In 1990, we clearly weren't going to win the World Cup. In 2002, our coach said we weren't there yet, and was right. In 2014, our coach says we're not there yet, and he's probably right. (Although I hate going into any competition with any goal other than winning it). So my question is, when will we be in a position to win the World Cup. The Cup has been around for 84 years. with 8 of those lost due to WWII. For the last 24, we've been building towards being competitive to win the thing. how much longer until we get there?
I am hoping in 4 years when all our young German Americans gain more experience and all our American born players have been disbanded by Klinsmann except for Altidore of course.
I ask myself this question alot, I'm 40 years old I figure I might have 10? World Cups left in my lifetime if I'm lucky. I would hope we would make it as far as the 2002 team at some point in my life time, and even farther than that. The tragectory is up, there is no doubt in my mind, but it will just take waves of quality to actually get there. We need to get to the point where we have star caliber pros at solid teams both home and abroad who are not even good enough to make the team. An abundance of talent is needed, people who can score goals on a regular basis, technical player, great defensive players, all of the above. A huge benchmark for me is will we ever be good enough to get all possible points in the final Hex. Both home and on the road, that in itself would be a HUGE accomplishment.
only eight countries have ever won the world cup, so i think thats a faulty benchmark. we were inches away from the semifinals 12 years ago (and reached the semis if you want to hop in the way-back machine)- i think thats an attainable goal. expectations of quarters/semifinal runs. we have grown to the level of expectations of round of 16, so there is growth, so say 2026? at least a win in the knockout stage, semis not a huge shock...at that point youre fate and luck in a single tournament away from as far as any team outside of brazil have gotten.
In 2018 with our so called superior players we will make the semis. At least that's what people who keep trying to defend the Donovan omission tell me. All the players will have accents and the word soccer will be banned. As will the word field, replaced by pitch. Watch out you AYSO/MLS Capri Sun fans. We're coming for you. The revolution is about to begin.
Using the semi-finals as a measuring stick: 4 teams outside of the 9 big teams far and away better than us (ENG, FRA, POR, NED, GER, ITA, ESP, BRA, ARG) have even advanced to the semis in the last 4 WCs. Uruguay in 2010 has much more quality than we do. Same with Croatia when they did it. Turkey, when you really look at their roster and club affiliations do too and 2002 was just an odd WC in general. No Netherlands. Germany looked really awful the prior year yet they got to the finals. Korea's run. France, Portugal, and Argentina going out in groups. It was really open. South Korea got by as a host with some pretty dodgy calls. That and the guy who self immolated to become the magic 12th ghost player before they successfully beat Portugal, Italy, and Spain in succession. I'm not advocating that approach for any of our fans, btw. To reasonably have more than outsider hopes of a semi, we would need to be as strong as Croatia or Uraguay. That's probably 4 cycles (or maybe more) away. I'm going with over 24 to reasonably have a shot of winning (better than say 10 or 12-1 odds).
At no point in the last 20 years have we ever been considered to be close to their equal. They're not as good as some of these teams but we would be very lucky to keep them from winning more than 5 out of 10 meaningful matches v. us. Outside of Howard, I can think of no one on our squad with a chance of cracking their core group of players on current form. Doesn't mean we can't beat them or get an ugly draw here or there but we're not close to them.
In terms of ability yeah they are. England are everyone's punching(especially among England fans) but, they are clearly better than us. We have never produced players on the level of Rooney or Gerrard or young players on the level of Shaw, Barkley and Sterling. Yes we drew them last World Cup but, that was the worst I have ever seen from England in a major tournament. They also drew Algeria that same tournament yet I do not think anyone will say Algeria is the same level as them.
Player for player England is better. As a team England is not that great. The US is always more as a sum than individual parts. England is the opposite.
I put beyond 24 here is why. Lets divide the current world cup into groups of likely hood of winning. Favorites: Brazil; Spain; Argentina; Germans. You could see it happening: Italy, France, Netherlands, Would be surprised but not like "bigfoot at 7-11 surprised": Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, England, Belgium, Portugal, Russia, "Holy crap it's bigfoot buying a Slurpee": Everyone else (including us). There are surprises in the world cup and anything can happen but it's always earlier in the tournament. If you look at the finals they are usually from the same usual suspects. Every final since 1966 has been between the 7 teams in the top 2 groups. So we need to move up two levels at best in terms of talent in order to be good enough to even compete for it, let alone win it. So as I have said in other threads don't expect us to win it in my lifetime. But won't stop me for one second from not supporting them.
Poll: # of times Schrutebuck has used this line on BS over the past 2 weeks: This is the 1st time 4+ 8+ 16+ 24+ Approaching Infinity I voted 16+. Rooting for a few more still though. It doesn't really get old.
I would estimate 12 to 16 times so far. I don't mind repeating the truth. Hopefully Klinsmann can get the wins and/or PK shootout wins necessary to meet expectations.
Have to start producing better youth players at home and stop relying on ridiculous college system. and zie Deutches. We need to have better academies, better coaches from Europe, and whatever.. you all know the rest.. i'm bored saying this crap. It's going to take years and years anyway, so i'm not going to sweat it. Just sit back and relax and have realistic expectations of this group. Japan has better players anyway. Michael Bradley isn't even as good as any player on the English midfield. The hype machine over Adu, Green, etc. has made me cynical now.
England's vastly overrated. Their fans talk a lot of shit but they can't back it up. England hasn't even won a Euro ever nor has it won a World Cup in nearly half a century. For the birthplace of the sport, that's really embarrassing. If the USA Dream Team (basketball) had such a dismal record at the Olympics, no one would take them seriously, so why does anyone take England seriously with such a track record of "success" in soccer? And even better, England's still winless against the USA in all World Cup matches played between the two teams.