US team’s tie with France looks better in hindsight

The transitive property has its uses in sports, some ridiculous, some apt.

Central Florida football, for example, proclaimed itself the 2018 national champion after a 13-0 season in which it defeated Auburn — the only team to defeat College Football Playoff champion Alabama — in the Peach Bowl.

In June, the U.S. men’s national soccer team traveled to Lyon, France, and ground out a 1-1 tie in a friendly against France despite being outshot 19-2 and losing the possession battle 69.3 percent to 30.7 percent. France on Sunday overpowered Croatia 4-2 to win the nation’s second World Cup title.

The significance for the U.S. national team?

“We’re No. 2 in the world, I think,” Crew midfielder Wil Trapp joked Monday.

“In theory, we would’ve been cochamps of the World Cup,” Crew coach Gregg Berhalter added with a laugh.

Of course, the United States didn't even qualify for the World Cup after losing in embarrassing fashion at Trinidad and Tobago in October.

Perhaps, though, the tie with France adds context. The U.S. managed to hold its own on the road against a France starting lineup that featured nine of 11 starters from Sunday’s World Cup final.

“I just think when you put it all in perspective, we’re not that bad,” said Berhalter, who earned 44 caps with the U.S. national team. “I think we have some talent, we have some great young players and they showed it in that game, but there’s more to it. They have a level that’s going to show and it’s a good level.”

There would appear to be two ways to look at the June 9 U.S. performance and subsequent France World Cup victory: that it serves as a painful reminder of what could have been for the U.S. at the World Cup or that it accentuates a positive step for the national team after a particularly dark period last fall.

Trapp, who is Crew SC’s captain and wore the captain’s armband in the France game, sees it as the latter.

“I wouldn’t say it’s disappointing at all,” Trapp said. “I think it’s a good step in the right direction of where our group is and the hunger level, the talent level and the ability to step in adverse situations and perform.

“So, credit to France. Their quality across the board is pretty incredible and for them to win (Sunday) as convincingly as they did is pretty remarkable.”

Another Crew player also put in a strong 90 minutes on a pressurepacked international stage. Goalkeeper Zack Steffen made seven saves in the France game to keep the U.S. in the game.

The performance against France goes to show, Steffen said, how much work the U.S. put in beforehand. It doesn’t mean, however, that he’s thinking ahead to 2022.

“No. I mean, it’s so far away. There’s so many more things to focus on before then,” Steffen said. “The World Cup in 2022 is in the back of your mind because this World Cup is over, but it’s so far away and there are many more processes to go through.”