US Soccer: At a Crossroads

Was Germany '06 a disaster for the US and it's "Army"? No way. Was it disappointing? Heck yes, which in itself proves something right there. The day the US is disappointed it didn't make it out of the group stage is a step in the right direction in my opinion. The US had never earned a point on European soil before they drew with Italy despite playing nearly an entire half a man down. That was a courageous performance. The fact remains however, that the US didn't deserve to go on. They tallied (and I'm speculating here) about four real shots on goal. Who knows, had Claudio Reyna's cracker in the first half of CR game found net, the whole experience for the US could have changed. But it's soccer and it found the wood, and the US is now vacationing.

What is our national team to do? There are several things that need to happen:

We need a bona fide star who can take the game on his back and change it with one play. All the teams playing in the knockout rounds had this type of player. Who was it for the US? Reyna? Landon Donovan? Demarcus Beasley (shudder)? They just don't have that player right now, and until we develop one, we're still going to struggle in international competition.
Claudio Reyna is quoted as saying there is too much structure in America's Youth Soccer program. Think about it. How often do you see kids in the park playing 7 v 7 or keepaway or something? I never do, rather, I see legions of kids being coached to death on trapping the ball, kicking the ball, and learning that going backwards is okay. (Editors note: these are all good things, but to a point). The problem with US soccer as a I see it, is there is no creativity. No flair. No individuality. All the things that make Americans hate the NBA (one on one play, freelancing, showboating) are exactly what USA Soccer needs. I just don't trust anyone wearing a USA shirt to elicit fear for a defender 1 v 1 the way a Zidane, Rondaldo, C. Ronaldo, even Ballack do for their respective sides.
Any American soccer player good enough to get a contract from Europe must accept it. And stay over there even if the coach doesn't play you enough (does Landon Donovan ever come to this site?). MLS, God love it, just will not cut it if we would like to achieve international success. The level of play (I'm speculating here) is probably equivalent to a second or third division team in the top European domestic leagues (England, Italy, Spain etc.). Donovan, Beasley, Adu, Convey et al will only plateau as players if they continue to play for Real Salt Lake or whomever they play for.
Find a new coach because Arena will most likely be gone. I don't think it's entirely his fault because several of his best players didn't show up at all (Donovan, Beasley...I'm looking in your direction). But he'll be fired and a new man will assume control. Who they get will be vital to the development of USA Soccer.

Bottom line, Japan/Korea we surprised people. We pounced on Portugal in game one and still needed help to get into the knockout stages. We got the help and capitalized on it. In Germany, our group was a nightmare, and neither the Czech Republic nor Italy were going to take us lightly, and it showed. We got the help we needed, but Africa's best team took us out.

Despite the three and out in Germany, USA Soccer is on the map.