It's too bad because I think a lot of Americans showed some real interest in this World Cup.

I agree. My post reveals my own frustration at having taken an interest in this team. Oh well, Germany and England are still alive ... for now.

I think the really cruel part is how good they were in 2002. I remember waking up at 4am to watch them play Portugal in their first game, an almost-guaranteed loss, only to go up 3-0 and win 3-2. If we could've scored three goals in the first round (and we got to distribute them) we would've advanced. I had high hopes for US, now I'll have to root for Les Bleus, which might be, I'm sorry to say, even more anemic.

Until this year, I've always dogged soccer (a.k.a. futbol or football in the rest of the world). I changed my tune after going to Hong Kong and having nothing to watch on TV except soccer. I watched Arsenal, Barcelona, West Ham, etc. These guys are good!

So I joined the hype and started watching the US Soccer team. They had some good accomplishments this year: a goal, a draw (a non-loss outside the US), etc. I'm proud of them. They seemed to be on the offensive always, but yet there was no offense. One small step...

This year didn't do it, but I hope the time comes when soccer in the USA gains popularity akin to the fanaticism for soccer internationally. And I look forward to the time when the US Soccer team is able to display proudly the American flag on their bus without security fears. It's quite possible that the US Soccer team forges the way, in the future, towards friendlier relations with other nations. After all, the USA has a little bit of work to do in the Global arena, as well as the soccer one. One small step...

1. Fire Bruce Arena, who seems to make only the wrong moves at the wrong times, and hire an international coach whose been there, and done that. The two biggest failings of the US here were (1) not scoring a second goal during the first half against Italy when the team was a man up; (2) the lackluster effort in the game against the Czechs. As for (1), that's the poor line-up Arena brought to Germany. As for (2), a team's attitude and energy level in its opening game is entirely in the hands of its coach.
2. Find some size up front. It's amazing how the same country that produces Shaquille O'Neil can't seem to find a forward over 6'.
3. Players need to earn their right to be on the field. Reyna & McBride were likely too old for this tour. Donovan and Beasley had good shows last cup but neither one came to play.
4. If Freddy Adu was good enough to play for Ghana (a team that whipped us) (and, the latest news is, still might), why can't he make our team?
5. Go Socceroos!

I have a hard time watching the US play. It is like watching a high school basketball team versus an NBA team.

The top high school atheletes in the US play basketball and
football (then baseball, golf, bowling ;) / note: hockey is an anomaly). There are many reasons why this is so but none more important than $$$.

Imagine a US world cup team in which Allen Iverson, Michael Vicke, Dwayne Wade, Tory Hunter, Reggie Bush, LaDainian Tomlinson, etc. have been playing soccer their entire life instead of more lucrative US sports..... Actually, it is not that hard to imagine; this dream has a name, and it is called the Brazil world cup team.

Damn, Damn, Damn

I've been follwing the US since Italy 1990 and this performance was so dissappointing in many ways but most of all Arena's decisions. I knew there would be trouble when Morrocco beat us 1-0.

I'm hoping the US soccer finds a good international coach. We have players that can play at this level, but we need a coach that can get us over that hump. Arena could not get us over that hump.

one more thing. lets hope that the next Confederations Cup in a couple of years is the first step, with new blood for South Africa 2010!

Go the USA Nat Basketball Team at the World Championship in Japan in August!!!!

Geoff,
Freddy can't play for Ghana - he's already play internationally for the US. And if you've watched him in MLS, you'd know why he couldn't make the team.

Actually, unless the BBC and the player are both wrong, Adu has never played a (FIFA sanctioned) international game, even a friendly. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/5106162.stm

I would add that MLS play is not necessarily the best predictor of World Cup level talent.