is ultimately the fault of CONCACAF with their absurd unwillingness to "seed" higher teams. But no, we will play mighty St.Kitts or whoever

[Alberto]

Originally posted by Bruce S
purely a a scheduling conflict issue.I have copied this from my post in another forum:
in a nutshell, it is difficult ( to say the least!) to get our Euro's released, without totally disrupting their club seasons.CONCACAF plays a RIDICULOUSLY long quali schedule- and we have to play all the minnows. So, in the end, Arena must decide to use his call-up chips for WC quali's OR for Copa America-but can't do both.Is there any serious fan thinks that O'Brien , Reyna, et al should play Copa America instead of WC Qualis for the USA?Unless you believe they should do Copa instead of WCQ, then you really can't trash USSF or Arena for this.This is ultimately the fault of CONCACAF with their absurd unwillingness to "seed" higher teams. But no, we will play mighty St.Kitts or whoever

I think that if it is true that the USSF declined Copa America 2004, the reasons mentioned in your post are correct. There will be many conflicts with qualifying for 2006, but I submit that we missed an opportunity to play are younger less seasoned players in a major international competition. We don't need the European based players to participate. Use Copa America as a springboard to introduce are MLS based players and U17's and U20's to top flight competition. To play in Confederations Cup and WC is not enough. The expereince of international travel, training in a foreign country, match atmosphere, intensity, all will be of great benefit to the program.

[Bruce S]

Originally posted by Alberto
I think that if it is true that the USSF declined Copa America 2004, the reasons mentioned in your post are correct. There will be many conflicts with qualifying for 2006, but I submit that we missed an opportunity to play are younger less seasoned players in a major international competition. We don't need the European based players to participate. Use Copa America as a springboard to introduce are MLS based players and U17's and U20's to top flight competition. To play in Confederations Cup and WC is not enough. The expereince of international travel, training in a foreign country, match atmosphere, intensity, all will be of great benefit to the program.
I agree in part, but putting a very weak young team out to be killed may not be a useful experience. Barzil can send a junior team and get good results but we can't-

[Alberto]

Originally posted by Bruce S
I agree in part, but putting a very weak young team out to be killed may not be a useful experience. Brazil can send a junior team and get good results but we can't-

The upcoming Copa America will be similar to the previous one where South American teams sent "B" sides because of the long World Cup qualifying process in CONMEBOL. Yes we can't compete against a Brasil or Argentinian "B" side with our "B" team, but we will be able to compete against everyone else. Furthermore, let's remember that while our starting and back-up keepers are playing in Europe, we fielded a team comprised of mainly MLS based players. Beasley, Bocanegra, Hejduk (now MLS), Armas (now healthy), Donovan (perhaps Euro based within another month), McBride, Pope, Mastroeni, Wolfe (when healthy) and others.

[nancyb]

Discussed numerous times already. Look in these threads for more info, but, please dont' resurrect them. Three or 4 discussions at a time about this tournament seems more than adequate:

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=81556&highlight=Copa+America

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=78636&highlight=Copa+America

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=78918&highlight=Copa+America

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=75657&highlight=Copa+America

[Pingudo]

Originally posted by Alberto
The upcoming Copa America will be similar to the previous one where South American teams sent "B" sides because of the long World Cup qualifying process in CONMEBOL. Yes we can't compete against a Brasil or Argentinian "B" side with our "B" team, but we will be able to compete against everyone else. Furthermore, let's remember that while our starting and back-up keepers are playing in Europe, we fielded a team comprised of mainly MLS based players. Beasley, Bocanegra, Hejduk (now MLS), Armas (now healthy), Donovan (perhaps Euro based within another month), McBride, Pope, Mastroeni, Wolfe (when healthy) and others.

I totally agree with you man. I think the experience for your mls-based players would've been invaluable and like you said we can't compete with arg or bra but we could certainly compete with everybody else.

[lurking]

O'brien isnt getting first team time, not sure if hes still injured or what, and Reyna is just coming off injury (again). Not sure you can ever hold anything up due to there availability, since its a crapshoot anyways. First team euro gk's can be rotated really, so you call up the one you dont plan to use during the early rounds of qualification. I dont buy the excuse that its because of our european players. I think its just to give some of the regulars a break in their schedule after the WC, confed cup, gold cup, etc. Then there are the Olympics and youth teams, that drag some of our first team players away. Crowded calenders, its not really something the US really cares about anyways, so they blow it off rather than pile more games up.

