Detroit Jock City
Fansided

USMNT World Cup failure: United States soccer had this coming

By Colton Wesley

COUVA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO - OCTOBER 10: A contrast of emotions as captain Michael Bradley (C) of the United States mens national team reacts as Trinidad and Tobago pull of a win during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Trinidad and Tobago at the Ato Boldon Stadium on October 10, 2017 in Couva, Trinidad And Tobago. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images)
COUVA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO - OCTOBER 10: A contrast of emotions as captain Michael Bradley (C) of the United States mens national team reacts as Trinidad and Tobago pull of a win during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Trinidad and Tobago at the Ato Boldon Stadium on October 10, 2017 in Couva, Trinidad And Tobago. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 7
Next
NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 29: Head coach Bruce Arena speaks during a United States men’s national team soccer press conference ahead of Friday’s World Cup Qualifier against Costa Rica at NYCFC House on August 29, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 29: Head coach Bruce Arena speaks during a United States men’s national team soccer press conference ahead of Friday’s World Cup Qualifier against Costa Rica at NYCFC House on August 29, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) /

1. Americans don’t know how to develop soccer talent

Americans fundamentally don’t understand how to play soccer and especially don’t know how to develop talent. The current model makes it difficult for young athletes to excel in a professional environment.

While European nations are developing their best athletes from the get-go, Americans oftentimes wait until their players are in high school to seriously begin developing their talent. By that point, too many promising players have slipped through the cracks and others simply don’t have enough time to develop.

High schoolers don’t play year-round, the way European prospects do. A lack of high-level academies means players need to pay for expensive clubs or they play for high school coaches who have no business being high school soccer coaches, then end up playing college soccer, which is not the developmental league that college sports are for the NFL and NBA.

Even when good players are developed in the MLS academies, they usually never make it out of MLS, where the players mire in mediocrity

Soccer is played by more than enough kids to give the US a talent base. The “our best athletes don’t play soccer” argument isn’t a good one. The United States has had decades to develop World Cup-class talent, but they are yet to do so. Plenty of athletes play soccer, they just aren’t being taught how.

Home/Detroit Sports