by Mohammed Alo
29. June 2010 07:03
After getting us all excited, our dreams were dashed.
What happens now?
How do we lose to Ghana? How do we get down in every game, then end up with a tie or a win? Why do we put ourselves in such a hole then have to climb out? How many times in a row can you climb out?
Interest for Soccer in America hasn't been this high since the women's team won the women's world cup. Where do we go from here? Are we content with making it to the Sweet Sixteen? Or should we expect more?
We are America, we should expect more! There is no reason why we should be finishing out of the top 10. We should be a perrenial top 5 team. We have the talent and the players. Granted, some of our main guys were injured, but we shouldn't be struggling to score and barely tie games.
A lot of apologists are satisfied with "advancing out of the group stage." That's unacceptable. We need to expect more and demand more. We should always be getting out of the group stage (and not by luck). We should expect to always make it to the Elite Eight. Why not?
We need to raise the level of expectations. People always perform to the level of what is expected of them. We need to expect more.
I am not going to blame the coaches or players. This same team has finished atop many other world tournaments. We need that killer instinct. We can't come out flat and half awake, then try to rally in the second half or overtime. We need urgency.
One fact about soccer that can't be denied is that a lot of times the outcome of games is based on luck. When the scores are usually 0-0 or 1-0 for the win... one lucky play (or referee snafu) can be the difference. You have to take advantage of those few opportnities. We didn't. We had plenty of chances and just didn't capitalize.
It's disappointing, but life goes on. Like I said in my previous post, we have the economy, the infrastructure and the talent to dominate this sport. And we will. Sometimes, you get some bad breaks and the ball (or referee) doesn't bounce your way. We will build on this and continue to play well.
Go USA!
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