The American team has been under-performing in this tournament, with a record of 2-1 in the opening round. Only scoring 3 goals in 3 games, the Americans have struggled offensively to convert chances. All the more shocking about the one loss to Panama is that the United States had won 26 consecutive opening round matches prior.
What's even more shocking, in my opinion, is that two of our top players, Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey, both left the team this week to fly home to be at the weddings of their respective sisters (not only that, but US Soccer is footing the bill for the plane rides). Could you imagine Chicarito or Lionel Messi or, honestly...ANYONE from another country who would get time off (let alone THREE DAYS) right before an elimination game in a regional tournament??
Of course not, which is why American Soccer is still way behind the world in how we prepare and train for this sport. I'm not saying weddings aren't important, because they are. But why in the heck, as a bride, schedule your wedding for the month of the Gold Cup and still expect your brother there?
Unless said brother told her it wasn't a big deal. He would get the time off no matter what.
This is flat out wrong. I love soccer, and I badly want our national team to perform well on the international stage. However, when two of our best players are allowed by their coach to leave the team, fly across the country, miss training....it just boggles my mind. These guys better have their best games in quite a while on Sunday, and the U.S. had better easily beat Jamaica. If they don't, Coach Bradley should be immediately fired. Even if they do, this sets a dangerous precedent. As a soccer nation, we need to re-examine our priorities.
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