[Guiness]

Originally posted by Alberto
The upcoming Copa America will be similar to the previous one where South American teams sent "B" sides because of the long World Cup qualifying process in CONMEBOL. Yes we can't compete against a Brasil or Argentinian "B" side with our "B" team, but we will be able to compete against everyone else. Furthermore, let's remember that while our starting and back-up keepers are playing in Europe, we fielded a team comprised of mainly MLS based players. Beasley, Bocanegra, Hejduk (now MLS), Armas (now healthy), Donovan (perhaps Euro based within another month), McBride, Pope, Mastroeni, Wolfe (when healthy) and others.

I disagree with this top part. I don't think ther's ever been a case where South american teams sent B teams to Copa America. The Brazil B team is the one that went to The Gold Cup, and im sure that's not the one we'll see in the copa.Copa America is the second most important tournament for them. The last Copa had the problem that it was in Colombia and Argentina was fearfull of terror threats so they didn't participate. Im sure all teams will be at full strenght for the 2004 edition.

[Bruce S]

Bruce Arena is not an idiot and I am sure he made this call. Yes, we would like to watch more soccer, but the players are not robots.The MLS boys will be in season, and they have WC qualis to disrupt all schedules anyway. The Euro's will need a rest, but they will have to suck it up anyway to play WQ qualis. I think Arena and the team just does not need this distraction at this time.
I suspect many of the posters here may be from S America and don't realize that the US does not have an automatic birth to the WC. CONCACAF does not have any giant teams like Brazil or ARG, but Honduras, Costa Rica, Jamaica,etc, can all, be tough on their day and Arena feels like all attention and release requests, and asking players to give up there rest time( for Euros) MUST be used for WC qualis. Great idea for Copa but bad timing.

[Alberto]

Originally posted by Guiness
I disagree with this top part. I don't think ther's ever been a case where South american teams sent B teams to Copa America. The Brazil B team is the one that went to The Gold Cup, and im sure that's not the one we'll see in the copa.Copa America is the second most important tournament for them. The last Copa had the problem that it was in Colombia and Argentina was fearfull of terror threats so they didn't participate. Im sure all teams will be at full strenght for the 2004 edition.

I acknowledge the fact that Argentina withdrew from the last Copa due to security concerns, but Brasil brought their B team and many other teams scaled back too. Furthermore, there was a lot of grumbling from the CONMEBOL federations on the relevance of holding Copa America because of its scheduling conflicts with the World Cup and Club play in Europe.

I think you are truly going to see a lot of B teams from the likes of Brasil and Argentina. The WC qualifiying process is very long for CONMEBOL and they will not bring the A team players (particularly if they play in Europe) if Copa America conflicts with their availability for qualifiers. Those are the games that truly matter.

[Pingudo]

I still think it's in our best interest to participate, even if the euros don't play, even if BRA and ARG sent B teams, we could always sent an MLS-based team. The more experience our players get the better for US soccer. I'm sure those MLS-based players who participate now will someday represent the US in a WC.

[Pingudo]

I saw this post somewhere else, i thought it was an interesting point:

"Because Dan Flynn & Jay Berhalter run USSF like dictators and they allow Bruce Arena to decide who and when we play and Arena isn't trying to grow a sport. Even MLS has not understood yet that allowing the players to play in big tournaments will actually grow the popularity of the league.

The problem is no one is trying to grow futbol in the USA"

[nancyb]

You're entitled to your opinion, but I don't agree with it. You think those guys whose livings depend on the sport (think sales people in MLS) aren't trying to grow the sport?

[prk166]

Originally posted by pingudo2
Why are we not in Copa America? the USSF declined an invitation to play copa america 2004! can anybody explain why? what's the ussf email? i find the need to complain for this horrible decision

Because the players already play too many flippin' games. Sheesh.

[Chowderhead]

1. We're not part of South America.

2. We have other stuff going. Little things like a domestic championship and World Cup qualifiying.

3. We're not part of South America.

4. The Copa America is a waste of time and nothing more than an excuse for also-rans like Colombia and Perú to dream up dopey logos, stage silly opening ceremonies and fantasize about finally doing a vuelta olympica.

5. We're not part of South America.

[condor11]

what did logos ever do to you?

[El CHarro_NEgro....]

The only thing im sure is that USSF constantly rejecting CONMEBOL hurst the possibility of the MLS on Copa Libertadores.

[Pingudo]

Originally posted by El CHarro_NEgro....
The only thing im sure is that USSF constantly rejecting CONMEBOL hurst the possibility of the MLS on Copa Libertadores.

I couldn't agree with you more there! I would love to see MLS teams playing libertadores someday!

[vmax71]

My response to this post is that how pissed off would the organizers of the tournament be if we did send our "B" team

Don't you think this would insult the people in south america so much that no one would ever think of letting us play in the copa libertadores as retaliation?