wow. I really don't care for international soccer because it's shit, but this is just a disaster for the U.S. program.
CONCACAF is terrible. I mean, seriously what's the deepest a team from this region has ever run? Have they ever made a semis? I looked back to WC1986 and see three teams made the quarterfinals, so in 8 world cups, three teams in the quarters?
Anyway, I will watch the US team on occasion because I mean, it's the US, and I think Pulisic has potential, and Bobby Wood is okay and maybe John Brooks and Yedlin and Johnson? But the US throws the same shit out there. Altidore is just shit. He's a great physical specimen, but lacks anything special. Michael Bradley is a serviceable midfielder but honestly is not near world class. Tim Howard is not that good any longer. Guys like Graham Zusi have no business being even on a national team. He's a nice player, but come on. Roster is littered with garbage - I always liked Clint Dempsey, but he is about 3-4 years past his prime.
The thing that drives me bonkers is Bradley repeatedly floats free kicks into the box rather than sending them in with pace. And while some US players may have a height or athletic advantage over their opponents in CONCASHIT, it's so much easier to defend a floated ball, this should be used as a change of pace, not seemingly every fucking time.
Arena was just a caretaker, and everyone knew that. Guy is nearing retirement age, gotta figure with all the 'talent' the US had and the ease of the league even a mediocre, not in it for the long haul guy could get the team to the World Cup. RED X.
The loss last night was just the icing on the cake for the disaster of this team. Blow it up. They should have never been CLOSE to in this position in the first place. Honestly, Mexico is okay. Costa Rica is annoying to play against and have a few okay players. Other than that, it's a joke that the U.S. couldn't advance.
Fact is, I'm really more disappointed that a team like Chile couldn't get through. I don't know shit about coefficient's or how many team advance from each region, but in a perfect world, I'd put about 26 teams in from Europe and South America and let the rest of the world fight over the last 5 spots (with the home nation getting the last spot).