10-10-2017, 07:21 PM
Monumental choke. Not the talent, but the mentality -- which came from the coach. Arena, while a better manager than Klinsmann, has always suffered from a big ego. In the best of times, he and his teams have a lot of swagger, an eff-you confidence. In the worst of times, they're smug and complacent. Down the stretch, they played as if they expected to be gifted the spot. Obviously that wasn't the case.
Now, there were many other factors that led to this spot: injuries, some bad luck, a talent gap of players born between 1990 and 1994, and some other stuff. But it doesn't matter. The U.S. has more talent than it's had since I've been seriously following the team, in 2009. That team, for heaven's sake, started Jonny Bornstein and Robbie Findlay. But that team played together and played hard. Only rarely has the most recent incarnation of the U.S. filled both criteria.
The talent will get better and maybe the coaching will too. But it sucks to be wasting a chance to watch Christian Pulisic play on the biggest stage. You don't waste greatness. The USMNT just did.
Now, there were many other factors that led to this spot: injuries, some bad luck, a talent gap of players born between 1990 and 1994, and some other stuff. But it doesn't matter. The U.S. has more talent than it's had since I've been seriously following the team, in 2009. That team, for heaven's sake, started Jonny Bornstein and Robbie Findlay. But that team played together and played hard. Only rarely has the most recent incarnation of the U.S. filled both criteria.
The talent will get better and maybe the coaching will too. But it sucks to be wasting a chance to watch Christian Pulisic play on the biggest stage. You don't waste greatness. The USMNT just did.