Less Attitude, More Gratitude

less attitude, more humility I think… when asked how he felt about Aaustralia making it through to the group stage, Arena asked, ‘Who was Austalia?’ I tell you now, we are the one’s who made it one stage further than you did… C’MON AUSSIES!

The US team might not yet be the best, but that could change soon, because soccer is becoming increasingly popular in the US.
Good luck for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.

rush, want to support your point. they loose and ignorance and arrogance still rises.

have you read? they claim to be lead of the group in the next world cup!

I can’t believe it: in 2006 they are out in the first round, they are least in their group, they shot 1 goal in 3 games (plus one selfgoal from Italy), all other group members lost their match in the round of 16 (mexico, czeck, ghana)… in other words, they are worst of the worst – and in reaction to that they claim to be lead of the first round group in 2010.

“my performance is zero – give me more privileges!”

The US-Boys should play a Soccer World Cup on their own (and leave the real Football thing to men), so they can win against Virgin Islands in the Final.

uhm… czeck is spelled czech and the team was only supposed to be in the round of last 16, but didn’t make it, to be correct

rush, the Aussie team played fantastic in the tournament and escpecially in the friendly against Netherlands! Japan was great, too, and well deserved a high victory in June 2006 in the friendly against Germany (2:2). Respect! Hope to see more in the next years!

[...] Almost as soon as the final whistle blew on the United States’ World Cup campaign the speculation started as to whether coach Bruce Arena would stay on or if he would be replaced. One name that has come to the surface of the rumor pond is that of Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann. [...]

a great american cliche’ goes like this….”throw the bum out”! perfect for this situation, see ya bruceeee!

Rush –

You aussies sure have a bug up your collective arses don’t you? One little comment from the US coach and you’re itching for days. Get over it. You had an easy group. Congratulations on advancing. Let’s see if you acquit yourselves as well against Italy as the US did. My guess is not.

And no, I’m afraid Oceania will not get an automaic spot of it’s own – too much worry you’d flub it and Fiji would make the final. So when you make another final sometime in the next 40 years it will be nice to see you again.

Um, Guggy, I should probably point out that Australia won’t be in the Oceania group for the next World Cup, so it hardly matters to the Aussies whether Oceania gets an automatic berth next time. (And the Aussies are currently acquiting themselves quite well against Italy as of 51 minutes.)

Regadless of the bug content of Australia’s collective butt, it’s pretty obvious that Americans have one up our own. Otherwise we wouldn’t be baying for Arena’s blood. I agree with Daryl: he Arena a hell of a job professionalizing US soccer over eight years. Our play and our system have improved immensely with him as manager. So, yes, after a disappointing Cup, it’s probably time for him to move on, but let’s thank him as he leaves rather than egg his car.

Jon E
Our bug is an internal one, and ours (or USSF’s) to deal with. I’m sure they’ll do a fine job of letting Areana walk away of his own accord. These Aussies (though deserving of extra time vs, Italy) have such a bug up their collective arses that it’s getting in the way of the facts.

Jim-
Italy beat Oz, and Ghana hasn’t played yet (though a loss to Brazil seems likely). In group E, the team that most had picked for last place qualified, and the team that the rest called the cellar dweller tied Italy. It was a tough mofo of a group. Group F just didn’t have that. Japan? Croatia? Come on.
Finally, why are you bringing up Mexico? Mexico wasn’t in group F or E, and, like you said, lost to a very strong Argentia. Mexico played a hell of a game, and but for a brilliant strike would have probably taken it to PKs. Even so, bringing Mexico into a discussion where you disparage the USA’s soccer prowess is rather odd, since the Tri can’t beat the USA outside of Azteca.

I’ve supported the Il Bruce regime right up until this cup. But I’m left wondering now if we’ve been too soft on him. Yes, too soft. Not with the insults, that stuff is uncalled for, he’s served our country well. But there’s a deeper problem that I’m surprised no one has taken head-on.

The US played like they had something to lose and, in fact, they were set up like they had something to lose. The formation and lineup were designed not to lose rather than go for the jugular. Everyone can see this was a mistake and also that it was out of character for Arena, right?

