With World Cup over, time to focus on USMNT’s future
It’s been eight months since that infamous night in Couva, but now that a thrilling World Cup is over, one which the American team watched from its couch, it’s time to turn the page. Finally. A new cycle, one aimed at Qatar in 2022, starts today, and for fans of the United States Men’s National Team that is a welcome sight.
By this point the jokes and snickers have gotten old. Wipe the slate clean and start over because as painful as not having the U.S. team on the field in Russia for arguably the best World Cup ever was a reminder of an inexcusable failure, it’s going to be back on soccer’s biggest stage in the winter of 2022 (FIFA announced the a NovemberDecember tournament because summer temperatures in Qatar are sweltering). Yep, you read that right. And I know you’re thinking: “How can you be so confident? Didn’t you watch that qualifying fiasco? They don’t even have a coach”
But just as golden generations from France, Croatia and Belgium took this summer’s tournament by storm, the same thing is brewing on our shores.
One of the biggest issues in the doomed 2018 cycle was a lost generation of players. Guys who should have been in their primes at 24-28 years old simply didn’t pan out and after the U.S. was left in a hole following losses in its first two hex games, Jurgen Klinsmann was fired and replaced by Bruce Arena, who relied too heavily on complacent and declining MLS players.
There were no risks taken to introduce the young and exciting talents in the U.S. ranks oustide of the teenage sensation Christian Pulisic. That, however, is about to change. Look at the rosters called up for some of the recent friendlies, which included a 1-1 draw at eventual World Cup champion France.
The team moving forward will include Pulisic (19), Weston McKennie (19), Tyler Adams (19), Tim Weah (18) and Josh Sargent (18).
All play at a high level. Pulisic, most notably, with Borussia Dortmund where he has already logged 97 career games before his 20th birthday. Three of those five ply their trade in Germany’s Bundelsiga with McKennie ready to take on a starring role for Schalke, which finished second last season, and Sargent on the cusp of his pro debut with Werder Bremen.
Adams will join that group shortly since he’s reportedly moving to RB Leipzig from sister-club New York Red Bulls at the conclusion of the MLS system.
Weah is the son of former Ballon d’Or winner George Weah and plays for French powerhouse PSG alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
All of that is before mentioning the emergence of Zack Steffan (23) as the No. 1 goalkeeper or Matt Miazaga (22) developing into a stalwart at center back.
Look, I get it. You’re not convinced even with the abundance of talent poised to take over that the federation will hire the right coach.
Interim boss Dave Sarachan has done an admirable job since Arena resigned following the to Trinidad. But Grandpa Dave, as I call him, probably isn’t the answer on a permanent basis.
So who is? That decision falls to newlyappointed general manager Earnie Stewart, a former U.S. captain with 101 caps to his name.
Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio’s name has been linked heaviest to the job, but El Tri had a middling World Cup that ended with a seventh consecutive loss in the round of 16.
Belgium’s Roberto Martinez is no stranger to U.S. audiences, having worked as a television pundit for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 European Championships. But he’s under contract with the Red Devils through the 2020 Euros, although in sports we all know a contract is nothing more than a means to a bigger buyout. Would the U.S. be willing to pay up for the man who just guided Belgium to third place?
Domestically, Greg Berhalter of the Columbus Crew and Peter Vermes of Sporting Kansas City have both been mentioned as candidates.
Whomever the choice is, they’ll know that this is an attractive job.
The world may still be laughing, but the failure of 2018 won’t happen again.
Bring on World Cup 20222. I’m already counting the days.