Posted on 06/05/2014 10:44:51 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Klinsmann Offers Brutally Honest Assessment Before Team Even Arrives In Brazil
The United States men’s soccer team has its work cut out for it at the upcoming World Cup.
The United States is in what has been dubbed this year’s “Group of Death,” containing Germany, Portugal and Ghana.
It will be very difficult for the U.S. to get out of Group G, and head coach Jurgen Klinsmann isn’t expecting a miracle in Brazil. In fact, he’s being brutally honest and realistic about his club’s chances.
“We cannot win the World Cup because we are not at that level yet,” Klinsmann said, according to the New York Times. “For us, we have to play the game of our lives seven times to win the tournament.” But part of Klinsmann’s plan is to have the U.S. competing with the best of the best in the future, leading to sustainable success against the most talented teams in the world.
And while he’s tempering expectations, he’s looking forward to seeing how his team faces the daunting challenge head.
“It is one of the most difficult groups of the whole draw,” Klinsmann said back in December, according to Yahoo! Sports. “It couldn’t get any more difficult or any bigger, but that is what the World Cup is all about. We are looking forward to the challenge and we don’t see ourselves as any kind of outsiders. If you want to get into the top 10 or 12 teams in the world you have to beat these guys.”
This year’s squad is very young, which likely explains Klinsmann’s controversial decision to leave 32-year-old Landon Donovan off the roster.
USA, which is No. 13 in the latest FIFA world rankings, will open up group play against Ghana on June 16, then take on Portugal on June 22 before squaring off with Germany four days later.
At least he understands the situation.
And why he left Donovan off the roster.
Really, he shouldn’t say it. He’s coaching the U.S.A., not Germany.
Lando Calarissian?
how many teams are in the tournament and what are the rankings... not that I care much
He knows what he’s talking about as he’s a WC winner with Germany. He could’ve chosen to live anywhere in the world but he chose to live here in Socal/OC.
“He could’ve chosen to live anywhere in the world but he chose to live here in Socal/OC.”
I question his sanity
What, you expect him to wave pom-poms? This is a training session for the young members of our squad. That is all.
Way to de-motivate your players. Dumb comments by Klinsmann.
When I was still growing up/trapped in Kanadastan, I watched how LD/team USA beat Portugal. I’m starting to understand it now. Klinsmann has to throw the young pups into the fire for 2018.
32 (8 groups of 4 in Round 1; top 2 in ea. group advance)
and what are the rankings...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIFA_World_Cup#Participating_teams_and_officials
numbers in parentheses are rankings
Please understand one thing. On the one hand, you have professional athletes, and on the other you have people sitting on their couches watching ESPN 24 hrs/day.
I know the ball is round. At least, I think it is.
You do your best.
You never know when a team shows up in poor health with injuries or flu.
Just wow. So now you have some ESPN commentator who not only doesn’t give a crap about soccer, but who knows nothing about it . . . advising the U.S. Soccer Federation.
Now, why should the coach work hard to pee on Americans...
...when you've shown to have that job filled already for the last 15 years?
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