Failed States

Looking Back at the 2007 U20 FIFA World Cup

Vein of Form recently lashed out at the development (or lack thereof) of the youth players in the US Soccer system.  There is a serious cause for concern when you look at the current squad and see very few young, exciting and talented players working their way into the squad.  Juan Agudelo has looked great in a handful of performances.  But beyond the youngster from NYRB, you could imagine if the World Cup were held this summer, Bob Bradley would take a near identical squad to what was fielded in South Africa.

Quite simply, the national team system has failed and I would go so far as to say the domestic league - MLS - has done an equally poor job producing homegrown players.

Where did it all go wrong?

I'd ask that you think back to 2007.  For US Soccer fans this was a very exciting year.  The 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup was something of a showcase for the a promising collection of players that you'll recall topped their group by drawing South Korea (1-1), crushing Poland (6-1) and beating Brazil (2-1).  The topped Uruguay in the Round of 16 before falling to Austria in the quarterfinals.

Allow me to throw some names out at you that were top performers for the US during this competition:  Michael Bradley, Danny Szetela, Freddy Adu, Jozy Altidore, Sal Zizzo, Gabriel Ferrari.

Stick with me here.  Now, take a glance at some of the other players in this competition that you may have heard of:  Alexis Sanchez (Chile), Gerard Pique (Spain), Luis Suarez (Uruguay), Javier Hernandez (Mexico), David Luiz (Brazil), Sergio Aguero (Argentina).

Where Has All The Promise Gone?

See where I am going with this?  The non-USA players I listed were part of squads that have many players that now make the starting lineups of massive clubs all over the world.  None of the players from that promising USA team are even on the radar of top clubs.  Michael Bradley has not featured much since his move to Aston Villa.  And even then he has never been able to capture the magic he displayed for Heerenveen while in Holland which earned him a move to Germany to play for Borussia Monchengladbach.  He is a regular starter for the US - and deservedly so given his performances for the national team - but he has not reclaimed that box-to-box form that made him so impressive in Holland.

I'll talk about Adu and Altidore shortly, but great teams are made up of a collection of very talented players.  Danny Szetela went from Columbus Crew to Racing Santander after that great 2007 World Cup.  Then, he was loaned to Italian side Brescia (then in Serie B) before being sent to DC United in MLS only to be subsequently released.

Sal Zizzo went to Hannover 96 in the German Bundesliga in '07, failed to make a dent and was loaned out to a German second division side called Fortuna Dusseldorf.  Poor performances and injury sent him back to MLS where he is now playing for the expansion team Portland Timbers.

Gabriel Ferrari has had more clubs than a pro golfer has in his bag.  He was on the books for Serie A club Sampdoria before bouncing around with Perugia, Foggia, Temana, Wohlen and now back to MLS trying to build a career with Chicago Fire.

Luis Suarez - Still Scoring

Patience - I will get to Adu and Altidore - but think about the Chilean Sanchez and how he is lighting it up with Udinese right now in Italy.  Pique is a rock for reigning World and European champion Spain while starting for the best club in the world - Barcelona.  Suarez made a huge move this winter to Liverpool, Luiz to Chelsea and Hernandez is possibly the best signing of the year in England scoring huge goals for potential champions Manchester United.  Aguero is admittedly having a down year with Atletico Madrid but has been considered one of the best young strikers in the world for the last 3 seasons.

Adu and Altidore - The Dream is Over

US Soccer has failed to develop a world class player from that 2007 squad and it is simply unacceptable.  It is an embarrassment and unfathomable that our national team's system is so devoid of coaching talent right now.  There is no light at the end of the tunnel.  Just a long dark road ahead - particularly when you focus in on Adu and Altidore.

Adu is without question the biggest fraud in the history of professional soccer.  Not just American soccer - world football.  You can argue he was a media creation that was never going to emerge as a star.  Or you could look at how MLS clubs DC United and Real Salt Lake could not develop his talents nor could US Soccer.  Stints with AS Monaco and Benfica before moving on to Aris in Greece were all fruitless and produced zero moments that made you think Adu was coming good.

He is playing for Rizespor in the Turkish second division right now.  Second division Turkish football.  I would argue Adu couldn't make the squad of most MLS clubs.  That is how far gone he is and whatever his true age may be he is finished at the international level and possibly at club level come season's end.  Adu has shown zero reason for any club to want to pay him to play football.

Altidore is a very worrisome case.  I honestly felt when he was playing for New York in MLS that he was going to be the first international superstar from the US that was a scoring threat at all times.  It is evident now that he moved way too soon and that his lack of match play and coaching from US Soccer has stunted his development.  Watching him against Argentina on Saturday was depressing.  Watching him in most matches is depressing as his touch is heavy, his finishing non-existent and his inability to beat defenders reason to think he should no longer be first choice up top.

Think about this:  The US National Team's striker has scored 2 goals at top club level since 2008.  He scored early in his brief stint with Villareal in Spain and again with Hull City during a loan spell in England.  Altidore is toiling away in Turkey right now with Bursaspor.  He should swallow his pride and return to MLS. As it stands, his dream to play at a top club in Europe is finished.

Not So Fast, Juan

I stand by what I wrote in the MLS preview - that I want major clubs showing interest in Agudelo come season's end.  I just don't want him to leave yet.  If he continues to rapid ascent it would be thrilling for MLS and for the national side.  But 18 is clearly too young of an age for an American player to move abroad.  Their skills are nowhere near the development of their South American or European counterparts.  The fact is American soccer players do not come into their prime until their mid-20s or late 20s.

Think of Brian McBride and Clint Dempsey at Fulham.  Landon Donovan's brief stint with Everton when he finally impressed in Europe after a failed move to Germany. 

Steve Cherundolo can make a case that he is the best outfield American player of all time given his length at German club Hannover 96 and the fact he has been a long serving captain.  Maurice Edu is 24 and having success with Scottish giant Rangers.  The bulk of Coach Bob Bradley's squad are aging players that are toiling away at clubs near the bottom of their respective leagues or in MLS.

No internationally recognized names featuring for big clubs.  No one that is currently setting American fans' hearts on fire thinking of what may come in 2014 and beyond.

At the risk of sounding like an arrogant American, the USA should be dominating the game.  Because of the vast array of sports our youth can participate in the country produces more natural athletes than any other country on Earth.  Our 13 year olds are better athletes than those in any other country.  They just don't get the proper coaching to combine that athletic prowess with the technical ability found in Spain, Brazil or Germany.

The 2007 U20 squad is the prime example of the failure of the USA's development of the world's game.  Until someone within US Soccer steps up and stops this rot immediately there will continue to be disappointments such as Adu and Altidore.  There will continue to be a mediocre at best US Men's National Team.