Three nations united in international failure
By: Shaka Hislop (UK Guardian)
What disappointing performances from England, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States tells us about the domestic leagues
June 5, 2008 4:56 PM
I'm writing this in a state of embarrassment and bewilderment after watching Trinidad and Tobago go down listlessly to a decidedly average England team. I expect many of you American readers were feeling much the same emotions when England overcame the United States at Wembley last week.
All three nations and their fans continue to search for reasons for our collective poor performances on the international stage. We Trinbagonians will always rely on the fact that we're a small country. The English have long claimed that not enough of their young players are getting the chance to play at the highest level as more and more international stars arrive at their shores. The same might be said about Major League Soccer in the US.
As one blogger pointed out, the original idea behind MLS was to give home-grown talent the opportunities and experience needed to benefit the US national team, but the motives within the league now appear to have changed. Professional clubs are far more concerned with their own fortunes over those of the national team. They are all in a results business. But at the same time the few who do make the grade should benefit from playing alongside and against better players, which I am sure they do. So why the seeming lack of progress on the international stage?
In England the pace is frenetic, and the players have consistently struggled to keep the ball for the long periods required to win vital games at international level. But the game in MLS is slower so should be of greater benefit to local talent. But we all know it hasn't seemed to.
As I watched the Colorado Rapids reclaim top spot in the Western Conference with a 2-1 home win over FC Dallas, another game littered with poor defending, I couldn't help but think how mono-paced the game was, from back to front, from beginning to end. This doesn't help players with real international aspirations, like Dallas's Kenny Cooper, who has been on the outskirts of the national team in recent months.
Given the US's lack of firepower at Wembley, Cooper is probably feeling pretty good about his chances next time around - as should Jozy Altidore, who remains one of the brightest prospects in American soccer.
He is still a little raw, but is a real talent and has missed the experience of Juan Pablo Angel alongside him at times this season, as Angel has struggled with injuries. This week Angel was ill, and the Red Bulls again struggled, going down 1-0 in Houston.
Earlier in the week another upcoming star, the midfielder Corey Ashe, inspired Houston to a 2-2 draw against Dallas, meaning Houston now trail Colorado by one point in the West.
Meanwhile, DC United again narrowly avoided the "one embarrassment" I spoke of last week - the kind that would cost them their coach - but still managed to throw away a two-goal lead to draw at home to New England.
All other eyes were on the teams from California. An under-strength LA Galaxy visited Toronto, where there was good news for Canadian supporters and Trinbagonians alike. Julius James, Toronto's No 1 draft pick, came on for the injured Olivier Tebily in the 18th minute, and scored 30 minutes into his MLS debut. Toronto won 2-0.
The other Los Angeles team, Chivas USA, were on the right side of the same score-line, beating Columbus Crew 2-0. The top finishers in the West last season have been forgotten in Los Angeles so far this year as the much-hyped Galaxy found form. But Chivas have enjoyed flying under the radar and have now also found their stride.
The result means Columbus Crew drop to third in the East, but remain only one point off the pace.
Real Salt Lake were happy to see the other Californian team arrive in Utah. San Jose are the only team below Real in the Western conference and duly surrendered 3-1 at the Rice-Eccles Stadium, ending Real's three-game losing streak.
So as we focus on what is good or not so good about MLS, and as we try to figure out why the US failed to deliver against a below average European team, and what the league can and should do about it, remember the World Cup qualifiers start in two weeks.
The US will play Barbados on their first step to South Africa, a journey I fully expect them to complete from a weak Concacaf group.
In the meantime, roll on next week's MLS games!