We've made it to the World Cup's round of 16. Think about that for a second. At first glance, that may not sound like much but consider these facts:- there are ~195 countries in the world, which means getting to the final 16 puts your country in the top 8% Impressive, when you realize that...
- other countries have been playing soccer seriously for much longer than the U.S. We didn't really get into the sport until the 1970's, due in large part to the next point...
- most of the 195 don't have another major sport [let alone 3] depleting its supply of potential soccer players -- between high school, college, minor and major leagues, that's a lot of Americans playing [American] football, basketball, and baseball. I find it hard to believe that rugby, cricket, badminton, and jai alai match our sports' participation rates.
- with our own homegrown league (MLS), and such a cushy lifestyle here in the States, not enough American soccer players make the leap to European leagues, where the competition is better. Considering that most of the core squad of the current U.S. national team play internationally or at least have some experience playing in Europe, we need more Americans to go abroad.
So as the U.S. takes on Ghana tomorrow, we should all be pretty stoked about how far we've made it. Let's hope they can keep it rolling and advance further, which will spark more interest in soccer here on American soil and feed future ambitions of one day winning the whole thing.
Did you watch the match against Ghana?
ReplyDeleteYes, and it was painful to watch. Hate to say it, but we deserved to lose. But I think we'll be a strong contender for winning it all within 3 World Cups. Just have to gain composure and learn to not give up early goals. What'd you think?
ReplyDeleteI have to relate everything to sports that I understand. I think that USA soccer is like a 9-7 NFL team. Probably a playoff team and if they get out of the first round it is a big deal. They really had no shot of going any further unless the competition played down. They are not the Colts or the Saints just yet...maybe the Eagles or the Patriots?
ReplyDeleteIt looked to me as if Ghana was just a better group of athletes, of soccer player. Usually more talent will win out. This was no exception. Again, I don't know much about the sport but I would say that there were a lot of missed opportunities as well.
If the support that the team received is any indication then, yes. I would agree that USA soccer has a chance to advance itself in coming world cups. 12 years from now there will be a whole new crop of athletes that will be playing pro soccer. It will never be as popular as the big 3 sports but if they could get 4-5 super elite athletes instead of just two (Donovan, Dempsey)then yes. I would say that a Word Cup Championship is plausible.