The U.S. Still Don't Soccer Good
A golden generation of American soccer talent isn't looking all that shiny lately
Happy 5th, everybody.
Let’s start at the top of the outrage funnel. Yes, that sure looked like offsides to me too. From where I’m standing, that should not have been a goal, and the call doesn’t seem all that close. It was one of many confounding decisions made by a referee who appeared well out of his depth in calling that game. The Americans are justifiably miffed about the officiating.
But! Even those glaringly bad breaks don’t account for the U.S. simply not scoring. The Americans still would not have advanced with a 0-0 draw, which seemed to be the result we were heading for throughout most of this game.
That is… disappointing. On home soil, in the last meaningful test that (roughly) this same squad will get to have before hosting the 2026 World Cup, they’re out of the tournament after just 3 games. This was a pass-fail course, and — hint — they didn’t pass.
Things might’ve gone differently. We should note that, even amid all the frustration, the Americans played reasonably well against Uruguay. They weren’t outclassed or anything. They could have won that game. They just didn’t. That’s kinda how this goes.
The U.S. probably beats Panama had Tim Weah not been deservedly red-carded for punched someone in the 18th minute, so that’s kinda strike one and two. They won their first game against Bolivia, after all. So, more than anything, playing a man down for most of the match against Panama probably cost this team its chance to advance.
We’ve been here before. On the outside looking in, that is. America’s footballing fortunes have been lower, like when the team failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. The issue here is that that was supposed to be behind them.
According to FIFA, the USMNT is currently ranked #11 in the world. They have no business losing to Panama, who is currently ranked #43. At least they didn’t also lose to Bolivia, who weighs in at #84 (between Gabon and Luxembourg), but that’s pretty cold comfort. Today, as in years past, winning the tight game against a good opponent — in this case, #14-ranked Uruguay — still just didn’t happen.
It’s a moment of certain reckoning for a team that, more and more, is supposed to be better than this. It’s hard to look at the state of the program and conclude that it’s responded well to new pressure to succeed.
There’s already talk of replacing Gregg Berhalter at the top. It’s not crazy to question his effectiveness, though I was persuaded by The Ringer’s Leander Schaerlaeckens that the alternatives aren’t great right now.
It’s also not crazy to question whether the U.S. has in fact ascended to the heights their world ranking suggests. The talent is undeniably at a higher level than ever before. Having any players who are employed by big-name European clubs like AC Milan and Dortmund is an improvement obvious to even the most casual fan, like, for instance, me.
But it’s worth underlining that the most (don’t) striking part of the game against Uruguay was the lack of scoring. There weren’t that many chances. America rarely looks dangerous against a team that’s anywhere in its vicinity in terms of talent. They tend to play to the level of their opponent, but too often, just a little below where they need to be.
This team’s captain, Tyler Adams, put it about as well as I could.
“The only reason there’s pressure on this group to do anything is because everyone sees the potential in the group. That’s a good thing."
It is! It is a good thing. So why doesn’t it feel that way?
This performance does not augur well for the World Cup. It also does not necessarily predict much of anything about it. They could just as easily overperform. Right now, though, the sting of disappointment is very real, and the next opportunity for redemption will be a far bigger stage than this one.
Also, This
🏀 I’m withholding my many thoughts on the many NBA transactions since last week for a full edition next week, when even more of the dust will hopefully have settled. Although, come to think of it, there isn’t that much left, is there? Whatever, man! Just wait. Here’s a preview:
Commendations: Thunder, 76ers, Knicks
Citations: Nuggets (which you can find here via the wonderful Royce Webb at 5x5), Clippers, Warriors
📺 TNT’s no-deal with the NBA still isn’t official. There’s still a possibility that they scrounge something together, but they look to be shoring up some backups in the more likely case that they don’t. Big East basketball, Mountain West football, a handful of CFP fixtures. Some NASCAR races. The French Open ain’t bad. It’s not ideal, but at least the cupboard isn’t totally bare.
🎰 Federal charges for Jontay Porter. I’m generally of the opinion that the law is the law, but I would imagine that this prosecution isn’t happening in a vacuum either. There’s probably some desire to discourage this behavior by making an example of Porter, and it looks as if that’s the way this is heading.
🎾 Wimbledon’s underway, and as per usual, I’m watching in part to see if an American dude can break through. Ben Shelton got it to a match tiebreak with Lloyd Harris, and he looked pretty dynamic in pulling off the comeback. He’s young too, so hey — is he the future? Could well be. We could use one.
⚾ It’s early days, but the trade deadline oughta be a grand old time in the NL Central. I think we can safely conclude that no one but the Brewers is very good, and yet — I’m not convinced that the Cardinals sell, even if they maybe should. The Luis Robert Jr. rumors don’t do much for me, if you can call a single ESPN piece a rumor. As for the Cubs… that’s getting bleaker by the day, which obviously brings me great joy even in the light of persistent mediocrity in St. Louis. Woo! The Midwest! Not that young, definitely restless.