U.S. flop shocks Atlanta United players,

Parkhurst, Peterson say U.S. team may have been fatigued.

Neither Michael Parkhurst nor Jacob Peterson thought they would ever see the U.S. fail to qualify for a World Cup.

The Atlanta United players, both Americans who have played for the national and/or youth teams, didn’t hide their disappointment Wednesday after the U.S. men’s national team was stunned by Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 on Tuesday.

That loss, a listless display featuring neither tactics nor energy by most of the U.S. players, combined with results in two other games, eliminated the U.S. from participating in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

It’s the first time the U.S. has missed the World Cup since 1986.

“Massively disappointing,” Parkhurst said. “Shock. Dis

belief. A tie away from the World Cup, playing in Trin

idad, you think we can get the job done.”

Parkhurst a nd Peterson said perhaps the players were tired after defeating Panama 4-0 in Orlando on Friday. Manager Bruce Arena used the same starting 11 against Trinidad and Tobago. Fatigue, combined with the travel and playing on a soaked field may have been factors, according to the players. But they shouldn’t be used as excuses.

“Disappointing just seeing the lack of urgency or the energy compared to what they brought in Orlando,” Parkhurst said.

Peterson defended the players’ desire.

“I know that all of them care,” he said. “They would do anything to make the World Cup. I can guaran- tee that all of those guys are devastated.”

Though the finals of CON- CACAF qualifying includes only six teams, the top

three finishers are guaranteed a spot in the World Cup and the fourth-place team advances to a playoff. Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama advanced to Russia. Hondu- ras advanced to the playoff.

“When there’s 3½ spots there for the taking you think the U.S. will get one every time,” Parkhurst said. “These teams are getting better, no doubt about that. But they aren’t at our level yet con- sistently. For that reason, it’s disappointing.”

The U.S. finished in fifth place with just 12 points from 10 games.

Peterson wishes there was just one easily identifiable thing that could be fixed and get the U.S. back on track to quality for Qatar in 2022.

Instead, some of Atlanta United’s players said hiring the right manager and continuing to develop the academies each MLS team has are the first two steps.

Kevin Kratz said the youth academies in his native Germany have been operating for a long time. That flow of talent is one of the reasons why Germany is the defending World Cup champ as well as the Confederations Cup title-holder, which was won with what could be considered a B-level squad.