Robin Fraser on the USMNT

[AreliusIV]

U.S. soccer team has trouble in international competition
Skill level of players not as high as foes'

Robin Fraser
Special for The Republic
Jun. 28, 2006 12:00 AM

As my World Cup excursion draws to a close, I can't help but look back at it in absolute awe.

Getting to come to Germany as an analyst for ESPN/ABC has been an incredible experience. After being close to going as a player four times and not ever making it, this was the next best thing possible.

I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing the World Cup fever that has taken Germany and the rest of the world by storm. I got to see so many people from different cultures come together just to celebrate their mutual love of the game. The World Cup really is the biggest party in the world.

Though I didn't get a chance to see the U.S. play live, I watched all of their games with as much anticipation as any other American fan. I feel as though the record needs to be set straight, regarding the U.S. performance.

People are so quick to judge, and usually from a position of ignorance. Yes, they didn't qualify for the second round. Yes, they didn't look all that good against the Czech Republic. They did not get as far as in the last World Cup. These are all facts, but I am not about to dispute the facts.

What I will dispute are the comments that I have heard. "The U.S. is crap," "I thought Landon was supposed to be good." "What about Bruce Arena? I thought he was a great coach."

The U.S. is not crap. Landon Donovan is a great player, but is still maturing. And Bruce is the best coach the U.S. has ever had.

Why then the results? They were in a group with three very good teams. Our team did not play its best in the first game, but played with great commitment in the other two games. It simply ran into very good teams. If it were in another group, it is likely that it would still be playing.

It is so easy to sit back in our armchairs and hurl criticism at our national team from thousands of miles away. Unless you have played in an international game, you have no idea what is like.

My point is, we can be critical because that is our nature, but bear in mind that you don't really know how you would react in a similar situation. I know that they are professionals, and that as paid players, you would expect them to execute every time. Well, they are humans also, and inherently will err.

The last thing that was evident to me was this. We still have a long way to go to produce the type of players that are being produced in some of the dominant soccer countries of the world.

The difference between the comfort levels of the Portuguese players on the ball is slightly different to the comfort level of the American players.

The first touch of the Spanish players is just a little better in tight spaces. The shooting ability of the Argentines, or the Czechs, is just barely better than that of the average American player.

We are able to compete with these teams because, under Bruce Arena, our team has been able to play as a team. A well-organized team is so much stronger than its individuals. Our technical ability is not yet good enough to allow us to pick teams apart with the consistency we see out of the best teams in the world.

Our kids don't watch soccer, much less eat, sleep and drink it like they do in other countries. Because the sport is not as passionately followed here, our kids start at a disadvantage in comparison with other countries.

Being at this World Cup just confirmed some of my thoughts about deficiencies in American players and validated why I chose youth soccer.

It is an opportunity to make a difference in soccer in America.

Ten years from now, I'd love for us to have not just a great team, but players that can compete with most in the world.

[fuegote]

Fun little read on Robin on big soccer
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=376568

we're lucky he does the games for us. He really is one of the better analysts for MLS and US Soccer.

[Jose Luis Luviano]

Originally Posted by fuegote

we're lucky he does the games for us. .

We'd be luckier if he were coaching us. Dave Dir can be our analyst.

[prk166]

Excellent find. Thanks for sharing.

FYI, the URL is ::

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/tempe/articles/0628tr-fraser0628Z10.html