US Men's National Team soccer beat Japan 1-0 in their qualifying game today. Don't have an article to link to yet.

We're like what 31st in the world? :greenface Tell Lil' Lookout to fix that.

We're at least a generation away from even cracking into the top ten even for a single day.

I agree. Maybe in a few decades when we become a larger Spanish speaking society things will change.

I disagree. I think the biggest problem is that our governing bodies are incompetent and too desperate to find a marketable identity rather than to develop and embrace our own. First they tried to be English, now they're trying to be Mexican. neither will work here because we're not english or mexican fans. Modelling ourselves after the Mexican program would be about 10 huge steps backward.

The US Soccer program is so inbred it is pathetic. They only look for the next marketable player. Landon Donovan? Sure, let's make him our poster child even though he failed out of the European Leagues twice and disappears in every big game. But he's looks good in ads so let's promote him as the greatest. Freddie Adu? Sure, he's only 14 and undersized but let's make him the poster child for the future of American Soccer. What's that you say? He's going to accomplish absolutely nothing other than whining and buying his own hype? Ah well, he'll look good on posters. Carlos Bocanegra, they walking red card??? sure...

You see a theme here? The guys on the US National Team are generally overrated and overhyped while guys who really could make a difference don't even get a shot because they skipped all the kids clinics and they didn't participate in the proper club circuit through the 80's and 90's. Meanwhile guys who have busted their butts outside of the system, gone to foreign countries and worked their way into teams there can't even get a game for the US because they aren't known to the good ol' boys. Jay Demerit is one example. He couldn't even get a tryout with a US team so he went to England, played in the pub leagues and landed a contract with Watford. While they aren't a great team, he did spend a year in the premier league with them before they were relegated. He is better equipped for the international game than any of our current defenders and yet... nothing.

Sad to say, but while I take Lil Lookout to the USMNT games and support them, my real team if in international tournaments is Spain. (not just because they won the euros, either. I've liked their style of play for a long time.)

Well it looks like it was a good start. Not that they don't actually have a few extra dollars laying around to pull it off, but cudos to them anyway for putting on a good show.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ravaganza.html

Sounds just like US Rugby, exactly like it. It's who you know to get to the top as a player or a ref. Btw, the Eagles, US national team, just hired an Aussie as the head coach.

The US screwed up last year. Klinsmann was going to take the job but only on the condition that he ran the team with no interference from the association. They wouldn't agree to it, so he said adios.

I think our new coach did make a deal like that with USA Rugby. Maybe we can get past the first round in the next World Cup. We are getting better every year but it may be another 10 years or so before we are there. Note, soccer and rugby are not promoted here at young ages like it is in other countries. Soccer has really boomed in growth and interests, unlike rugby, but both sports have a ways to go before they reach the popularity like they do in these other countries.

I believe that we are now producing the kids who will have the skills. I don't believe we are creating and organization to use those skills wisely.

That IS the problem. Same in rugby. We aren't creating an organization to use the skills because there already is an organization in place for both sports that is disfunctional. It is huge, it gets lots of money from players, parents, and sponsors. The problem is it is filled with old guard and people who are self serving controlling mofo's

I think the opening ceremony was awesome. Fantastic, and i learned so much about China through it.

Brilliant job.

Great Opening Ceremony. Watching it now. Here are a few pics from the NYT.

http://nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/08...ONY_index.html

Just shows what you can do with absolute power, slave labor and 40 Billion dollars. :rolleyes:

American tourist murdered while on tour in China, relative of US volleyball coach. Developing.