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May 31, 2006 

Why The Doom & Gloom For USMNT?


Landycakes Donovan
Originally uploaded by wonderbread74.
POSSIBILITY OF A SUCCESSFUL WORLD CUP IS HIGH DESPITE U.S. MEDIA

I think the scant amount of quality soccer coverage in the United States may account for the apathy and consternation over our national team.

Why the doom and gloom?

This is, after all, reportedly, the most talented World Cup entry in American history, right? We heard this in the run-up to World Cup '98 when our country was still trotting out foreign nationals like David Regis and Thomas Dooley to plug important holes in the backfield. In 2002, we heard it again. The arrival of golden boys like Landon Donovan, DeMarcus Beasley and Clint Mathis were the new generation of American players. Donovan was actually touted as the greatest soccer player the land had ever produced. In 2002, they were actually right.

Gone are the days when European professionals with dubious American bloodlines were thrown on the team at the last minute. If the pundits were correct about the talent in 2002, then why not 2006.

It seems in this country, if you don't know a lick about American soccer you reach for the default opinion of trashing the national team's chances. In 2006, this will lead those people sounding foolish when the cup is hoisted in July.

American soccer has never been as healthy as it is today. With Bruce Arena, the country has it's most astute manager and with Germany '06 being his second consecutive World Cup at the helm, it also has continuity that no other national team possesses.

The emergence of Donovan and Beasley in 2002 has been fortified with world class talent in Bobby Convey, Onyewu Uguchi and Eddie Johnson, among others.

As opposed to other European sides filled with primadonnas, the U.S. has none. In contrast to those mega-millionaires, the U.S. squad looks positively working class. Hard-working forward Brian McBride is not going to pout if his coach chooses to take him out of the game as might Germany's Michael Ballack, Brazil's Ronaldo or any player on the Italian team.

The U.S. is solid in goal, a starting lineup filled with players playing at the top rung of European soccer, youth, depth, health and most of all, a single-mindedness that their exploits will do more to expand the game of soccer in their country than any other squad in the entire competition.

Why the gloom? The Czech Republic is highly regarded but with some key stars on the mend, in addition, also has a penchant for performing poorly when expectations are high and astonishing great when they're low. Italy is notorious for slow starts in the World Cup and prone to eeking out 1-0 defensive bore-fests. Ghana is a newbie in this part of the soccer experience.

The U.S chances are far better than "Why Not?" and much closer to highly likely. Now, get on the bandwagon!