The Identity of USA Soccer, or Lack Thereof!

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: January 7, 2012

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Let’s play a game of word association in regards to soccer.

When you think of Brazil, what comes to mind? The Samba Boys, aesthetically pleasing football with flair and creativity.

The Dutch? Total Football, utilizing versatility with interchanging positions on the pitch that result in much success.

Italy? The staunch, defensive minded Azzurri with their world renowned counter-attacking play.

The United States Men’s National Team? Uh…can I plead the 5th?

As a soccer nation, what characteristics can we hang our hat on? Obviously, the ‘never say die’ attitude and the willingness to come from behind for exciting finishes is extremely emblematic of the way the USMNT plays.

The United States will forever be associated with fervent patriotism and a relentless nature. But guile and grit don’t truly and accurately depict nor reflect a style of soccer. What is our identity?

Our wonderful melting pot of a country is beautiful in many ways, and the eclectic mix of talents in the soccer world is something we should not only celebrate but benefit from.

The heavy Latin/Hispanic population is a well that the USSF is attempting to try and tap, and that’s been of big emphasis by current coach Jurgen Klinsmann. Hispanic players (and yes, I’m generalizing to an extent) are known for their superior technical ability and ball skills.

The creativity and flair on the pitch is an obvious area in which the National Team needs to improve. A lack of scoring opportunities has plagued the United States, and a transition to this style of play is something that Klinsmann anticipates implementing.

That notion becomes problematic, however, because in order to play that style of football, a team needs extremely technically gifted players. The USMNT simply does not have that luxury.

Another take would be playing football similarly t...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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