[PVTree]

Tomorrow, the deciding games to see which 2 Concacaf teams will make it to the Olympics will be played.

The US faces Honduras while Mexico faces Canada. US and Mexico are favorites to win.

The winner of each game punches their ticket to Tokyo.

I've been watching the games and slightly disappointed that no Stanford alum is on the US roster.

[PVTree]

Tomorrow, the deciding games to see which 2 Concacaf teams will make it to the Olympics will be played.

The US faces Honduras while Mexico faces Canada. US and Mexico are favorites to win.

The winner of each game punches their ticket to Tokyo.

I've been watching the games and slightly disappointed that no Stanford alum is on the US roster.

[PVTree]

US trailing 1-0 at the half vs. Honduras

[PVTree]

US trailing 1-0 at the half vs. Honduras

[PVTree]

Honduras eliminates the US from the MSoc Olympics 2-1.

[PVTree]

Honduras eliminates the US from the MSoc Olympics 2-1.

[cardcrimson]

Honduras eliminates the US from the MSoc Olympics 2-1.

Ouch. With all the youth soccer in this country, one would think we'd be doing much better on the world stage.

[cardcrimson]

Honduras eliminates the US from the MSoc Olympics 2-1.

Ouch. With all the youth soccer in this country, one would think we'd be doing much better on the world stage.

[Softball Fan]

USA population:  329 million; wealthiest nation in the history of the world.

Honduras population: 9.8 million.

[Softball Fan]

USA population:  329 million; wealthiest nation in the history of the world.

Honduras population: 9.8 million.

[Goose]

USA population:  329 million; wealthiest nation in the history of the world.

Honduras population: 9.8 million.

Multiply each number respectively by the percentage of people in that country who care much about soccer and I think you would find Honduras to be the larger number.

[Goose]

USA population:  329 million; wealthiest nation in the history of the world.

Honduras population: 9.8 million.

Multiply each number respectively by the percentage of people in that country who care much about soccer and I think you would find Honduras to be the larger number.

[DC 86]

Honduras eliminates the US from the MSoc Olympics 2-1.

Ouch. With all the youth soccer in this country, one would think we'd be doing much better on the world stage.

The US should have qualified regardless, but it should be noted that our best young players are so good that they are already playing for the senior team instead of the under-23 (Olympic) team. Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Sergino Dest, Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna, Yunus Musah, Antonee Robinson, Josh Sargent, Tim Weah, Brenden Aaronson and others are all age-egilible players who play prominent roles for top European clubs. If they had played today the US would have won easily. The US under-23 cohort is actually a very promising and talented group, and the future looks bright at the international level. What happened today is akin to what happens when the US sends minor league baseball players to the Olympics instead of major leaguers because the regular season is going on.

[DC 86]

Honduras eliminates the US from the MSoc Olympics 2-1.

Ouch. With all the youth soccer in this country, one would think we'd be doing much better on the world stage.

The US should have qualified regardless, but it should be noted that our best young players are so good that they are already playing for the senior team instead of the under-23 (Olympic) team. Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Sergino Dest, Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna, Yunus Musah, Antonee Robinson, Josh Sargent, Tim Weah, Brenden Aaronson and others are all age-egilible players who play prominent roles for top European clubs. If they had played today the US would have won easily. The US under-23 cohort is actually a very promising and talented group, and the future looks bright at the international level. What happened today is akin to what happens when the US sends minor league baseball players to the Olympics instead of major leaguers because the regular season is going on.

[PVTree]

For these Olympic qualifying games, it was up to the teams, where the players play, to grant permission for the players to join the national team. When they are "FIFA dates", the teams have to let the players join their national teams if called. 

My understanding is that no team granted the US players in Europe permission to participate in the Olympic qualifiers. Pulisic and others joined the senior team for the friendlies because they are FIFA dates.

[PVTree]

For these Olympic qualifying games, it was up to the teams, where the players play, to grant permission for the players to join the national team. When they are "FIFA dates", the teams have to let the players join their national teams if called. 

My understanding is that no team granted the US players in Europe permission to participate in the Olympic qualifiers. Pulisic and others joined the senior team for the friendlies because they are FIFA dates.

[DC 86]

For these Olympic qualifying games, it was up to the teams, where the players play, to grant permission for the players to join the national team. When they are "FIFA dates", the teams have to let the players join their national teams if called. 

My understanding is that no team granted the US players in Europe permission to participate in the Olympic qualifiers. Pulisic and others joined the senior team for the friendlies because they are FIFA dates.

Correct. In fact, several MLS teams also refused to release players for these Olympic qualifiers, so even some of the best US-based U-23s didn't play. But even if the European-based stars had been available they wouldn't have taken part in qualifying since the USSF wants those players to focus on the senior team.

It's still embarrassing that the US failed to qualify, but it's not a reflection of the talent level of the emerging American generation of young players who are making their mark in Europe.

[DC 86]

For these Olympic qualifying games, it was up to the teams, where the players play, to grant permission for the players to join the national team. When they are "FIFA dates", the teams have to let the players join their national teams if called. 

My understanding is that no team granted the US players in Europe permission to participate in the Olympic qualifiers. Pulisic and others joined the senior team for the friendlies because they are FIFA dates.

Correct. In fact, several MLS teams also refused to release players for these Olympic qualifiers, so even some of the best US-based U-23s didn't play. But even if the European-based stars had been available they wouldn't have taken part in qualifying since the USSF wants those players to focus on the senior team.

It's still embarrassing that the US failed to qualify, but it's not a reflection of the talent level of the emerging American generation of young players who are making their mark in Europe.