Time For The U.S. To Act Like CONCACAF's Top Dog
By Noah Davis (goal.com)
With the United States men's national team in the midst of third round qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, it's time to take a serious look at the team's attitude towards the rest of the CONCACAF region.
In the simplest terms possible, the U.S. is a better team than every other squad else in the region -- make a case for Mexico, but away from the friendly confines of Azteca, El Tri rarely win -- yet it doesn't act like it. It's time for this to change. They shouldn't sink to the arrogant levels of the American men's basketball team in 2006 or the French 4x100m swim team in Beijing, but the overly respectful rhetoric that litters the sound bites of their interviews needs to go.
Just today, Steve Cherundolo told FIFA.com, "We have to get through the group, but it won’t be at all easy."
Are you sure about that, Steve? The Guatemala match wasn't pretty but the U.S. came away with a win on the road, the mark of a solid, experienced team. Even if it had lost that game, qualification to the Hexagonal wouldn't have been in question. Recent history proves the team's utter dominance of its CONCACAF foes. The squad lost two of 18 games during the 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign, posting an 8-0-1 record at home. Results shouldn't vary much during this cycle.
Humility Is Not Always Good
Contrast this success with Cherundolo's statements, such as his assertion that, "Obviously we're aiming to qualify for the World Cup." Taken out of context, you'd think he played for Jamaica or Cuba, not -- yes, we'll write it -- the region's soccer power.
After the U.S. fell short of the second round in the Olympics, commentators around the country said for the team to reach the next level internationally, it needed to start advancing out of the group stage. This is true, but in soccer, attitude is as much a part of success as talent. Look at Brazil. They win more than a few games on swagger alone.
In short, The U.S.'s attitude towards its qualification opponents needs to be altered. If you give Trinidad and Tobago the ultimate level of respect, how can you up the ante when you play, say, Argentina in the second round of the World Cup?
Everything In Moderation
Granted, you never want to give an underdog bulletin board fodder. And this attitude readjustment might cause the United States to overlook the occasional CONCACAF minnow and lose a game it shouldn't, but the region is weak enough to allow the team to recover. Besides, the ultimate goal for the U.S. is no longer simply qualification.
Near the end of his interview with FIFA, Cherundolo says, "There are a number of teams in with a chance [to qualify]."
That's true, but first place is the U.S.'s and its players should start acting as if that's the case.
