nobody Wrote:
OH...and the Englad team that beat us had a bunch of 2nd and 3rd stringers, but we only had a fraction of our guys as well...
We did just beat a solid Poland team a coupl weeks age and will be playing Germany in Germany next week...a game, unfortunatyely, that I expect to lose as our domestic players are all still in pre-season, we'll be missing many of our top players from Europe since it's not a FIFA date and teams don't have to release, and considering the beating Italy just laid down on the Germans, I expect them to be up for it.
I'd like to see the US play the Aussies..would be a close match-up I think. The Aussies have a few more established players, but the US plays very well as a unit...which is why they do tend to punch a bit above weight when ya look at results vs. the quality of many of the players.
This is the problem for non-Euro teams though isn't it? (Apart from S Am.) they don't often get the chance to play against strong competition, particularly those teams that are around that top 20 level, and when they do it's usually middle of the season so half the team isn't available, so no consistent system can be set up. We have that problem all the time, especially when the match is held in Australia to try to create some interest in the sport.
As for the rankings, I don't know. In one sense, when I think of footballing nations and good national teams I don't think of USA. But on the other hand a lot of the more prestigious teams with many great players seem to be underperforming or not inspiring much confidence (hello France, Italy, Spain in perpetuity, even England who, despite the English tabloid's opinion will
not win the WC).
Not trying to disparage the US, as they do seem to play well as a unit and get the job done consistently, but I guess for me, not really seeing the US play, it seems like you guys are out of place at that level in terms of not having the big names. Maybe in a way I'm thinking more of teams that
should be above you, given their talent.
I'm surprised that a US-Aus game hasn't been mooted since the new administration came in here - they've organised a good program of games so far, and a US game could be huge given the relationship between us and the fact that we are probably on similar levels, as you say. If we get to the WC QF I will be a very happy fan.