The USA is Not a Footballing Nation

By Brian Lofrumento | 18th June 2009

The USA is Not a Footballing Nation | read this item

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ricardo-clark-red-card Before I wind up any Americans reading this, let me preface this by saying that I too am American. Just as much as any other American, I’d love to see the United States become a footballing powerhouse. We’ve certainly got the numbers – 300,000,000 citizens – and the melting pot effect means we’ve got people from all walks of life (Brazilian, English, Italian, etc.). For some reason, though, that has never produced any great players (and even when we do, such as Giuseppe Rossi, they decide to play for another national team).

In the 1950 World Cup the United States announced its arrival on the international footballing stage by beating England on that day at Belo Horizonte. In the 2002 World Cup the Americans finally looked like a real footballing team, progressing to the quaterfinals and only just losing to runners-up Germany in a match that they could have won. American football fans couldn’t help but feel pride for the actions of Brian McBride and company, and high hopes for the future became widespread.

From there, though, it’s been all downhill. Culminating with today’s 3-0 loss at the hands of Brazil in the Confederations Cup, the USA’s results since 2002 have been less than stellar. Why the difference? There’s been a change in manager, a change in personnel, but – most importantly – a change in attitude.

The USA’s best results have come under David versus Goliath situations. The USA has almost always been the underdog – in 1950 no one could have ever imagined they’d beat England. In 2002 no one could have expected them to recover from their embarrassing display at the 1998 World Cup (three losses, even to Iran). All of these results, though, were a matter of attitude, and not sheer footballing ability.

That is because before 2002 no one – not even the American players – considered themselves part of football’s elite group. The United States national team has always been a team of triers. When the going gets tough, the United States often gets going, and football was no exception. The USA of old would fight harder than their opponents, and heart – not talent – would often prevail.

Brazil proved that if the US tries to compete on a footballing level then they will get taught a lesson very quickly. The fight was simply not there anymore. It’s as if the players suddenly thought that they were from a footballing nation that could compete with Brazil. When DeMarcus Beasley lost the ball in the first half and allowed Brazil to run rampant down the pitch and score, it was clear that the fight was gone. One of the US’s fastest players couldn’t find the legs to get back and amend his own error, and former Captain America John Harkes couldn’t help but to remark at his his old US teammates would fight back (a sentiment echoed in the post-match analysis by his former teammate Alexi Lalas).

Luckily for Bob Bradley and his players, this is only the Confederations Cup. The real work comes next summer, but if they aren’t using this tournament to prepare then a lot of work will need to be done in a short amount of time. The United States needs to get its head down and work hard again.

Does the USA stand any chance next summer? Have your say in the comments section below!

Soccer Jerseys says:

June 18, 2009 at 12:27 pm

The US is so barren in the midfield right now. We haven’t had that A list type of midfield since John Harkes and Tab Ramos and here I thought the MLS and Project 40 were going to bring us better players. Our players are too thin, they get knocked off the ball and they don’t have that fight. Such a bad game on all parts. I know Bradley is only part of the problem, but the overall caliber of players isn’t there either.

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