The 2010 World Cup ended in sadness, rage, and inspiration for the US mens national team. I do not plan to analyze every game but rather point out some of the things about this world cup that will be on our minds for a long time. SLEEPY: The United States was sleepy hallow for many games in this world cup... And IN EVERY game the US feel asleep they paid for it by giving up the 1st goal. Even against Algeria the US were lifeless in the opening 15 min. It is of complete shock to me that this was NEVER corrected throughout the tornament. Essecintionally the USA made the same mistake 5 times in the world cup. The last time they paid for it. 0 goals up top: Jozy Altidore, Findley, Buddle, and Gomez all saw minutes in this world cup. But NOT ONE scored a single goal. Since the goals came from the three best American players. Donovan, Dempsey, and Bradley not much was mentioned about this, since we all thought Jozy, most of all, would get his chance. Instead he never did. And the continuing trend of US soccers scoring probems up top must be seriously analized. If the US wants to one day be a top 8 national team we must have forwards scoring goals. If one looks at our best world cup performances our forwards were present in each one: 94: Wynalada and Stewart, 2002: McBride and Mathis, while in 2010 we got out of the first round if we take a look at the teams currently in the quaterfinals each team has seen their forwards produce. Uruguay and Argentina most of all. DONOVAN: Donovan showed he is a prime time player for the nats. He needed this kind of world cup to show he is the best player this country has EVER HAD. I am very proud of LD who has come into his own late in his career and is deserving of a few seasons in the best leagues in the world. Last rumor??? Milan was very intrested. Team Sprit and Level of Play: The team in 2006 showed glimpses of team spirit. Sometimes it was too much heart not enough football. This time around we showed heart and football. I personally think the US played its best games in years and the most fluid in this world cup, something for the future. LINEUP: While I agreed with all of BB lineups. Looking back.... Benny Failhaber deserved to get the starting nod as did Edu. Gomez should have been the starter along side Jozy. Findley was just not WC material. Selection mistakes: Today looking back NOT taking Alejandro Bedoya was a HUGE mistake imo. With our goalscoring woes we saw Landon Donovan or Clint Dempsey push upfront. Torres might have played more under Bob but Bedoya made a bigger splash in way shorter time. Bedoya was that spark on the right the US really need. PLAYERS: Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Carlos Bocanegra, Stevie Dolo, Tim Howard, Johnathan Borstien, Benny Failhaber, Michael Bradley, and Edu left a very good impression on this world cup and are world class players Jozy Altidore, Jay DeMiert, Rico Clark, Robbie Findley, Gooch simply were steps behind. I expected more. Cameos for Holden, Torres, and DMB who in reality 2 of the three has any real chance of repeating in 2014. FUTURE: Is there material for the future??? Yes.... Is US soccer in the right place.. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm maybe. The US is a team that can compete with anyone and after watching all the games in latin america the press of Uruguay and Argentina were very HIGH on the US. One Argentine reporter claiming the US had the BEST midfield of the whole tornament and were unlucky. We are no longer the donkeys of soccer...There is RESPECT for the USA and it has become well earned. Now it is time for the USA to go from competitve to contender.... And that will require a change in style and a change in soccer IQ. The US national team is due a try at a world reknowned coach. But so few fit the bill: Marcelo Bielsa, Jose Peckerman, or Guss Hideink are the 3 that come to my mind. If there is a new coach it must be one with a history of working and improving developing nations: and those coaches are MARCELO BIELSA and GUSS HIDINK. In the end: 4 years and a gold cup, a confederation cup final, round of 16 in the WC and first in our WC group one must say it was a good process. Now we must shot for something better. US soccer is offically on the map, we have respect at home and now abroad...... This world cup left a strange feeling..... One of disappointment but one of real hope for the future....... And am proud of our national team. USA all the way.
i agree with you, my friend, although i think altidore, although he did not score any goal, was a very effective player in assisting and tying at least 2 defenders ...without a REAL partner-although i liked gomez against algeria. we need time to correct the faults of this team, mainly the lateral defenders that, although with will they do not belong to this level. Also we need a better atack player to pair with jozy- with the same ability as well. well, i really believe we are in the right track, we were better than 2002( although we did not get to the quarters) and much better than 2006 , with a team that belongs in the best 18 of the world. with the new players that i hope are now coming to the team will improve a lot. i also think we could-and we should - replace our management team, because, as important has bob bradley has been, to reach the very best we need also a very good coach , like bielsa, hiddink or even aguirre.
One must always put a side note that we will never know how our forward out put would have been had Charlie Davies played... BUT the US forward performance is the NORM not the exception.... for now.