<p><a href=“http://soccer.si.com/soccer/planet-futbol/2014/06/11/jurgen-klinsmann-usa-will-not-win-world-cup-comments”>http://soccer.si.com/soccer/planet-futbol/2014/06/11/jurgen-klinsmann-usa-will-not-win-world-cup-comments</a></p>
<p>I don’t mind his approach. We are all adults. </p>
<p>Our HS Varsity soccer coaches like to set achievable goals. Making sectionals, winning more than they lose, or winning a sectional game or two can be typical goals according to sports reporters. Nobody flat out predicts they will be sectional champs or state champs.</p>
<p>Jurgen is preparing the team to make it past the first group by finishing in first or second place. He pointed out that soccer is unpredictable and anything can happen once you get past the first round. The US is fortunate to not only have a coach who has been to the World Cup finals and semifinals, but to have a coach who experienced winning in those matches. </p>
<p>In the local news last night, the anchors were quite derogatory towrads him, who wants to play for a coach like that? I don’t understand the uproar on his remarks. To me, he seems realistic and taking a mature attitude about it. So why the uproar?</p>
<p>They focused on only one sentence in the interview. Imagine if the US coach boasted that the US will win the World Cup. His words would be posted on the walls of every opponent’s locker room and some of the players rooms. He knows how to handle the press. </p>
<p>Far better to wait like Joe Namath did and proclaim your team will win the Super Bowl or the World Cup once you reach the finals.</p>
<p>I noticed Jurgen said this team is improved over the 2010 team. That’s what they should be following up on. I’m hoping that Ronaldo is not at 100% when Portugal plays the US.</p>
<p>Not a big fan of the Association Football, but his approach is very realistic. You don’t take a team that is low ranked and talk up how good your chances are. The goal for the US team in a situation like this is to not embarass themselves. The could have a stetch goal of making it out of the pool.</p>
<p>Sadly, the US team is just as far from greatness in the Rugby World Cup next year.</p>
<p>His problems go beyond his words. His tenure has been short of expectations and there is no sense of betterment in sight. A couple of good games in the qualifiers do not mask that the US is a rudderless team and one of the worst in this WC. The entire CONCACAF was simply horrible in the past years. </p>
<p>Perhaps those lambasting Klinsmann are buddies of the idiot Lalas. He never hides his disdain for Klinsmann
and even predicted right in front of the team on TV that they won’t make it out of the group. Maybe they won’t, as they are a GOD, but he is too much for me.</p>
<p>Torveaux,</p>
<p>Do you think the US will ever challenge in the Rugby World Cup?</p>
<p>One of the CBS guys referred to Dean Smith being described as the only coach with 800 wins who was an underdog in each one. In other words, undersell and try to over deliver. </p>
<p>It’s a ritual around here that Bill Belichik will refer to the other team as good in all 3 phases of the game, etc., etc., etc. until you’re amazed the Patriots even belong on the same field.</p>
<p>what are fair expectations for the US soccer team? I mean, honestly… the U.S. won the hex for qualifying. What else can we do?</p>
<p>Do we have ANY players on the roster with ANY champions league experience? Certainly no regular champions league experience.</p>
<p>Further, we don’t really have anyone on the roster with regular experience in the top half of the English/Spanish/Italian/German leagues except for the goalie. Our players MUST go to Europe for the U.S. to make any strides at the international level.</p>
<p>Michael Bradley came back to MLS like an idiot. How is he going to get better playing in MLS?</p>
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<p>It was not impossible. In addition to leaving Donovan home, Jurgen also left Sacha Kljestan off the roster. Even hampered with injuries and a poor Spring, he was head and shoulders above some of the coach little favorites. </p>
<p>It would not make much difference as the US has zero chance to emerge from its group. There is a good chance they will not score nor win a single point. </p>