So is it possible that Arena’s decision making was scewed — consciously or subconciously — by a desire to stay respectable and thus keep his European options open?

Disagree? Well then why does Il Bruce go into the cup saying we need four points? What does four points guarantee? It took six to get out of our group. Why does he lay blame on the players after exactly the type of defeat that would hurt his career advancement chances? Why didn’t he in stead go in saying that we are outclassed in our group for personnel and that we can only go through if we attack them and put them on their heals?

Let’s say this is true, that his performance was compromised by his personnal ambitions and a misguided view of how to attain them. That’s fine. I think we can handle it without resorting to insult. Again, he served the country well up until now and his failings in his position are probably on the level with primadonovan’s.

Excellent post daryl. “The fact that our early exit warranted 20 minutes on “Outside The Lines” is testament to how far Arena has brought US soccer. ” Indeed.

I think Bruce has taken us to the limits of his ability, but history will view him favorably.

Some interesting comments on here and strange ones as well. My 2 cents are Adios Bruce! Get himout. He has become to Europeanized. His tactics in this cup were European and Im sorry Bruce but we are not European. We are Americans. We win by attacking not taking our time and settling the game down. We sure didnt do that in ‘02 when he used to be an MLS coach who believed in attacking soccer. And guys like DMB wanted to attack then as well but now that he is in Europe he’s a loud mouthed woose.
Consider this, who were the best players from the ‘02cup and this cup for the U.S.? The answer is MLS players. Although in this cup I can only point to Dempsey, and Conrad seemed to be our best defender.

The fact that so many people actually care about soccer now in the US, as compared to when he started, should be Bruce Arena’s legacy; not the dismal performance in Germany. Still, this team has gone as far as Bruce Arena can take them, and it’s time for a change.

Bruce has done a fine job until 2006. It is time to congratulate him and move on. Not sure what happened got into him this time around, but the bottom line is that not one of our players performed the way they are capable of.

Let’s compare coaching errors in the Cup. The Dutch cioach sat Ruud. Of course that was a huge mistake, but at least the rest of the players gave their all. Bruce sat EJ and stubbornly stuck to a 4-5-1 even when we deperately needed a win, but the players’ execution was miserable.

There is plenty of blame to go around. Bad coaching, bad execution were on display, but the US also drew the most consistently poor refereeing of any teamm which cannot be ignored. Right from the start Gooch drew a BS yellow in the CZE game in the first few minutes and it went downhill from there, culminating in that ridiculous penalty call.

The USSF is partly responsible as well. We need to accept our standing invitation to play in the Copa America, and we need to schedule some Euro trips every few months or so where we play two big name sides in a week. A trip or two to Africa to prepare for SA 2010 would not hurt either. We simply cannot rely on the Gold Cup, WCQ, and the occasional friendly to be adequately prepared. At least the next Confederations Cup should help.

It would be nice to stick to an American coach, but I’m not sure there are any that can give us the type of impact that we need right now. If the rumours about Klinsman turn out to be only that, I say go after Hiddink.

BY BYE BRUCE, you won’t be missed, oh and shut that door as you leave.

Marc-

good point about Dempsey and Conrad being our best players. This points to the fact that a) Bruce does not have as much faith in MLS as he used to, and b) he is too loyal to certain old and out of form players (Beasley and Pope)

lets follow the MLS and Dutch seasons and see which of these four players has the most success. I’m guessin Dempsey followed by Conrad followed by Pope followed by Beasley.

The US needs a dutch coach who will be cut-throat and knows soccer inside and out.

But not Van Basten: sitting Ruud because he’s only scored 1 goal when the team has only scored 3 total was a huge mistake.

You may be right Bossimo but I really can’t see a European team hiring him on after this woeful performance. The 4-5-1 worked in ‘02 simply for the fact that we scored first against Portugal, Korea, and Mexico. This time around we were down in each game and could not come back. With this system (and our players in it)it is a MUST that the US scores first or it’s most likely game over. Yes, we drew with Italy but it was an OG…

Daryl, we need a thread to talk about the officiating in this WC because it has been unbelievable. Some games have just been comical and what FIFA must now realize is that giving more cards leads to more diving and more anger on the pitch. The writhing around in mock agony after being NOT tripped, elbowed, pushed etc… has been so disgraceful to the point of absurdity. Maybe Europeans enjoy this crap but many casual Americans have been permanently turned off to the game.

