The Washington Informer: Sports

By John E. De Freitas
WI Sports Editor
Thursday, June 29, 2006

World Cup fever is still high for most people as the games move into final play on July 7 in Germany. The U.S. will only be poised for the next games in 2010 if the team can shift gears.

Prior to entering the 2006 World Cup games, the U.S. was ranked number eight in the world. Their rank will change after the official rating is issued in July, placing the U.S. lower on the scale.

During game one of this year’s World Cup, the U.S. played miserably. When the U.S. met the Czech Republic, number two in the world, the 3-0 loss was more than embarrassing.

A tie in game two against Italy bolstered the morale of the team. Unfortunately, in game three Ghana wanted victory more because they defeated the U.S. 2-1. The U.S. team managed three shots in its final game against Ghana, after only one in the previous two games. Goals win games in the World Cup. The U.S. did not deliver on goals.

The U.S. was also unsuccessful at this year’s World Cup because of poor management. Coach Bruce Arena has had his years of success at the University of Virginia and at D.C. United when he led them to championships each year. Coaching the World Cup team has not produced the same winning streak, and his team had the worst results in 2006.

Soccer needs to be treated like other American sports. When the coach fails to win the championships, the coach must be replaced. So, Arena must go so that the U.S. team can be better equipped for matches in South Africa in 2010.

Arena seems to understand the shortcomings of his own management. He said, “We need to get more of our young talented players in Europe. We need them in a year round soccer environment. We need them playing in more intense games to help them develop mentally.”

Arena can be remembered in the 2006 games for his moaning about bad calls and cards by the referees. He also publicly rebuked two of his best players, DaMarcus Beasley and Landon Donovan, after the Czech Republic game. With the camera spotlighting Arena during the game, one could see that his attitude transformed the team negatively.

United States Soccer Federation (USSF) President Sunil Gulati is probably also attuned to the lack of management. He said, “We have to do a better job at broadening the base of elite athletes, especially in the Hispanic and Afro-American community.”

That is a step in the right direction. Gulati recently became president of the Federation and should be looking at improving the image of soccer in 2010.

It’s time for a change for the betterment of the U.S. and its reputation in the World Cup hierarchy. The team should be grooming the likes of 17-year-old Freddy Adu of D.C. United; 18-year-old Michael Bradley, playing in Holland; 19-year-old Eddie Gaven of the Columbus Crew; 20-year-old Jonathan Spector and Zak Whitbread, both playing in England.

Perhaps only then will the U.S. be able to hold its head up high in South Africa in 2010. Fans are counting on it. ABC and ESPN viewer ratings were higher than ever because soccer fans were able to view soccer on television uninterrupted from advertisements for the very first time.