Would you say? At a level capable of winning the World Cup? At a level capable of contending at the World Cup? At a level not worthy of being in the World Cup? Generalities of course.
Anything is possible, but realistically no the USA is not capable of winning the World Cup or mounting a serious challenge for it. Teams as unfancied as USA have in the past made as far as the semi-finals, South Korea in 2002 being the most obvious and probably relevant example, but they did so with a combination of exceptional play, luck and home advantage. Even then at no stage did any neutral observer seriously think they were likely to win it. If it was the 32 best teams in the World the USA might not be in it, but they are close enough to that level that they worthy entrants.
Goalkeepers: Good enough to reach semifinals. Defenders: Capable of contending, but we've given up 6 goals in group play in each of the last two cups, which is too many. Midfielders: Really hard to tell because they are so young. I'm going to guess capable of contending. Forwards: As of right now, not worthy of being there.
I'd say they're approximately either just in or just out of 32 best teams in world right now. I don't think that is particualrly contreversial.
Well even though I know that this doesn't mean shit (And I personally think that we should be ranked a few spots higher) the people at FIFA rank us at #18 in the world.
It's hard to separate defense and goalkeeping. The reason I said semifinals instead of finals is because I don't think the US has a goalkeeper capable of doing what Kahn did in 2002: literally carrying his team to the final. I don't think Howard is at the 2002 Kahn level (yet).
Seriously tortured grammar in the opener, but I think I understand: In terms of talent/accomplishments: GK: Howard, Guzan-semifinal Comment: Howard consistently in and around the Actim top 5 gks despite not being on a top team. Guzan drawing interest from Arsenal. Forwards: Adu, Dempsey, Altidore-quarterfinal/semifinal Comment: the BS consensus is that this is weak spot, but closer examination reveals it as the strongest field position. Demps has goals against Liverpool, Ghana, Brasil, England, Poland, and against Switzerland an assist. If he's actually paired with a competent support forward(like Adu) for club and country he'll be even more lethal. Adu has three goals in all competitions for Benfica despite the limited playing time. Altidore? He might just be the most talented of the three. Wide-mids: Beez, Donovan--quarterfinal/semifinal comment: as bookend wide players, Beez/Donovan have got to be top ten internationally. Stellar credentials incompassing two World Cups, MLS Cups, Champion's League matches, and Concacaf title wins to back up excellent attacking stats. Central-mids(Clark, Kljestan, Feilhaber, Edu, Bradley, Beckerman, Szetela)--unknown. Comment: talented and promising group. limited European and international experience at the higher levels of competition. Center Defense: Conrad, Boca, Gooch, Gibbs, Ugo, Parkhurst, Demerit, etc-- group stages: Comment: achilles of the team. These guys--especially the primary starters--make too many unforced errors beating themselves before the opposition has done anything. Not much in the way of accomplisment at the European club level either. I'd like to see more experimentation with this group.
Here is my top 25 in the world in order: 1. Brazil 2. France 3. Argentina 4. Germany 5. Italy 6. The Netherlands 7. Spain 8. Portugal 9. Czech Republic 10. Croatia 11. Scotland 12. Greece 13. England 14. Russia 15. USA 16. Mexico 17. Sweden 18. Uruguay 19. Nigeria 20. Poland 21. Ivory Coast 22. Cameroon 23. Norway 24. Ghana 25. Japan
In the future to improve our attack I'd like to see people like Beasley and Donovan as our Roberto Carlos and Cafu. Speed, stamina, and offensive skills down the wings, with better passers and dribblers in midfield. What do people think about that?
I also don't understand how anyone says the US is not one of the 32 best in the world. They have proven they are the best in North America. Only Brazil and Argentina are clearly better from South America. I don't think any Asian or African team is clearly better than the US either. That means 30 European countries would have be better than the US.
I'm not get into a massive argument, but I just can't see anything in terms of results, level of play or the squad that would mean most people would place USA firmly in the top 32. I've not said they aren't in the top 32 either. I think on worldwide level I think the majority people would rank teams (ignoring UEFA, in reference to the last poster) like Mexico (depsite head-tohead results), Urguay, Australia, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Nigeria above USA. USA would be somewhere in a pack contianing teams like Ghana, Paraguay, SK, etc for most people.
Heck I'd love to see the team experiment with Beez and LD as wingbacks in a 3-5-2 or even as fullbacks. Arsenal played Flamini at fullback in a crucial CL game and the dude did quite well with no prior experience at the position. But sure, you're starting to see already guys being moved back earlier in their careers--Sheanon Williams, Quavis Kirk, Bornstein, Burch, etc.
I realize your keyword here was "experiment", but please, let's not place 2 of our 3 best attacking players in defense.
Goalkeepers: At their peak, at a level capable of winning the World Cup. Defenders: Bottom half of World Cup teams, our best players are fungible at the level of the lower Premiership. Onyewu still has yet to match his ample physical gifts with a top class mental game. Wide midfielders: Capable of contending at the World Cup. Beasley has played a significant role on a Champions League semifinalist IIRC (PSV) and is a rotation player at Rangers who are off to a good start there. I think Donovan could play at that level if he pushed himself (and let's leave any discussion about that for a more appropriate thread). Inner midfielders: Unproven, I think we have to consider this group bottom half WC until they make more of a mark both internationally and domestically. Forwards: Unproven, see inner mids, except that I think the forwards have a little more upside between Dempsey, Adu, and Altidore.
The idea is to increase our offense. They overlap and attack down the wings with their speed. Also, to contend for a WC, they can't be two of our three best attacking players, and hopefully won't be by 2010. They might make excellent fullbacks. If Roberto Carlos and Cafu played for USMNT in their prime, they'd also be midfielders (or strikers). But they were offensive threats from fullback for Brazil. So as young midfielders come up, drop B and LD back. In midfield they're two of our best, but we're not generating much in the way of goals and service.
Welcome to my USMNT life of over three decades. There's hope though. Fire the Dear Leader, both of them, and stop judging our teams by CONCACAF standards. Also, don't develop anybody in MLS.
Until we have an established match winning forward, us taken it to the finals will not happen. But we have the talent and you never know. Class at goalkeeper, decent to youth defenders in the back, and exciting young attacking talent that has proven its amongst the bets in the world in the youth levels, but can they take it to the snior level And if manager right instead of playing slow Brian McBride alone with himself up top, the US can do some things. They are , along with the Ivory Coast, Switzerland, Mexico, and either Switzerland or Russia one of the dangerous teams in the next World Cup. they were dangerous last year, but it blew up completely the minute the Mc man had to play up top by himself and Onyewu let Koller get free for a few seconds.