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To: rupert1 who wrote (48144)	2/15/1999 12:04:00 PM
From: JRI	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 97611

OT Victor...I saw the game....and I hate to tell ya'...but the Germans were only missing 3 of their starters (granted Bierhoff was missing)....It the worst I have ever seen the Germans play....I don't know if those 3 guys would have made a difference........Granted, if they played 10 matches, the U.S. could probably at best only beat Germany 2-3 times at most....but, I would say that the last World Cup was not a good reflection of how much improvement the U.S. team has made, although 3-0 against Germany was also (way overdone)....The truth lies somewhere in the middle.... The U.S. is still a second-tier world power as far as soccer goes, but two things are certain: (1) There are no real great national sides anymore...on any given day, within the top 30 sides, anyone can beat anyone..(ie., even Brazil is not infallible.....) (2) The U.S. has been making steady progress over the last 5-10 years...this country simply has too big a population (and wealth) not to be somewhat competitive at most sports (IF they become organized...which has happened, on the national level, over the last 10 yrs..)..A real problem has been the lack of good coaching (for youth)..but even that has gotten much better....Now, there is big corporate money thrown at the sport.. Up until 15/16yrs. old, American kids are as good at soccer as any in the world...but that is about the time that European kids go and train with the profi clubs and clean boots...whereas the American kids go to college and play soccer....this stunts their "soccer" development (but not their overall growth, obviously)...so I think the Europeans make a big advance between 16-20 yrs...and, relatively speaking, that hurts the American player... One solution has been recently (a few American kids go train full-time with European clubs at age 16....and skip college...risky for them personally, but if enough go...it will continue to boost U.S. soccer)... Also, over the past 5 years, more and more America profis have been playing in Europe...Again, still a lot more need to go (for the U.S. to make it to the elite)...but if you look at sides like Denmark, Nigeria...you really don't need the whole team to play in the top leagues (IMO), just a core of 5/6 players...surrounded by 5/6 workers.... Additionally, in soccer (or, excuse me, football)...if you have a good 'keeper, you always have a chance....with Keller (Leichster City, sp?) and Friedel....that is the one area where the U.S. national team is as competitive as any in the world.... The last step is getting a good profi league (here)...that is going to take a while, but the current level is probably like the English 1st division...the league only been around 4 yrs...so I estimate another 10 yrs is needed before most of the teams could compete against English Premier sides consistently (if ever).. I reckon in about 10 yrs...the U.S. will be able to join (consistently) the elite, but until then, look for more (occasion) upsets of the (so-called) soccer elite.... Just think, the best athletes in the U.S. still do not play soccer....by the looks of it, neither do they in Germany (anymore)! BTW- I am 1/2 European, but I can assure you that there is no going back to the old days in soccer, the world has gotten smaller, and the formerly great powers can not just step on the field and book a victory...they have to earn it....and the little soccer minnions (and rightly so) refuse to show them any unnecessary respect once the whistle blows....I think this is great! BTW- I love Michael Owen...hope he brings back the glory days to 'Pool and the national side... both long overdue, IMO! Thanks for the update on the Thin One (Rush) and unintelligable Daglish.....Nice chatting with you Victor, and good luck with all....