by crkohler on Thu Oct 12, 2017 11:36 am
I think the best athlete playing other sports argument is an over used excuse by US fans. Firstly if we look at the top couple teams currently Portugal UEFA 2016 Champion (10 Million People) ranked 3rd, Chile (17 Million People) 2016 CONMEBOL Champion ranked 9th, Belgium (11 Million People) the US population dwarfs these countries at 325 million. We have a much bigger pool to draw from and have more elite athletes. Secondly skills that make someone elite in Basketball and Football (Height and Strength) aren't nearly as important in soccer. Two of the top 3 players in the world are well under 6' Messi 5'7" and Neymar 5'9". Would having all our best athletes play soccer help? Yes, but it's not the reason the US failed to qualify or is ranked 28th in the world and dropping. This USMNT has more than enough talent to be ranked in the top 20 and go head to head with Mexico for CONCACAF dominance. Our main issue is our development system and the lack of focus on team tactics/touch/creativity/moving with out the ball ect., youth soccer typically rewards the fastest kid or first to get to puberty. Teams focus on winning by force, instead of tactics. Kick the ball long and run faster to the ball than the other team. We also have every different youth coach, travel team, high school, and college playing different systems. Countries like Belgium play the same system youth to national team, and it shows in how they play. Its also not a coincidence that the most skilled player the US had a significant portion of his development outside of the US system.