Out of the Cup, so What's Next?

The overall message this Cup reveals is that the US needs better talent -- not just fit athletes, but players whose technique (touch) and vision have been honed by playing against top notch competition on a regular basis. We need talent that can overcome the obstacles soccer throws at you, hurdles such as the conceding of an early goal or having to endure unfavorable officiating.

And we need this talent with more depth. This Cup we had some very talented players, but sometimes a team needs talent applied in a different manner. For instance, Reyna is extremely talented, but his abilities allow him to reign in an out-of-control game. Sometimes we need our playmaker instead to ignite a ponderous game. Other teams have options: Italy can pull a Totti for Del Piero for a change of pace; the Czechs can do the same with Nedved and Rosicky. Who can replace Reyna (capably)? O'Brien would be the best choice today, but we know his injury-induced limitations.

The team did not perform horrendously this Cup, even in the rout to the Czechs. It was only a few mistakes that led to the opportunities our opponent's managed to seize. But that's exactly what separated us from them. Our skills (and the resulting confidence) are so tentative in our current state that we need everything to line up perfectly to succeed, while other teams can step up to the challenge and create their opportunities.

Our "stars" played with lethargy, and Arena had few subs that could challenge/push the starters or replace the under-performing starters to invigorate the team. And even in areas where he DID have options (as with left mid), Arena demonstrated irrational allegiance to those who once delivered. Beasley was one who had delivered in the past, but he had an atrocious tournament this time out (and even in the games preceding the tourney). Oddly, in his second lackluster game (versus Italy), Arena hailed his performance then, though Convey had shown himself the more consistent of the two, Beasley gets the nod versus Ghana, where he had an assist but did little else.

The solution really must start with the MLS. The league needs to become more competitive, even if it's just to refine its current role as a feeder pond for foreign leagues where our players can further refine their talent. It would be better if the MLS could grow to fill the needs of even the most talented of American players, and perhaps it can because for every Donovan who seems to be declining in the MLS, there is a Dempsey, who was one of the best (and most creative) players today. And foreign leagues aren't a panacea either; Beasley's tentative play has been honed the past 2 years in the Eredivisie, where I understand they play some pretty good ball.

So our search continues for the talismanic playmaker to take the US to the next level. In the meantime, we'll remain a giant nation, but a small soccer nation. (But we can console ourselves with the knowledge that we're better than many devout soccer nations.)