If there is an upside to the USMNT's failure to qualify it may be that there will finally be a reckoning with several long term systemic problems within the U.S. soccer federation.
As a retired soccer referee, formerly with U.S. soccer, it became evident to not only me, but also others involved in the sport that for the past 30+ years the federation was doing a lousy job of developing talent. This has been especially evident at the youth level where "pay for play" has ignored talented youth players from typically poor urban backgrounds for the sole reason that their families could not afford to enroll their kids in pricey club programs (player fees in top youth clubs can easily exceed $10K/year). Achieving "results" in youth club programs (i.e. winning state cups) took precedence over the development of individual players' technical skills. Rather than encouraging creativity and flair among individual players and allowing them to develop a passion for play, clubs focused on team systems of play designed for "winning". It has only been within the past few years that U.S. soccer has gone to smaller sided games on smaller pitches for players under age 14. This approach encourages more touching of the ball more frequently by more players during a match and is consistent with youth programs in Europe and South America. The fact that it has taken this long to make a relatively minor, yet glaringly necessary change speaks to the larger problem with U.S. soccer - a desire to maintain the status quo.
Major League Soccer also bears some responsibility. U.S. Soccer and MLS are supposed to exist together for betterment of the game. Yet when former USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann was rightfully critical of his USMNT players for coming back to MLS from top European clubs, MLS chose to publicly criticize Klinsmann for his approach.
MLS and federation president Sunil Gulati have emphasized the commercial aspect of soccer in the U.S. at the expense of player development. This epic failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup was a long time coming. Sunil Galati should do what any other self-respecting federation president would in another soccer country had their national team performed so deplorably. Resign. The same goes for Bruce Arena. In their remarks after the game, both of these men felt that the USMNT's largest issue in failing to qualify had to do with on field performance. Those are statements borne out of arrogance.
|