Can MLS Develop USMNT Players Capable of Making a Deep World Cup Run?

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: July 12, 2014

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As exciting as the 2014 World Cup was for United States men's national team fans, the harsh reality is that the team advanced no further than it did in 2010. Even more depressingly, the team's 2-1 loss to Belgium in the round of 16 in 2014 was eerily similar to the 1-0 loss the team suffered at the hands of Brazil 20 years ago at the exact same stage in the tournament.

There are, of course, exceptions. In 2014, the team advanced out of the "group of death" and was a Chris Wondolowski finish away from a quarterfinal appearance. But "what ifs" don't count for much in football and some have asked why the U.S. hasn't progressed further.

As attention now transitions to the next World Cup cycle, there has been a renewed focus on the team's next batch of young prospects and how they can be developed to help the U.S. make a deep World Cup run and compete with the giants of the game.

Among U.S. fans, there's a fervent debate about whether these young players are better served heading abroad, or whether their development can be trusted to Major League Soccer.

Looking at the U.S.'s 2014 roster, one can't draw any definitive conclusions.



While the U.S. was widely criticized for its lack of an attack in Brazil, its leading goal scorer, Clint Dempsey, both started his career in MLS and has played in the league since last fall. Furthermore, three of the U.S.'s four assists in the tournament were produced by MLS players (Graham Zusi had two and Michael Bradley had one).

Many blamed Bradley's lack of sharpness in the tournament on the fact that he's been with MLS since January but simultaneously failed to recognize that the league is also home to Matt Besler, Omar Gonzalez, Kyle Beckerman and DeAndre Yedlin—who all played well and who are all MLS lifers.

It's also interesting to note that while Bradley's sharpness was allegedly hurt by MLS, Dempsey, who has been back in the le...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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