Bruce,

has got to go primarily because he was not able to read the warning signs.

1. No goals playing scrub teams before cup started
2. Playing players outside their natural position (to much pressure on each individual to put them in this situation). You don’t play Beasley on the right or lewis at left back. World cup football is not MLS or College soccer.
3. He is way to set in his ways. Game is for real and every game is for keeps the coach has to be more dynamic in the player selection and tactics.

See ya Bruce and I wouldn’t wanna be ya (reflecting on what went wrong)!

A lesson learned: Other football nations are not stood still waiting on the US to get better, they’re getting better everyday. We have to match the pace of their improvement and the only way to do this is to inject real Beckham cash into the US sport. We need to lure the million dollar athlete (you know the god gifted class – Jordan,Kobe, Wade, D. Sanders,B. Sanders, Montana,Farve,Jeter, etc..) from da rock,football, or baseball. Hell will take some of those 100 meter record holders.

The only kids on the US team that look gifted are Deuce and Gooch. Gooch will definitely become the next big European player for the US.

Can’t wait to see our progress in 4.

andy,

There is just such a post recently published on the main page:

Big Question: Are the Referees Ruining The World Cup?

The World Cup for the US lasted the 5 minutes it took for the Czechs to score; after that first goal, they were done.

advice to Americans in preparing for South Africa 2010 — please make sure the team has played in a very hot and humid atmoshphere several times before the worldcup. African heat and European or American heat are not the same thing! Trust me. I have visited several african countries and always enjoy myself, except for the crazy heat and humidity. It is even hot at night!

2-0.

Hard to win when the stadium isn’t filled with exhaust and the opposing team isn’t pelted with urine, batteries, acid, etc.?

Not sure we can lay all of this at Bruce’s feet.

If Reyna’s shot goes in against the Czechs; if Pope doesn’t get that 2nd card against Italy; if the PK is not called for Ghana; if McBride’s header goes in; if Donovan or DMB came to play at all and actually shot the ball in any of gthe 3 games: we’d all be talking about our game against Brazil tomorrow (or our win against Australia today if more than one of these occured). You need luck to advance in the world cup, and the U.S. squad had NONE. (personally, I blame all the bad Karma on Bush – we’ll be paying on the international stage for his mistakes for decades, I’m afraid)

I do agree it’s time to bring in some new blood, but let’s give the man his due – getting a U.S. team in 2002 farther than they had any business of going.

Not sure if anyone saw this on ESPN late Monday night, but Bruce Arena basically told Eric Wynalda that he isn’t going to be crapped on, and the 1998 team he inherited was garbage.

Wynalda’s face was priceless. Hope somebody can put this on Youtube.

Blizzak:

Let me reiterate: the US had a 5 minute World Cup. A slight improvement from their ‘98 performance.

arcturus-

did you score against Togo/Angola?

mexico’s world cup was successful only due to an Iranian defender’s mistake.

you guys were in a shitty group, and struggled to get out.

how did the game against the second string Portugal side go? What is the US’s record against Portugal?

hey, when was the last time you made it to the quarterfinals?

face: Mexico is a pretender. They have one good player Marquez and a bunch of has beens and teenagers.

I too think its time that Bruce hit the highway, His decision making in the WC seemed a bit off the beaten path even for himself. I still think even in my anger over the U.S. performance that he did elevate the the worlds view of U.S. soccer to some degree even if it was shortlived.I would also like to put down my placards for the diving competition this year, hey maybe if we made the divers sit the sideline minute for minute that they lay on the ground and force the team to play shortsided and add the same minutes to the match clock, maybe we could get them off the field or up in the game.

Big Lead-

fantastic message! If you find that clip online you have to tell me!

I absolutely love Bruce, and while his tactics may not have been so solid this time around, the US did decent in a group of death.

I can’t stand Wynalda: he is the all time leading scorer because of goals against Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and other Concacaf minnows. He really should not be on the air.

Bruce’s best decision in his year career was droppin Wynalda from the national team.

