I Cannot Believe We Did Not Win

Erick Mata, Reporter

It was earlier this month, when the U.S. Men’s National soccer team traveled to Trinidad & Tobago and were set to play a qualifying match; which was their last chance at punching their ticket to Russia for the 2018 World Cup. With the entire nation on their back they knew that a draw would not be enough.

As the national anthem played, millions of Americans back home were glued to their television screens waiting anxiously for the first whistle to blow.

The game started in the worst way possible when in the 17th minute, the U.S. central back Omar Gonzalez attempted to clear a cross out of the box and unfortunately chipped over his own goalkeeper, Tim Howard. The U.S. still had plenty of time to win the the game but things would only get worst when in the 37th minute, Trinidad scored again, which seemed something out of a video game.

Finally the whistle blew to end the first half and the national team headed to the locker room. What was said in that locker room remains unknown but USMNT head coach Bruce Arenas team had to respond and respond fast. Time was running out to qualify for the world’s biggest tournament.

The team responded by scoring an early second half goal in the 46th minute by young superstar Christian Pulisic. The country roared in excitement but did not celebrate for too long as they knew there was a whole lot of work to do before the final whistle blew.

With every scoring opportunity the U.S. had, the country began to roar their famous chant…”I believe that we will win!” With chances not being finished and the clock still running the pressure was mounting.

The country sat on the edge of their seats biting their nails. With each minute passing and each chance being missed the desperation grew and grew.

As the final seconds were winding down, the emotions began to rise and then the final whistle blew and the nation was shocked!

The USNMT would not participate in next year’s World Cup.

The disbelief felt by the players, coaches, staff, and nation was unbearable. For the first time in thirty one years the United States of America failed to qualify for the World Cup.

The next day it was as if every national team supporter was trying find someone to point their finger at and put the blame on. The problem is not that Americans don’t know how to play the world’s game, the problem is that they try to play the world’s game their way.

Take the top sports in America such as the NFL, NBA, and MLS, they all have a drafting system where the worst performing team is awarded the first pick in the draft…that is not acceptable in this sport. In the rest of the world if you lose you get relegated, which is a demotion to a lower division.

Soccer is not another name for the sport, soccer is the name of the system in which this country manages the game.

In order to understand this system and each of its flaws, we must start off at the base of American soccer,  and focus on clubs and academies.

According to the US Youth Soccer League Organization 3,055,148 children signed up to play the game in 2014. Most kids start at a young age but as they get older and progress in skill, what they get taught often comes with a hefty price.

In 2015, Time.com did some research on the overwhelming costs of playing club ball and came across a soccer family with four boys who dream of playing at the collegiate level. The boy’s parents were asked to sum up the total cost of their soccer expenses and it came to a whopping of $17, 400. That includes club monthly fees, player tournament fees, travel expenses to eight tournaments in the past year such as hotel, gas, and car rentals, and last but not least coaching fees.

It almost seems as if the game is only geared towards the high class…at least in this country. How is it that in third world countries such as Brazil and Argentina there are more developed players coming out of their clubs and academies? The majority of clubs and academies are opened to almost any one and the potential to reach the highest level, professional, is based off of skill and not financial situations.

It’s not to say that American youth academies are not producing well developed players but they are minimizing the opportunities of having more well developed players by charging outrageous fees.

Again the problem is not that we can’t play the game, it’s the way we want to play it. Things must change, more opportunities are needed to be given. We have the resources, but we need to use them to open many more doors, not close them.

One other change that has to be made is the attitude in which the national team plays with. They seem too confident. They have great skill and great potential but the game is still 11 against 11. It’s about who wants it more. The USMNT lack the hunger and seem as if they have lost motivation.

Bruce Arena resigned soon after the failure to qualify for Russia and expressed right after the game in the post-game conference that it was his fault that the team could not perform and accepted responsibility for what happened. A lot of questions are needed to be answered and the main one involves the players and when they become accountable for their poor play on the pitch. With the amount of money put into the program, the resources at hand, and the salaries these players have, they must realize that they too are the ones playing the game. They are the ones stepping on that field and representing this country.

Once the foundation of the youth academies open more doors and create new opportunities for every kind of class and the attitude of the national team change then the American people can believe again…they can believe that they will win.