US Wins World Cup in 2014. NOW what?

Not to mention that the OFC is significantly weaker than CONCACAF (fricken Tahiti won the most recent OFC Nations Cup :eek:).

Also, CONCACAF is equal to Asia + Australia. In my opinion.

Asia has Japan and South Korea on top. After that, there are several regional powers like some of the Middle Eastern states, Iran and the currently weak Australia. North America has Mexico and USA on top. After that, there are several regional powers in Central America and the sleeping giant of Canada.

I realize that Asia has more growth potential though.
 
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d32123

Banned
Also, CONCACAF is equal to Asia + Australia. In my opinion.

Asia has Japan and South Korea on top. After that, there are several regional powers like some of the Middle Eastern states, Iran and the currently weak Australia.

North America has Mexico and USA on top. After that, there are several regional powers in Central America and the sleeping giant of Canada.

Calling Canada a sleeping giant is a bit silly, as Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago are probably better than them not even looking at Central America.

CONCACAF and the AFC are probably pretty even and comparable, overall.
 
Are you referring to the World Cup itself? Otherwise, this comment doesn't make sense. When they qualified for the 2nd stage of qualification for 2010, they were 4-0-0.

In the qualifying round for 2014 which just ended, the United States was within a hillbilly's heartbeat of not advancing through. That was a just a few weeks ago.

Based on what I see right now...A 2014 World Cup win wouldn't happen...It may happen in the next 50 years, IF we get continued development.

But I'm not holding my breath. I'm happy the USA makes it to the World Cup. That was a dream 25-30 years ago. Winning it? Doubtful..and what's the big deal if the United States ever does.

Not to mention that the OFC is significantly weaker than CONCACAF

I don't consider the OFC only has 5 teams in it and they get half of bid, they should all follow Australia's lead and join the AFC.

Among the confederations that have at least 1 confirmed bid in the show, CONCACAF is the weakest and the United States was sweating last month..

I just say no mainly because I just don't the personnel consistently playing at the level you need to be there.

On one hand you have guys like Michael Bradley who can play (even though he gets slagged a lot). You have a lot of ham-and-eggers (the entire group in the back). Gutsy guys, you love 'em, but if your life depended on one of those guys stopping a frontline scorer...you best have your coffin ready.

And then you have guys like Landycakes Donovan, who has overpromised and under-delivered and rather happy being an "MLS star". He doesn't have the heart or the will to be a dominator on the global stage.
 
In the qualifying round for 2014 which just ended, the United States was within a hillbilly's heartbeat of not advancing through. That was a just a few weeks ago.

Ah, your information is incorrect. The US is currently struggling through the first phase for 2014 with only a 2-1-1 record. The final 2 matches of the round are during this international break on Oct 12 and Oct 16. Since Antigua is an automatic 3 points, as long as they draw at home against Guatemala they should be through to the Hexagonal.

That being said, I am not a fan of what Jurgen Klinsmann has done to the US. The current performance is disappointing, since he has the best US player pool in the last 7-8 years.

And then you have guys like Landycakes Donovan, who has overpromised and under-delivered and rather happy being an "MLS star". He doesn't have the heart or the will to be a dominator on the global stage.

This criticism of Donovan is obsolete by about 4 years. It relies solely on the criticism of his failure at Leverkusen in 2005 and the 2006 World Cup, and a person who hasn't paid attention since then.
 
This criticism of Donovan is obsolete by about 4 years.

A lot of the soccer press on both continents agrees with me on that, even with his on-loan effort at Everton. Donovan is not a frontline player on the world stage and he's pretty okay with that, and has stated as such.

Many people jump on Klinsmann just like a lot of people jumped on Bob Bradley...If you dump Klinsmann, you should take a look at Gulati as well. He's running the show.
My only fault with Jurgen is I think he underestimated how much work this would involve, even with a "deep" player pool, which a number of press people and analysts don't feel is as deep as advertised. I hear a lot of name thrown out, but name is one thing, game is another, and it'll take a lot more game

It's still a long way to Brazil, and these guys so far have proven they can be just good enough to get you beat.

Here's a an interesting WI: The United States fails to qualify for 2014.....What Next?
 