Good find Big Lead. I would love to see Wynalda’s face after that comment.

Thowing wine bottles at the coaches suite? My goodness. I can only presume that they had already drunk the wine?

Once again, can people stop talking about Gus Hiddink? He is coaching the Russian National Team in 2010.

Look, the US Team is simply not good enough to hang with the giants of football. 2002 was a total fluke, and 2006 was the reality check that was needed.

People who cry about the refs (they are terrible across the board, get used to it) and then say “but, but…we could have been playing Brazil!”…..man, I’m sure that would have been a massacre.

Maybe in 30 years the US Team will have figured it out and will be able to compete. Maybe.

2002 wasn’t a fluke, but there certainly was luck involved (as in all sports).

The first two goals against Portugal were flukey, but the winner was good work off a setpiece.

The Mexico game definitely had the ref miss a handball on JOB. However we won by 2 goals.

Also, the Germany game ref also missed a handball.

the US CAN COMPETE, but we are not good enough to survive another group of death.

Well, the way I see it, if you have to pray for a “weak” group, then you aren’t ready to play at that next level.

I still want the US to put their egos aside and start playing like they are underdogs who are hungry to improve…instead of being arrogant, primadonovans.

This squad & their coach were an absolute disgrace.

Flynn-

Argentina couldn’t get out of a tough group in 2002, and they are 2 times World Champs!

Who is at this next level? Brazil? What other countries compete at this level?

I really think all 32 teams should be ranked and there should be no lottery….but that’s just my American reformer attitude.

It was until 1978 that Argentina was able to take the cup. A team that showed better quality than most teams. How many decades is that? You count them. There are also great teams that have been trying to reach the final and have failed time and time again. Becoming a football powerhouse is very hard. Teams with established quality such as Spain, Holland and Portugal have always failed. Second tier teams such as Czech Republic, Turkey, Mexico and Colombia have also failed. Still, US fans want to believe that after one decade of slightly above average performances they have come to the point of being contenders? The World Cup is the Holy Grail in sports. It takes teams decades of whole-hearted development to reach it. England, once…France, once…Holland, never…Spain, never….and those are true world powers. The shock that the US team received in this Cup is something that Mexico has experienced many times before. Now, as I write, teams such as Holland, Spain and Mexico have been eliminated in merely the second round. Now these great teams have wait yet another four years to compete.

Good comments arcturus. If you look at some of the really big footballing nations, i.e. Brazil and Argentina, you discover that they live and breathe football. They actually define much of their cultural and national identity through football. As I understand it, football is very much a minority sport in the US. When (and if) it really becomes popular, I mean as big as baseball and American football, then you may have a platform from which you can become contenders.

In England we play a range of sports but Football is by far the biggest. We have only won the World Cup once in 1966, since then we have had 40 years of disappointment, sometimes not even qualifying for the finals at all.

I think considering the low profile of football in the US, your national team has done well. The key to future success is raising the profile of the sport within the US, which could take decades or may never happen at all.

Very good point arcturus. Too many US fans bought into the Nike commercial hype (Jogo Bonito) and thought the US had turned into a power overnight.

I was happy with a point going into the last game, and then playing a close game against Ghana.

People forget that soccer is a cruel sport, and if either of those two shots that hit the posts (Reyna and McBride) had gone in, we might have reached the round of 16.

Some years they go in, some years your keeper guesses right and saves a penalty, and sometimes they don’t.

dont feed the trolls.

mason,
understand my message not as fact-driven but as a provocation to the arrogant postings of ETucker and others. Yes, Ghana had not made the game versus Brazil at that time. Now it dit: 0:3. And they played well.

dietmar,
my name was chosen exactly for that purpose: to give low-brainers the chance to make a reply to me, even if they have no arguments . It always works.

England for the Cup:
“In England … we have only won the World Cup once in 1966″

you didn’t won – it was a gift from the russian referee

“since then we have had 40 years of disappointment”

but that 5:1 against Germany in Munich was great! so?

And don’t forget: each and every year England wins the contest for the best football-song, that’s a good thing.

