Tag: usmnt

trashsenal:

what she says: I’m fine

what she means: The fact that the USMNT isn’t going to the World Cup really puts representation of soccer in this country at odds. Believe it or not, new fans and players are created around TV screens on hot summer days with nothing to do but flip through the TV channels; when you go to your nearest bar and watch your team fight their way past the group stages and earn their spot on the world stage; when a little kid that likes to kick a ball around watches as a teenage prodigy brings his country closer to glory by scoring a so-called impossible goal. The last time the US played in the World Cup, the country rallied behind this team. It’s true– more Americans care more about the NFL or college basketball, but if you tell an American that the national soccer team is truly giving it their all– that they’re winning– they might just turn the TV on to watch a match of a sport they don’t quite understand. That doesn’t matter, though, because it’s their country, another reason to be proud, another reason to feel connected with the greater community even if it is for 90 minutes. US-based Spanish sports media refers to the USMNT as “el equipo de todos”– everyone’s team– because despite its drawbacks, this team belongs to all of us, and not being able to see them in Russia next summer is a huge disappointment and cause of disillusionment in both the team itself and the ideologies behind the USSF.

freekicking:

Not to be emotional but it’s really gonna suck not having the US in the WC next year…

no American Outlaws, no viewing parties in packed venues, no official government letters getting you out of work or banning Belgian waffles for the day, no screaming I BELIEVE THAT WE JUST WON with total strangers in crowded bars feeling on top of the world, everyone coming together as a country to support an outlandish dream…

.. I’m just really REALLY going to miss it

Soccer rant incoming.

Prepare for some profanity here, because I’m very upset and need to express it as best a teenager can.

As an American, soccer fan, and fan of American soccer, this was the most embarrassing night in our history. We had everything to play for. Everything. Trinidad had nothing, dead last, bottom of the group.

And we couldn’t. Fucking. Beat them.

The only player on the field who played like we had something to play for was Pulisic. A 19 year old kid we discovered, what, a year ago? Two? And HE made the greatest contribution compared to other more-or-less veterans on the field.

A team that goes out and plays like utter shit against Trinidad and Tobago, a country with less population than Philadelphia, does not deserve to qualify. But I am still LIVID.

We changed up tactics. Got a new coach. Brought in talent. And we just plunged ourselves right back into the dark ages that Arena took us out of over a decade ago.

And in the back of my mind, the women’s side of the game comes into play. Again, women’s team has qualified for every world cup, won 3 times, placed in the top 3 of every tournament. The men’s team can’t beat an island nation. And guess who gets the big bucks?

And I want to note that I blame everyone involved here sans Pulisic for the whole mess. It’s not just Klinsmann, not just Arena, everyone should be held accountable for not playing to the level they absolutely should be able to play and leaving it all on the line until now, especially with all the money invested over the years.

I shouldn’t have to say that I’m rooting for Serbia and Argentina more than any of the countries in the cup, yet here I am.

I will always stand by this team, don’t get me wrong. But by God, this was utterly disgraceful. They better figure their shit out by 2022.

Rant over.

USMNT: I feel you.
USWNT: No you don’t. You don’t feel us. How can you? You-you know what? You say we’re the same, but we get compensated very differently. We work the same hours as you. And you just said we work a lot harder.
USMNT: Uh, you do, so…
USWNT: But we get paid a lot less.

For me, the USMNT has given me mixed feelings. On one hand, they can frustrate me when we somehow can’t win against fairly easy opponents (Trinidad and Tobago, anyone?). On the other, I still wholeheartedly support my country’s team and their efforts on the world stage.

Thankfully, tonight was one of those good nights.While we relaxed for most of the second half, we played a very high pressure, attacking game, which is what we should’ve done in the first leg! Great goals all around, though it should’ve been 5-0 instead of 4-0. (Sorry, Finlay.)

And of course, great to see Birnbaum out there, making DC proud. Sadly, we really needed him against the dynamo. But that’s another topic.

Go USA!

what she says: i’m fine
what she means: the u.s. women’s national soccer team is infinitely better than the u.s. men’s national soccer team, and yet the women’s team doesn’t nearly get as much acknowledgement for not only winning 3 world cups to the men’s 0, but winning 4 gold medals in the olympics to the men’s 0. they are the nation’s true champions and yet do not get the recognition they deserve for being the best soccer team