COPA final
You don't have to be Lebron James to develop elite technique; the Andrea Pirlo and Andres Iniesta (hell, even Messi) and other world class, dimunitive players (past and present) all prove this. The US produced Guiseppi Rossi, who was picked by Italy. The lack of athleticism is a poor excuse for US players' inability to trap a ball or dribble or make smart passes/movement.
It's not athleticism they value in their youth training programs, it's morale. It took them a very long time to realize that a brilliant technician with a questionable work rate might very well change his ways when he comes up against comparable talent, but it's damn near impossible for a hardworking hack to suddenly discover touch in his twenties.
Listen to Stuart Robson do a game and you can hear traces of how it used to be (and probably still is, in a lot of places there). Everything is "belief" and "commitment". If you really think that's what success in the game is about, you'll devote your training resources to a different set of players than you will if you value technique.
Definitely; I recently read a piece in which the English were lamenting the lack of "passionate" defenders, such as John Terry and Tony Adams--"all guts and glory" as I would view them. In my opinion, this is another way of phrasing athletic--players that are demonstratively "passionate" and strong-blooded in their style of play. Nothing wrong with having these type of players in a team--but a starting 11 of mostly these players will get you knocked out of the QF on penalties.
Maybe basketball, where athleticism is of primary importance, is a good place to see the distinction I'm trying to make. LeBron's athletic; nobody's going to confuse Tony Adams for LeBron James. The equivalent of the English "guts and glory" player would be a Dellavedova or a Varejao. There's a place for that guy on a championship team but 12 of them gets you a lottery pick and probably a record for fewest wins ever.
I'm having trouble thinking of a soccer player that's truly athletic in the usual American sense of the term--it's not all that useful a trait on the whole. Lukaku. Cannavaro--that guy had serious hops.
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CHILE CHILE CHILE CHILE
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Hey I just tuned in and they were in a shootout. Did I miss anything?
The save of the tournament by Claudio Bravo--incredible finger tips.
That was one hell of a play!
Argentina seem destined not to win a finals with this golden generation of players; such a shame given all the talent, they finish 2nd for a third tourney. Russia 2018 could be the last chance.
Most of their world famous strikers underperformed in international level. Messi is great. But it's hard to win all game only with him.
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Chile was ranked in the 80's a decade ago. Now they are 5th and are underrated there. They are a role model to be emulated for programs trying to climb out of the middle of the pack.
Barca, Man City, Arsenal,...
US players are mainly in the substandard MLS. Starting from a youth system that doesn't promote creativity, and rigid systems of play by overpaid coaches who place winning over individual development - American kids have no chnace to be world class unless they leave the country by their early teens.
I have sincere doubt about this statement. Chile has been fairly good in the past 20 years. Back in 1998 world cup, they have some world famous players in their team. There may be chance that they fell to 80 at some points. They are definitely not a team would be constantly ranked at 80th.
How many young american kids are watching this copa american final vs NBA final game 7?
At least they have the opportunity to watch. I remember when this kind of match would not be broadcast in this counrty at all.
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I feel bad for him :(
He looks like he has just left Gethsemane, knowing what awaits him
I respect that he cares so much to represent his country. He's had unlimited club success, he's rich beyond his wildest dreams, he's world famous . . . and none of that matters to him in this picture.
My boy just turn 6 and he's in a recreation league only. But I think they have more game/scrimmage time than practice time each week during the season. While most other countries in europe focus on basic techniques in their youth development. I also feel that the coaching (in all level) in US is likely worse than other good soccer countries, too. Without good coahing, it's hard to develop players, doesn't matter how many good atheletes you have. BTW, many big and strong NBA or football players are probably not suitable for soccer anyway.
Can confirm. Children in South America grow up with soccer balls practically attached to their feet.
Honestly, I don't know the last time I saw kids playing any pickup game--whether it be soccer, baseball, or football. Then again, I'm not a Penn State assistant coach.
Exactly, lazy American lifestyle. That's why the number of American players in MLB drops every year.
No, not lazy--I think someone already mentioned it, but kids are already involved in so many other organized events that they probably aren't going to playing pickup games with a larger group of other kids; some of that might just be scheduling conflicts or lack of proximity to an open park (which is a suburban problem that I've noticed where I've lived).
I don't think equating laziness to why MLB numbers are dropping for Americans. It's literally the sport that requires the least amount of physical exertion of all the major sports. You spend 3/4 of your time either waiting to hit, or standing around waiting for a ball to be hit to you. That was the one reason I hated playing the sport, just way to slow.
Lots of basketball . . . which we are good at.
Same thoughts about kids not playing pond hockey.
Playing FUTSAL without coaching would be the best. LEarn tricks, creativity, ball skills without fear of being criticized by parents, coaches who just want to win, et al.
Every reasonably warm day, when I lived in Chicago. Always a game going at that field by Foster Avenue beach. Hoops going at the court there, too. (And pretty much every other court in the city.)
Since I moved away, and back to the suburbs, never. I know some of the kids here play a lot, but it's all organized, under adult supervision.
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WBC winners: Japan, Japan, Dominican Republic. The US has never finished higher than fourth. I don't know how seriously to take Olympic baseball since nobody sent their best players (this includes Cuba, whose very best players had left the country), but the US only won one of the five golds and failed to medal twice.
The US hasn't won an IIHF title since 1960, hasn't won hockey gold at the Olympics since 1980.
No doubt we're the best at American football, which means about as much as Australia being the best at Aussie Rules.
The US has won the last two FIBA championships and has only finished worse than third once since it started sending NBA-quality teams to the event. It's also won 5 of the 6 Olympics in the Dream Team era.
That's what the thesis predicts, isn't it? The one male team sport the US dominates is the one that's still played on the playgrounds.
So, will Maradona let Messi come home?
Hey, we'll take him if Argentina doesn't want him.
He's like the bad Scotty Pippen.
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I'm not happy about it either. But the dude is really in a tight box . . . all he has to do is merely win the entire freaking World Cup or he will be considered a failure. The ultimate stratosphere or die. Not much middle ground there.
I can see where he might be hesitant to sign up for that.
If it were me, I might take my Olympic gold medal and U20 Chamopinship and World Cup Final and three Copa Finals at the International level, and call it a day too.
He's not likely to win the World Cup in 2018 given Argentina's disorganization and the sheer odds against it. So when that likely happens, what then? It will be like last night x 10.
Who needs that setup?