Hope to see you in the final and see if we can correct Munich… cheers

Oh, Jim! That’s a bit naughty to say England never won the cup! Still, it is a problem in such a low scoring game as football, that a few refereeing decisions can significantly effect the outcome of a match. The real advantage that England had was that it was the host nation. Look at how well Germany is doing in the current competition despite having a team considered by most to be very average.

Your right, that 5:1 against Germany was great. You’ve got to enjoy winning the odd battle along the way, even if you can’t win the war (metaphorically speaking of course!).

Cheers!

Arcturus, England for the cup, Etucker:

You guys keep getting it all wrong about US Soccer fans expectations for the US team at the world cup. I guess it’s not surprising since none of you are here.

No one would suggest for a minute that Americans are immune from being suckered by hype, but it’s only the non Soccer fans here that had their expectations set by Nike commercials. Fans here don’t think we’re going to be a soccer power overnight. We know that (like Mexico) we’re a second-ten team.

But we also know that conditions are vastly different then they were when our current team was in it’s formative years. With improvements in coaching from youth to the pros and the best of world football on TV every day, the US can only improve. People say our best athletes need to be lured to football, but talent is a non-issue. There are millions upon millions of youth players in the US today and we’ll have no trouble finding the talent in the years to come.

Will we win the world cup in 2010? Of course not, a return to the quarterfinals would be pnenomenal. But come 2022, where do you honestly think our program will be? Not where you hope it will be guys — we all know it would just kill you to see the big bad US take on a world power role in your sport — but where do you think we’ll actually be?

You’re kidding yourself if you think we’ll still be languishing in the second ten. But hey, whatever makes you happy, right?

England for the Cup,

just joking. Yes, England is the true World Cup Winner 1966 and should have won much often since then!

Germany won the World Cup 1974 against Netherlands in a shameful way, Holzenbein made the worst diving in World Cup history.

I am sorry, that England can’t play with his world class strikers Rooney and Owen at the present World Cup, only with their shadows after this serious injuries. I feel somewhat betrayed that I can’t see the true England.

The present German team is a dream. But I can’t believe it and I am prepared to a once-in-a-lifetime-experience. So, England, let us share our sorrows when Germany looses against Argentine hehe

bossimo,

you are right when saying that people likes to see the US looses in the world’s most favourite sport, football. So it is fun to see the US-team at world cups.

It’s not only a political thing, you know, the “last remaining world superpower”-stuff (with 30 % functionally illiterate). Furthermore, it is the idiocy that this sport is named “soccer” in the US and that the “real” football seems to be the game where nobody uses his foot to play.

See it as an opposition to US-sports where players need the shape of a fridge, to be successful, while in Football the most genious players are even under average in heigth, like Maradona.

It is pro art, contra business.

So, the opposition against the present US-team is value-driven in a good way. The US should learn from that opposition.

bossimo, you have all my sympathy. If only more people would think like you, the US would play a better and more respected role in the world of football. Take the sport out of the hands of marketing strategists of sportswear-industries and give it to the real fans. Don’t try to sell t-shirts first and hope to create a good national team and league, make it the other way round: create players, that will buy t-shirts.

bossimo,

When I added my comments at this site I gave my honest opinions, these could of course, easily be wrong. I never said, or even implied, that I didn’t want to see the US succeed as a footballing nation. Please don’t suggest that I have racist, anti-American motives just because my opinions may differ from your own. I thought Americans upheld freedom of speech as a core value?

Come 2022, where do I honestly think your program will be? I really don’t know. But good luck with it anyway.

Bruce Arena, has done all He can for US Soccer but now we need a world class coach, like Argentinian coach Pekerman, or a Brasilian coach, but we need a leader that will not choke in a difficult game and one who knows when to make substitutions and what to do, to inspire his players.
Arena must sdmit, He is not up to par for the next world cup. Maybe we need a guy like Klinsman to create an exciting new team without the old broken busted legs like Reyna,Owiguchi,Pope and other players who do not contribute a thing to the team.
Thank you Mr. Arena but your era has

The US was placed in a difficult group and the team WAS NOT ready.

America almost beat Italy and would have- if the second goal was not offsides.

Steven:
Don’t forget the Italian Pk- one of their best dives and one of the worst calls of the cup.