What does it take to win a World Cup?…Experience, Passion & Expectations
July 4, 2006
As the U.S. team exited the World Cup, just a few conversations across America began to take place - one was captured below. So, as we prepare to watch the first semi-finals, we see three nations with deep-rooted history and experience in this colossal global competition. Germany, Italy and France have all claimed the crown of World Cup Champion (Germany in 1954, 1974, 1990 - Italy 1934, 1938, 1982, France in 1998) whereas Portugal is the newcomer with an experienced coach.
The question: what does it take to for America to be a contender for the Cup?
Some have called for Bruce Arena’s exit. Some have blamed our development system. Others allude to the American level of passion for the game. More state, that as a country, we just don’t have the experience from a macro level (coaching, players, fans, leagues, etc.). Goldman Sachs even produced a report — Download world_cup_economics.pdf — that takes into account a multitude of factors which is very interesting. Still, America has not found the formula. Could it be in Coca Cola? Who knows?
Personally, I think there are three critical factors and these can be argued. One, the United States as a soccer playing nation lacks the championship experience on the World stage that many other countries have over the U.S. and this speaks volumes. Take Italy for example, this country has been passionately involved in playing this game at the highest levels since the 1930 World Cup but so has the U.S. who reached the semi-finals in the 1930 Cup. The difference is that Italy qualified and won World Cups early in its nations history and continued to prosper as a soccer nation over the decades building a rich tradition and passion for the game. In contrast, the U.S. failed to qualify for 4 decades from 1954 to 1986 and its less than passionate appetite for the sport certainly did not help the U.S. sport. Was U.S. soccer affected by the focus on other sports, developing as a nation of immigrants, fighting wars and building its economy? Maybe so but, this brings me to the second critical factor - passion.
Passion for this game in the U.S. as you look across the globe and compare is lacking. Look at the most notably fan followings, the Brazilians, Dutch, Germans, Argentines, English and Italians - they would all argue they are best fans. Sam’s ARMY is developing but we are just not on the same level yet. Alexi Lalas and countless others have identified passion as a critical factor for the success of MLS and this should only apply to U.S. soccer since our national players should evolve and thrive from this league. Did you know EPL, Seria A and Bundesliga are the three most represented leagues in the World Cup? These are also three of the most passionately represented leagues in the World. This passion naturally becomes ingrained in the local fanbases and thus builds stronger pride and following of its National team. With this pride comes certain expectations, which is what I think is the third critcal factor.
Expectations of a nation carries a heavy burden on the countrymen representing its nation. And when those expectations and consequences are really not there - how can we expect as a nation to reach such heights. We know that in other countries the medias continual coverage has a certain influence on the moral and tone it sets for the country and that influence holds certain expectations of its teams, coaches and players. How much have we as American really expressed our expectations of our team, its coach and the results we expect? Its just not there in relation to the expectations that are upheld in other countries. So, again, I ask what will it take for the U.S. to be a serious contender?
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