After a poor 0-3 record and the distinction of being the team that allowed the most goals in the tournament, the question is: Should the US be invited back to participate in Copa America? Discuss:
As long as the Gold Cup is gonna be in the same year (which it always will be unless either tournie skips a year) and the Confed Cup spot is on the line, the US will always send their A team to the Gold Cup and their B/C team to the Copa. I think the better question is should the US accept the invitation knowing they won't be able to send their best team. Oh and the US didn't give up the most goals, that honor goes ot Colombia. Seriously though why did Conmebal decide upon this year knowing the U20/U17 WC will always be on the same year as well as teh Gold Cup, especially when they always invite two or more concacaf teams?
They've been invited every year since Mexico has participated, so it's a matter of the US Soccer Federation to say "yes."
I agree. It's embarrasing to finish dead last in a tournament by not bringing their best team. It's not like they can't pick, or organize, another tournament to take their U-23 side. Not only did they embarrass themselves but they lowered the level of the tournament they were invited to.
Mexico didnt have a problem sending a decent team. MLS needs to change their schedule Landon and co, need to forget about returning to MLS even with the current schedule and go "not get embarrased" in copa america.
MLS season will grow longer once they add teams. It'll be hard to move it without having conflicts with football season.
I put my love of football over that of my own team. If Mexico had treated the Copa America as a training ground, I would gladly accept their not being invited to the next tournament. I'd be ok with CONMEBOL not inviting the USMNT for the next tournament. Of course, the lack of a US A-team would hurt the tournament's quality, but hopefully it would teach all invited nations a lesson.
Well Mexico don't have as many players in Europe (those that are didn't play for mexico in teh Copa), and the mexican league is off, which is why they were able to bring in most of their top players. Bradley actually took a trip to Europe earlier in teh year to talk to coaches of each player overseas and discussed the situation of the Gold Cup and Copa America, the general consensus was that they didn't want their players playing 2 tournies. Essentially Bradley didn't have much of a choice. The MLS season schedule obviously isn't ideal, but no way do you hold it during the NFL season, besides who wants to play soccer in the winter at temperatures of 10-20 degrees F. The US will defintely have to think of something either rejecting the invitation or figuring out a way to send a stronger team to the tournie.
rafa played. sounds like excuses to me. MFL just got off, so the excuse for being tired was there but not used. Italy, eng, other euro teams play during the fall. its all excuses
Yes but you forget to mention Rafa didn't even play teh Gold Cup except for the final. If its excuses then why didn't Osorio, Pavel and Salcido play the Copa America??? Thats right the same reason most of our A teamers couldn't play teh Copa.
edit ^^ see below whoever they had in Gold cup shouldve went to copa America. Some Euros shouldve also, some didnt even play full games, if im not mistakened. I think pardo, osorio, and salcido are punks for not playing. Well maybe not osorio cuz i think he was hurt, and maybe not pardo, cuz he played all out everygame in bundesliga.
The US has given CONMEBOL the finger several times, rejecting invitation after invitation to play Copa America. I think CONMEBOL should consider inviting Costa Rica or Panama.
The main reason the US was invited is that FIFA wants to increase its market share in the US. If the CONMEBOL wants countries with $$$ power, they should invite Australia and Canada. Those countries would more than be happy to bring their best to the competion. Let FIFA invest in Beckham and the MLS and leave Copa America alone.
Because those @holes are a bunch of Punk @ss Lavolpistas (and have admited being so) who value more their friendship with Lavolpe than the honor of playing for their country! Is Like Luis Hernandez said: "Those are the kind of guys who would set their houses on fire just to see the neighbor's house burn!
Lot of really quality posts and analysis here. The USA would bring a lot to this tournament - but this was a the perfect storm in terms of when NOT to accept the invitation. Gold Cup w/ Confed Cup on the line, MLS, U-20 World Cup, European break, and a rebuilding year after the World Cup. In summary, yes, the USA should be invited back - they showed they have quality by beating Mexico in June - but in hindsight, they should not have accepted this year and looked forward to juggling 3 tournaments in 2009. In 2009 all of the players that have under 10 caps now will be veterans and the pool will have twice as many 'experienced' international players.
its a dead subject. I already owned them on the issue. but another appears and takes on the task of posting pendejadas and weak excuses. lol