They "don't choose" to participate in golf, tennis, hockey, swimming, gymnastics, skiing, volleyball, skating, track-and-field and about 40 other globally-competitive sports, but seem to do pretty well at most if not all of them.
Seriously? that's your logic? those aren't the #1 sport in many countries worldwide, like soccer is. The US is at a relative disadvantage since it's much lower down on the popularity scale here.
This will be the Miracle on the pitch. Do you believe in Miracles? USA USA USA !! Bring back Al Michaels - it is time for another underdog USA team to upset the world. DD
Lol, you guys saying that kids choose all these different sports and not soccer, yet Australia has only roughly 22 million people and don't seem to have this issue even if it's not one of our top 2 sports played
lol Australia? Exactly what sports are they good at? Nothing comes to mind. Maybe swimming and surfing? Two niche sports? lol
Almost every quality football player from Australia is a Croatian immigrant. Btw, put USA and Australia in the European Qualifying Section and they wouldn't qualify for the World Cup for the next 20 years.
^^ That's not compelling proof at all. The game just isn't that popular in the US, so even the 5'7" guys that could be the next Lionel Messi aren't exposed to the game like in other countries. It's not like all the US is good for is producing huge, athletic beasts that are too big to play soccer. Its popularity in other countries drives more people to play the sport compared to the US. That's not that hard to comprehend.
I don't think it's just about our best athletes playing the game, if soccer was the #1 sport in the country that everyone wanted to play I don't see any reason why we wouldn't be one of the top teams year to year. Our country develops some pretty great talent in all other sports. There's no reason to think that if soccer had been the past time and people long ago grew and learned the game to the levels of the brazilians and germans our youth development wouldn't put us up there. It's not as simple as if Lebron or Kobe played soccer all their lives. Youth coaching and having the infrastructure available where clubs would find the excellent youth and develop them is what is keeping the US from developing world stars.
BINGO!!!! I didn't have time to write a separate post earlier on and mention that to Mr. Bigtexx. The youth coaching system in the USA has been terrible for decades and is only slowly getting better. The infrastructure all the way up to the professional league and not having a decent professional league in the time span between the NASL and the MLS was very damaging and even now the League isn't where it needs to be yet but it is getting there. Has little to do with the LeBron's and Kobe's playing the game as much as it has to do with the right kind of coaching.
I partly agree with bigtexxx (there must be a first for everything) It is not that the current Basketbal stars would be soccer stars if they decided to play soccer (believe me Shaquille O'neal would be a terrible soccer player, Hakeem grew up playing soccer, but it is not like he was some kind of super talent, and he played goalie). How many soccer players do you know over 6 ft 6. If more people play soccer at a young age you expect that the chances of a talented player learning about soccer increase. So it is not that the current Basketball of baseball stars would be soccer stars, But I do think that some people who have the talent to become a great soccer player never came into contact with it in the US, and therefor not develop into a soccer star. For example I was a ok soccer player (which i did growing up), when I was 17 I came into contact with basketball and found out I had a lot more talent for Basketbal (ok being 6ft7 could have been a hint). It was by chance that i started playing Basketball. If i never would have found out about basketball I would have never played it on a high level and I would just have been an ok soccer player (not good enough to be a pro) How good a country is in a certain sport is based an a few factors: 1: Population (more people mean more chances of having talented players) 2: Culture (Is the sport part of the culture) 3: Money 4: Youth training and facilities 5: Genetics (this is less the case with soccer, it is not clear that a certain race is better at soccer) I think for USA the biggest problem is the 2nd and 4th point. I do not see point 2 changing so fast. So that is why I do not expect the US to be a major player. One of the reason why Brasil is so good is because soccer is part of their culture, many of their great talents learn it on the streets when they are young.
You Germans here, how accurate is BILD? From what I've heard they're pretty sensationalist. Either way, they've said Julian Green has picked the USMNT over Germany. I think it's too good to be true but idk.
Not sure it's worth posting because I have no clue if bild is accurate, but here: http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/...an-green-has-selected-the-usmnt-over-germany/
I think it's probably true. If this gives him a chance to play at the World Cup in Brazil (which he would never have with Germany), I guess he doesn't want to miss that opportunity. Who knows if he were to ever make it into the German national team. Make no mistake, if he was given the choice "play at the world cup in Brazil for Germany or the USA?", he would choose Germany in a second.
For the World Cup? Doubtful. But who knows, he's been getting playing time at Bayern Munich and he's 19 years old. He would certainly be on the trajectory to be the best US player ever.
Sad to hear this, really big talent and Pep seems to have plans for him. Would've liked to have him as a striker for national team, as Klose will only play a few more years. But hey, we have other guys that can fill the void and are better right now. Still would've liked the option though. Talent-wise he should definitely help Team USA if he develops as planned in the next years, right now he wouldn't be a big help in the WC, as he doesn't have any experience vs. Bundesliga or International competition. Still has to adjust to the pro game, but has shown flashes in friendly matches and in team practice.
