Anyone get the sense that missing the WC was not a disaster?

fyp, THHF

 

I am talking about the friendlies before the World Cup. We were able to get kids in sooner by missing the World Cup.

 

Nah I still think it was a disaster. The soccer equivalent of the Titanic sinking. We're still picking up the pieces 10 months after.

 

Frankly, I never thought that missing the World Cup was a disaster in the sense that I don't believe it had any real effect on slowing the growth or advancement of soccer in the USA. It was a huge disappointment and a huge financial disaster for some but how many kids stopped playing because we didn't participate? The real key to the advancement of the game lies in the youth.

 

Our own media did not even make it out to be a disaster. It was talked about for like a month in main stream media and that was about it.

Other countries' medias would still be talking about at this very moment.

It can't be a disaster if no one really cares.

 

I feel in this case that makes it even a worse disaster.

 

I'd say even a month is being generous. Also, I expected a bit more "where is the U.S.?" coverage during the actual World Cup targeted at casual viewers who don't even know about qualifying, but I didn't see much of that.

 

I was in South America during the group stage, and every single person I met asked me where the hell the US was and what happened.

 

Even worse, all the commercials mocked the US the entire World Cup. I know the US obviously sucks on the pitch/field right now, but come on.

 

A disappointment? sure. A disaster? Only in the overzealous minds of Bigsoccer posters.

The popularity of soccer in this country is, nowadays, less driven by the U.S. national team than by extensive TV coverage of the big Euro leagues and, to a lesser extent, growing supporter culture in MLS (see Atlanta, Seattle, Portland).

Honestly, there's no way this cycle's national team deserved to be in Russia. It was as uninspiring a U.S. team as I've ever seen, since I started following in '89. I'm hopeful that missing Russia 2018 will bring the U.S. program back to the days of players showing a little more character, humility, and backbone and a little less arrogance and entitlement.

 

Agreed.

Arrogance and entitlement = relying on past-prime player with fat MLS contracts and guaranteed starting spots.

That is the only thing that we need to avoid from now on.

 

As Landon said, just root for Mexico instead.

 

Wut?

 

Come on. Did you really want to see Bradley, Altidore, Howard and the rest? And remember that we're decent at bending over, so picking up the pieces shouldn't be that tough.

I feel bad for Pulisic. Other than that, I lived. Indeed, I was glad that we weren't there. Sure, we could have pinched points and results. But I had come to dislike the core of the squad. And the idiotic coach.

 

That's a measure of their obliviousness, their myopia.

 

If I could go back in time I wouldn't play the lottery or the stock market or kill Hitler before he took power, I'd convince Zusi and Johansson to lay up in injury time in Panama City in 2013.

 

While you're probably right this is the US board and it's you who are trolling.

 

Huh? I didn't call you a troll until you called me one. I actually agree with your post that I originally responded to, I didn't even realize you were a Mexico fan until you called me a troll. (That's probably the issue--you probably assumed I knew you were a Mexico fan, in which case it was reasonable to assume I was trolling, but I didn't and was actually agreeing with your post--miscommunication, I think.)

 

All I know is that it was a disaster for me. It spoiled my summer, and I don't have that many of those left.