A lot of the soccer press on both continents agrees with me on that, even with his on-loan effort at Everton. Donovan is not a frontline player on the world stage and he's pretty okay with that, and has stated as such.

Many people jump on Klinsmann just like a lot of people jumped on Bob Bradley...If you dump Klinsmann, you should take a look at Gulati as well. He's running the show.
My only fault with Jurgen is I think he underestimated how much work this would involve, even with a "deep" player pool, which a number of press people and analysts don't feel is as deep as advertised. I hear a lot of name thrown out, but name is one thing, game is another, and it'll take a lot more game

It's still a long way to Brazil, and these guys so far have proven they can be just good enough to get you beat.

Here's a an interesting WI: The United States fails to qualify for 2014.....What Next?

Gulati screwed up. Klinsmann is a good manager when he has strong assistants, but he doesn't have that now. Gulati should have gone for another big name international manager, somebody like Lippi or Hiddink.

Klinsmann has the advantage of the FIFA rule change that allows dual nationals who had never intended to represent the US to switch nationalities, and thus paper over the cracks in the US player pool. And since 2009, German-Americans have been taking advantage of the rule. Fabian Johnson, Danny Williams and Jermaine Jones are all excellent players.

That is a good WI, BTW.
 
It relies solely on the criticism of his failure at Leverkusen in 2005 and the 2006 World Cup, and a person who hasn't paid attention since then.

He's has a great run in the MLS, a great run on-loan at Everton. He made some clutch plays in 2010, and I give him credit for it. I was hoping the MLS and Donovan would work something out so he can take his cuts in the Premiership for a full season after doing well in Everton.

I'm not saying Landon's crap. He's a good player, but he isn't the guy that's going to lead a "Miracle On Grass" in 2014. And again, he's admitted that he's happy at the level he is.

The next player of Landon's ability to come down the pipe has to have the skill and the will to dominate. That player cannot be satisfied.
 
Klinsmann is a good manager when he has strong assistants, but he doesn't have that now.

That became apparent to us Germans post-2006. While Klinsmann was an excellent motivator for the team and acted as "lightning-rod" concerning media criticism, the real work was done by Jogi Löw and others.

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In 2002, the US came really far. Tournaments have their own rules, and basically, in soccer, everybody can beat everybody. I wouldn't be too surprised if they manage to make it one day, though people will claim that good luck had a lot to do with it.
Perhaps if they run the show as in 1994. That was too early for the US to really use their "home-advantage". Things could be different by the 2020s.
 

Pangur

Donor
2014 is bit early to expect to win, get closer yes is quite possible. It is good to see the US improve bit by bit each year. Last time I expected a bit better but heck it is not going to be linear.
 
I'm really happy to see all the interest in this thread. Thank you all for that, and the education I'm getting about the World's #1 Sport. Please, keep it coming.:)

Oh, and as to:

WI: Team USA Fails To Qualify For World Cup....What Next?

Simple. Back to the Drawing Board. Again.:(
 
I don't consider the OFC only has 5 teams in it and they get half of bid, they should all follow Australia's lead and join the AFC.

In the past I have proposed a Pacific Football Confederation be formed, made up of the ASEAN Football Federation, East Asian Football Federation and the OFC, with the Central and South Asian Football Federation and West Asian Football Federation forming a rump Asian Football Confederation, with 5 World Cup berths being divided with 3 to the PFC and 2 to the AFC. In the PFC Japan, South Korea and Australia would be the giants, and in the AFC Iran, Iraq, the U.A.E. and Saudi Arabia would be reasonably evenly matched.
 
Calling Canada a sleeping giant is a bit silly, as Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago are probably better than them not even looking at Central America.

CONCACAF and the AFC are probably pretty even and comparable, overall.

I would think Canada has the problem of the USA: too many kids growing up wanting to play gridiron football (CFL), ice hockey, basketball, and baseball.
 

d32123

Banned
I would think Canada has the problem of the USA: too many kids growing up wanting to play gridiron football (CFL), ice hockey, basketball, and baseball.

Basically. I wrote my final research paper for Canadian Studies about soccer in Canada and concluded that the men's team will improve just like the U.S.'s is but has a ceiling well below the U.S.'s due to a smaller talent pool relating to their smaller population.
 
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