The US has enough population to field top level teams in all of those sports. Keep in mind that Uruguay is a country with 3 million people, and they've won the World Cup before and regularly feature in the advanced stages also. Besides, I don't even think that top football, basketball, or baseball players would necessarily do well at soccer.
I actually think that the top soccer talents were just completely wasted - they are not even necessarily playing another sport professionally. Sadly, I think playing soccer at a professional level is just so unappealing in the US that it comes to that.
I was sympathizing with Costa Rica when they beat Uruguay and Italy, and then boring Greece. But 1/4 final is more than enough for a team that is in many ways similar to Greece - they were near or at the bottom in number of shots and possession in group stage, and against Netherlands one of the commentaries was that they almost managed an unprecedented feat of no shots on target in 120 mins, if it wasn't for those couple in the last few minutes. I like rooting for underdogs, but I also don't want to see defensive minded teams with limited talent getting too far...Yes Costa Rica figured, perhaps rightly so, that their best chance of beating the Dutch was penalties. So they succeeded in at least that part
I was sympathizing with Costa Rica when they beat Uruguay and Italy, and then boring Greece. But 1/4 final is more than enough for a team that is in many ways similar to Greece - they were near or at the bottom in number of shots and possession in group stage, and against Netherlands one of the commentaries was that they almost managed an unprecedented feat of no shots on target in 120 mins, if it wasn't for those couple in the last few minutes. I like rooting for underdogs, but I also don't want to see defensive minded teams with limited talent getting too far...
It's not that the top professional talent in other sports could apply directly to soccer, it's that the millions of boys growing up focus on the football, baseball and basketball even if they never have a chance of advancing on. Growing up, it was near impossible to get enough kids in the surrounding towns to field enough teams for a league. Baseball and pee-wee football never had that issue.
The best players usually transition to other sports, simply because the programs are better. Realistically, athletic kids can transition from soccer to football with little problems. And, if they are that good, chances are they can make it in either sport. It also doesn't help that players who might be soccer prodigies are picked up as other sport prodigies and steered in that direction at a young age in the US.
I was sympathizing with Costa Rica when they beat Uruguay and Italy, and then boring Greece. But 1/4 final is more than enough for a team that is in many ways similar to Greece - they were near or at the bottom in number of shots and possession in group stage, and against Netherlands one of the commentaries was that they almost managed an unprecedented feat of no shots on target in 120 mins, if it wasn't for those couple in the last few minutes. I like rooting for underdogs, but I also don't want to see defensive minded teams with limited talent getting too far...
The dutch have been in the eight finals or quarter finals or final game of the WK soccer for the last 40 years. You are mistaking.
EDIT:
On the fifa soccer list, the dutch rank higher than all three.
How many world cups have the Dutch won? None. Yes, they've been close, and they have been consistently good, but never won it all. All the "elite" teams have won it all (Germany, Brazil, Italy, Argentina, France etc). When/if the Dutchies win it all they will join the club. Until then, they are just a consistently good team.
I think part of the problem with the US team is that they let the opposition play their game too much. They only foul if there is actually a fair chance of getting the ball, and rarely fouls just to stop the attacking flow of the opponent.
This makes for more attractive games in general, because they become more open and there's more end to end stuff. But it's not a great idea if the objective is to win. Particularly since the US is not as good technically as the other top teams and doesn't have as much talent.
Just look at Brazil, they don't have enough talent in the squad this year to play their usual attractive game, so they mostly had to resort to playing "ugly". Sometimes you gotta do what it takes to get the results given the players that you have.
If you really think about it, the US was a bit lucky this tournament to have made it that far. The Ghana game could have gone either way, and if they had lost that one, I feel that they would not have had the confidence going into the Portugal game to get a result.
I'm still very happy with what the US has achieved (not a hater, more like a neutral fan), but if you look at the details the US still has a ways to go if they really want to be a contender at the World Cup.
The problem with the US is very fundamental - Our players are technically poor.
I think Brazil - Germany is going to be a great game. Brazil might have lost their best player (which Fifa won't punish the tackler for... wtf! Talk about being paid off. Oh, the refs noticed a flying knee to the back of a player and didn't even give a foul, let alone the card it deserved? Come on...) and Silva, but I think they will show up ready to play and Germany won't know who to focus on locking down.
I think Germany will edge it out though. I hope Brazil wins just for Neymar!
does it seem unfair that the winner of the game today gets 2 days rest and the winner tomorrow only gets 1 day?
Both semifinal games should be on the same day, just seems like a huge advantage to today's winner
What are the chances for Argentina winning the world cup? My boyfriend bet £1200 on Argentina when they was 14/1 to win so I'm wondering do they have a good chance to beat Holland and the finalist? I don't know anything about football tbh I want to steal my bf winnings and go on a spending spree
I wish. He spent all his student grant on this bet. I pray to god he will win! hence why I'm asking here just wondering how Argentina are doing and whatnot.Your boyfriend must be very rich.
I wish. He spent all his student grant on this bet. I pray to god he will win! hence why I'm asking here just wondering how Argentina are doing and whatnot.
I second that. He does not seem like a responsible guy :-(Argentina is doing okay. They lost one of their good players (Di Maria), but Messi is still Messi. He can either create ways to score or lure defenders to him and find the guy who can score.
Also, I'd find another boyfriend. I'm sure there are plenty of ATOT members who would apply for the position. >_<
I wish. He spent all his student grant on this bet. I pray to god he will win! hence why I'm asking here just wondering how Argentina are doing and whatnot.
Messi is the best player in the world iirc hence why my bf gambled on Argentina I think. If he lose this bet he is screwed. I dump him if he lose the bet.. just kidding ^_^Argentina is doing okay. They lost one of their good players (Di Maria), but Messi is still Messi. He can either create ways to score or lure defenders to him and find the guy who can score.
Also, I'd find another boyfriend. I'm sure there are plenty of ATOT members who would apply for the position. >_<
Sure, but that is just how the schedule falls. And, the finals aren't until Sunday, so the winners today get 4 days, while the winner's tomorrow get 3.