There is a line from a popular song from the 1990’s that seems appropriate when talking about the US Men’s National Team in 2014: don’t look back in anger. Although US Soccer might not want to take the band Oasis too literally (the brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher are famous for their infighting) there is a bit of truth to the idea of looking back at a situation pragmatically and not too emotionally.
What separates that great soccer nations from those that are on tough times is their ability to evaluate what went well during a given period, what didn’t, and try and learn from situations. This is the predicament that the USMNT and coach Jurgen Klinsmann are in. Although 2014 was by no means a failure, a poor recent run and the p.r. battle with MLS and Landon Donovan have made what could have been a season to remember one that many want to forget. Two poor results in Europe over the past week have done nothing assuage the fears of the American Outlaws.
If 2014 was an important year for the USMNT and Jurgen Klinsmann, then the stakes will only be raised in 2015. With the Gold Cup going on as well as the CONCACAF U-20 Championship (which will determine what countries will represent CONCACAF in the 2020 U-20 World Cup) US Soccer will have two serious tests to their plan and structure in 2015. Will they succeed? Only if they learn from 2014.
The Good
Jun 16, 2014; Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, BRAZIL; United States goalkeeper Tim Howard (1) makes a save against Ghana during the second half of their 2014 World Cup game at Estadio das Dunas. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
World Cup 2014, at least from a results perspective, was a success.
When the World Cup groups were announced in December, US supporters all throughout the United States and the world thought the USMNT were done. There was no way that the United States would make it through to the second round with the likes of Germany, Ghana, and Portugal. Not against the two teams who have previously knocked out the United States (Germany and Ghana) and a team with Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal).
But the United States did.
For as much as people want to Monday Morning Quarterback the 2014 World Cup and nitpick, Jurgen Klinsmann should feel good for at least the results. There seemed to be a certain belief from the squad and the players that they could compete against anyone.
Although play might have been frustrating for supporters at times, none of them were complaining when US finally beat Ghana or when John Anthony Brooks, the scorn of many before the cup, hammered home the game-winning goal.
For as much as supporters want to believe that this is a sport based on style and flair, it is also based on results. The United States has never qualified for the second round in successive World Cups. They have now.
The United States is still very deep at the goalkeeper position.
This week US Soccer announced their Male Player of the Year. As if there needed to be a nomination process. Tim Howard through his performance at the 2014 World Cup showed why the United States is one of the best countries in the world at developing quality goalkeepers.
But the strength of the USMNT goes beyond the goalkeeper of Everton. Brad Guzan and Nick Rimando have shown in recent performances that with proper training game experience with their defenses that they can also lead the senior starting eleven. Even Bill Hamid, Sean Johnson, and Cody Cropper have all been given time to show what they can do.
Goalkeeping may not be the sexiest position in the world but it is critical to any team that wants to succeed at the top levels of the game.
The support that USMNT receives is here to stay.
On the week where supporters and journalists alike celebrated the 25th anniversary of Paul Caliguri’s goal that sent the USMNT to the 1990 World Cup, it seemed fitting to talk about the shift in supporters from the sparse crowds then to the massive groups now.
Although the USMNT have always had their supporters (Sam’s Army anyone?) crowds were always hit or miss. Many times the USMNT would be booed in their own country. Not anymore.
Supporters are no longer ashamed of supporting their national team. They go out to public areas in places like Oklahoma City, Birmingham, and Anchorage to support their squads. Need more proof? Check out this video:
The Bad
The play has been poor.
The United States has never reminded anyone of the Brazil of 1982 and samba football but they have always been able to pull together solid, sound performances. Sound passing, movement with a purpose, and a resolute defense. But 2014 felt very much like things were forced together, that the 18 man rosters that Klinsmann would choose were an island of misfit toys.
The passing in the midfield is perhaps the biggest concern. Although some of the criticisms of Michael Bradley that he needs to score more are a bit off (he is a possession midfielder, not a scoring midfielder) his passing skills have diminished this year. Klinsmann often wants his midfielders to be more aggressive and more engaged in the attack. The problem with this is that US Soccer players for years have been drilled that one should not be aggressive but passive and wait for your opportunities.
Attacking has also been a concern. Although attacking has always been a concern for the United States (anyone remember 1998 and the Road to the World Cup) the continued poor play by Jozy Altidore and the retirement of Landon Donovan leaves the United States with a 31 year old Clint Dempsey and a lot of pieces that have not performed on an international level.
If the war with MLS is bad…
The recent war of words between Jurgen Klinsmann and MLS Commissioner Don Garber benefits no one. Although one should expect the two not to agree on everything (they have divergent interests) there are commonalities that the two sides need to work together on. US Soccer is not at the point where it can develop players on their own. Nor can MLS survive without a strong US Men’s National Team.
Jurgen Klinsmann has never been one to keep quiet about MLS. But the relationship between US Soccer, and in US Soccer President Sunil Gulati, to MLS runs deep. Many of the same people who helped found MLS ( Philip Anschutz and Robert Kraft) are the ones who helped bring the World Cup to the United States and sit in very prominent positions in US Soccer.
Klinsmann is right on my accounts that the relationship between US Soccer and MLS needs to evolve. But doing so cannot be done through hammering MLS in public. It requires a chisel in private, to pick away at different parts gradually and to form a professional relationship.
…the war with Landon Donovan was worse.
It seemed simple really. Put Landon Donovan on the 18 man roster, give him some minutes here and there in Brazil, and then let him ride off into the sunset. That is all it really required for Jurgen Klinsmann to avoid a p.r. nightmare with the all-time leading scorer in the U.S. and in MLS. Instead, Klinsmann cut Donovan from the World Cup squad and embroiled the entire team into chaos.
Landon Donovan was not the white knight in the situation by any means. But Klinsmann should have recognized what was best for the team and avoided any controversy leading up to the World Cup. Instead the USMNT was ensconced in it. US Soccer could not even throw a send-off for Donovan without running into controversy.
Perhaps in time the two sides can patch things up and US Soccer can learn from this. Until then this will be seen as a major black eye for the Klinsmann tenure.
Three Questions for 2014
1.) Can the US U-20 advance to the 2020 U-20 World Cup?
While many will point to the senior team as being the biggest indicator as to Klinsmann’s impact on US Soccer it is actually the younger national teams his true impact (or lack thereof) will be seen. These are the players that have grown up with Klinsmann’s vision and ideas and have been coached and trained by coaches hand picked by Klinsmann.
Under Klinsmann the U-20 side has already failed to make the 2012 Olympics. Not performing well at the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championships and, presuming that they make it, the 2015 U-20 World Cup will throw more questions as to Klinsmann’s plans for the future of US Soccer.
2.) Can the USMNT win the Gold Cup?
This will be the first time in years that the United States will have the chance to field a strong side in the continents top international tournament. If they can win then they will avoid a playoff for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. However, sides such as Jamaica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Panama have all looked very strong during recent friendlies and Canada seems to be on the cusp of having a very talented squad.
Oh and there’s also Costa Rica and Mexico.
3.) Can someone score goals?
As previously mentioned, there is a large pool of forwards that are on the cusp of the national team that need to prove themselves for both club and country. Players like Joe Gyau, Rubio Rubin, Aron Johansson, Terrence Boyd, and Julian Green have all had some level of success for either entity but not enough to become a go to player every match.
Will a player from MLS make the move to the national team? Can any of the players listed make the jump to full-timer on the USMNT? We will find out in 2015.