Was this the worst performance by a US team that you've ever seen? I'd have to say a tie for "yes". It's tied with Mexico 2009. That hurts extra because it's a second-half collapse, it's a competitive game, and it's Mexico, but on the other hand I wasn't as in to soccer as I am now, so this Brazil game feels worse than it would've to a "circa-2009" me. I think the fact that we looked like we weren't even trying was the worst part. How about you guys? It's certainly the worst game I've seen from a JK team, even worse than Ireland.
In the 2011 Gold Cup when Bob benched Landon and the team had clearly tuned him out, they still never had a showing like this or the Panama game. It was pathetic.
Didn't watch it, over here in Vienna watching Austria crush Sweden, but let me see if I can summarize Klinsmann's remarks: This was a valuable game, our players need to see a real team play so that they'll learn about the intensity real teams play with. This is a valuable experience for our players. Unfortunately they weren't ready for this level of competition because they play in MLS and don't have to fight for their positions every day. The fans are very upset about our horrible performance. That's good because it means we're becoming a footballing nation and we can no longer get away with poor performances because the fans will let us know about it. The players need to leave their comfort zone if they want to defeat top teams like Brazil. Bla bla bla bla bla. p.s. None of this is my fault. I'm just the guy in charge, but if only the players were better (like they used to be before I took over... wait, what?) we wouldn't look so outmached in games against non-Concacaf minnows.
This team showed very little desire, showed even less cohesion and should have been beaten. That said the Spain in 11 game was to me much worse.
A couple of things--The reason why the Spain game was atrocious is because Bob Bradley decided to use it as a friendly to test players as opposed to rolling out the defacto full strength US going into the Gold Cup. The result was horrible but was completely expected--And yes, that match, plus the subsequent dismal showing in the 2011 Gold Cup (with the full side) got Bob Bradley fired. What I'm saying is that the US is supposedly rolling out it's best XI, and we still play like crap. My contention is that if Bob Bradley wrecked a lucrative friendly and a Confederations Cup berth and got fired for it, Klinsi is clearly on the chopping block. We lose against Mexico (And the Confederations Cup) and he's gone. As much as we say that Sunil will never fire Klinsi, the US will simply lose it's fanbase if we throw away a CC berth.
How many U.S. soccer fans can even tell you what the Confederations Cup even is, with any sort of detail? Klinnsman seems as though he's lost the locker room, something that you just can't get back. It's why it's tough for International coaches to stay on for more than one WC cycle. When you literally hand pick your squad, every game, favorites and whimsical changes are bound to occur...which are things that alienate a lot of people.
C'mon now-- let's not get down on the boys! Sure, they stunk it up, & Klinsi needs a full colonic-- But daym! They'll get this back on track, just watch! U-S-A-!-
I agree that if Jurgie loses in October he should be fired, whether or not he does, is a guess. I still think the 11 game was worse on the field. If you look at everything surronding the game, player selection, etc. I can see your point, but if you took the names off the back and just looked at on the field product, I think 2011 game was worse.
We probably would've lost 4-1 even if we did win the Gold Cup. Being helpless against Brazil just seems to be ingrained into U.S. soccer. Going forward to the Mexico it's the Gold Cup performances that stick out more so as extremely troubling.
I'm thinking the pre-Gold Cup match vs. Spain may have been the single worst. That or the match @ Saprissa in 2009. 1st match vs. Brazil at Confed Cup was bad, WC 2006 Ghana, last night, Match @ England (with Josh Wolff) before Euro 2008 was ugly, Brazil in DC, part of the 5-game tournament.
Only the first half. I probably wouldn't have remembered it anyway. Spain puts me to sleep. So boring.
None of the games mentioned above were worse than last night, to me. Those games were the result of great teams putting it all together against us or the US putting together a really weak team, a la Mexico in 2009. What separates last night is that I haven't seen us utterly quit like we did last night. I can accept butt whippings because they just happen in sports sometimes, but I hate quitters. Despise them. And this team has done that a couple of times under Klinsmann, which is seriously problematic. So, last night is one of the worst moments I've ever experienced as a fan. Not for the loss, per se, but for the way in which it happened.
World Cup 1998: Iran 2: USA 1. This is the worst USA team since the Harkes/Wynalda issue and the 3-6-1. Maybe even the worst since MLS started and we were playing with college kids in 1990. Absent Dempsey we have no attacking threat up front. No threatening wide midfield players. No real creative force in MF (sorry, but Bradley is an 8 at best). The back-line is a disaster. And we are at our weakest at GK in nearly two decades. Not to mention the issue with the coach.
Czechoslovakia stopped existing in 1993. Fantastic match though. Rosicky was the best attacking mid in Germany, Nedved was arguably the best winger in all of Europa, Cech was younger, and our defense played for top teams in Europe. Sucks how that world cup went. I thought we could win it all.
Not even close. Most of the games between 1990-1994 were un-watchable. We were lucky to even connect on a pass. Here is a quick list of a few games which were worst: 1990 WC: Losing to Czech Republic 5-1 (Eric sees red!) 2002 WC: Losing to Poland 3-1 (Thanks South Korea!) 2006 WC: Losing to Czech Republic 3-0 (Again!) Get some perspective. This was a friendly. We played poorly. Move on.
The 2-1 loss in WC 98 to Iran was awful to me personally. I was trying to get anyone I know to watch the WC and when met with "nobody cares...." I would say "Oh, just wait til we play Iran. That's going to be a blood match" and ass-u-me that USA would win, getting the nation's attention for getting revenge for that hostage thing. We certainly outplayed them, but that isn't how the score is kept. I felt like a dog walking away with its tail between its legs after hyping the team and especially that match.
If Klinsmann has truly lost the locker room, Gulati is going to have act and act soon, because that's curtains for a coach's tenure in any sport.
Nedved had already begun to decline, but was still a very good player. They also had that big 6'9" Dortmund forward (Kohler???). He was like the Cam Neeley of soccer. Just post up in front of the goal.
What surprises me is that when we lose a friendly to a vastly superior team the sky is falling, yet when we win, it's no bug thing because it is a friendly!? Why is that. I agree we did not play well. Yet I have a problem with the team and not the coach. The players were outclassed. If that were untrue the why di they look like also rans. There were so many mistakes and lapses in coverage. All caused by individual talent way above ours. Go ahead blame the coach. The coaches' tactics were spot on. we were not up to their spedd of play, individual skills and their positioning was rapid and automatic..... We simply do not see the game like they do, and that boat anchor Altidore again did his vaunted roe a dope.....
I think I couched my response pretty well. My USMNT fandom is pretty young. First game that I planned for, and subsequently watched all the way through from beginning to end, that I can remember was April Fool's Day 2009 3-0 vs Trinidad and Tobago. So really, how many shellackings have we been on the receiving end on since that time? Since the 2000's? Not many. So this loss ranks up there for me. I certainly wouldn't remember. say. early 90's games, since I was born in 1993....