Perception IS Reality For U.S Soccer
It’s official. Or Officially over is a better description. The most anticipated World Cup ever for the U.S. team has ended with a tremendous thud. Once again, U.S. Soccer has failed to live up to expectations and in turn failed to capitalize on an opportunity to grow the sport state-side. With today’s 2-1 loss to Ghana, the Americans have gone 3 and out 4 years after getting to the Quarters in 2002.
Coming in ranked 5th in the world(though these rankings aren’t based on a true reality) hopes were high for the Coach Bruce Arena’s bunch. Even after the draw’s were announced showing a tough set for Team USA, the team brimmed with confidence. They forgot one thing, unfortunitely, to show up for the 1st game. Easily the most important game of teh World Cup, your first match sets the tone for group play. Get a win, and things are looking good for progression. Force a draw, and youo are still in good shape. Lose, especially by a big margin, and things are going to be REAL tough. The USA chose the latter option and paid the price. You spen 18 months qualifying for this tournament, and it took 90 minutes for the US to seal it’s fate.
The question becomes, “Now What?”. I have heard many times over the past week from Soccer “experts” in this country that they were worried a US failure to advance would create the perception that the US failed in this World Cup. That it wasn’t that easy, or that ‘black and white’ of an issue. For me, it is! Perception is realiy. The US did fail at this World Cup.
But it isn’t on the pitch that they failed. It is in their preperation. It is in their development programs. It is in their funding. The US will always struggle in World Cup play becuase we don’t have the athletes we need to compete at that level. Just look at Germany or Italy or The Czechs. Their backline looks more like an NFL team than a soccer team, with guys averaging 6-4 or more. The US? A bunch of 5 foot somethings. I am 5 foot something so I know how it is competeing against guys that much bigger.
The reality is all of our great athletes play Basketball or American Football. Not Soccer. They go where the big dollars are. In Europe, the big dollars are in Soccer. SO the reality, regardless of whether or not US Soccer will admit it, is we just don’t have the athetes to compete with the best teams in the biggest tournament in the World.
We spend way to much time celebrating victories in International Friendly matches against B and C teams from other countries. We forget that the only thing that matters in places like Ghana, or Cameroon or anywhere else on earth is THIS month every 4 years. Now, after being embarrassed again, we are back to square one.
US Soccer has come a long way since 1990, when they made their first World Cup in 40 years. But to look at the results of the 4 World Cups they participated in during that time shows that the progress isn’t as much as we’d like to believe. ‘90 - 3 and out; ‘94 - 2nd Round; ‘98 - 3 and out; ‘02 - Quaterfinals; ‘06 - 3 and out. Looking at that pattern, I am looking forward to 2010 in South Africa.
I hope US Soccer doesn’t look to excuses, or looks to sugar-coat the situation. Only then will they get better. Instead of arguing symantics, or trying to build up their organization, just come to grips with the fact that the Perception is that US Soccer is not up to par, and the Reality is that they are going home early again. In this case, both are correct.
