Jun 28 2009
Short-Term Loss, But Maybe A Long-Term Gain
You may be wondering if I’m bummed out about the USA losing the Confederations Cup final to Brazil. Not really. Here’s why:
- It was great just to see the team in the final, a please they’ve never been in any FIFA competition.
- The team played well. Brazil didn’t run roughshod over them as they’d done in the group stage meeting.
- I think the loss, the feeling that they could have (perhaps should have) won will make them that much hungrier for next year. If they’d won I would have had some serious concerns about a let down through the remainder of qualifying and into the World Cup. This way they know they need to push a bit harder, to keep improving as individuals and as a team.
What’s going to be interesting for me is seeing what happens with all these players during the transfer window.
Onyewu is out of contract after his time at Standard Liege, and supposedly has been getting interest from both English and Turkish clubs. That could expand. DeMerit’s Watford team was relegated from the Premier League, so he could get picked up by a top flight team. Donovan is out of contract with MLS at the end of this season and you have to figure he’s not going to resign. It would make no sense.
Here are some other posts which might interest you:
