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Why Americans Should Be Getting Excited for the 2014 World Cup
Published: January 10, 2013
When Jurgen Klinsmann was appointed head coach of the USMNT just 18 months ago, the expectation of many in the American soccer community was that he would turn the U.S. into the Spanish national team overnight.
Four months and six games later, a series of poor results and anemic attacking play quickly tempered those expectations. In Klinsmann’s first six games in charge, the U.S. was 1-4-1 (following win-loss-draw format) and the team had only scored two goals in those six games.
However, that poor start has turned out to be a bit of a blessing in disguise.
With expectations back to a realistic level, the U.S. can avoid the type of pressure that has routinely hurt other international squads.
England is a great example of this, as the English media and fans traditionally enter major international tournaments expecting the team to win—and when they don’t, it’s a major controversy.
Those types of expectations put unneeded pressure on a squad.
The U.S. had its own experience with unrealistic expectations when it entered the 2006 World Cup ranked fifth in the world, only to finish the tournament, embarrassingly, in last place.
After the rough start with Klinsmann, and with many American fans wondering if he was really the right man for the job, the team went through some major growing pains. Over the next few months, new faces emerged and old faces began playing their way off the squad.
In the semifinal round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, the team struggled and only secured qualification via a late winner from former castaway Eddie Johnson against Antigua and Barbuda, as well as a comeback win against Guatemala.
And...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football
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