O'Hehir is right about US soccer and the pool of athletes. In many countries, soccer is the only game youth have to play. It's not just baseball, football and basketball competing for athletes, but, at least where I live, lacrosse, volleyball, crew, etc.

Yet, US youth soccer may be to blame too. (My son plays on a high level travel soccer team, which he totally fell into as a second grader; neither his father nor I played soccer as kids.) I saw many talented kids leave soccer before fifth grade, because they were unable to play a second sport. Soccer season is mandatory fall and spring, and throw in the optional summer and winter leagues. Of course, some would say, that weeds out those who aren't dedicated; on the other hand, those kids pretty much stopped playing soccer, period. These are kids who haven't even hit adolescence yet. Then there's the big trend now--soccer academies, where parents pay big bucks, and kids may play for a year or two, and then get cut--leaving them nowhere to play. Or the academy picks up half of another good team. Or the coaches from one team recruit the good players away from another team. At my son's level (U-15) there are fewer and fewer teams. If you don't have the money or live near a good team and your parents can't/won't drive you over an hour each way, you're out of luck.

Watching my son's team for over 8 years, there were kids who were stellar one year, so-so the next, and then got better again. Even saw it in my kid--one year he was slow as anything. Other kids were good when they were young, but weren't so hot later one, and vice-versa. So, the kid who is slow at age 10, ends up being cut from high level soccer, and he may end up fast and strong at 15, but it's too late for him to be a competitive soccer player.

Then, there's the injuries. Soccer isn't the only sport, but many of these kids who are playing year round from a young age are suffering lifelong injuries. We know this one firsthand, and when researching the condition, it's often found in one-sport athletes who started playing at a young age.

I'm not sure what the answer is. Having watched the youth soccer system, and seeing both the positive and the negative, I'm not sure that it is good for our youth, nor for the future of any World Cup teams.

The only reason the US scrapped a draw with Italy was the appalling behaviour of the crowd (army grunts? on crack?) who created such an atmosphere of violence and hatred it rattled Italy long enough to create the said result. Your team plays antiquated football. Get a better coach!

You're essentially right about the need for greater athleticism in the ranks of US Soccer. But one thing you don't mention is that there are signs that this is beginning to happen. Now that European soccer is all over US television, and now that we have a league that, while not exactly setting the world alight, is slowly growing and establishing a footprint, soccer is beginning to become a legitimate athletic career choice to children from 10-14 in a way that it never was ten and even five years ago. And in the younger ranks of the US player pool, you're starting to see more athletic players, guys like Oguchi Onyewu and Marvell Wynne (who is the son of a former MLB player). Kids are watching European games and--yes--MLS and realizing that there is a future for them.

Oh sure, it's not much right at the moment. But increasingly as time goes on, more and more great physical athletes are going to move towards soccer. That won't be the be all and end all as far as winning the World Cup is concerned... but it will be a considerable step.

The only reason the US scrapped a draw with Italy was the appalling behaviour of the crowd (army grunts? on crack?) who created such an atmosphere of violence and hatred it rattled Italy long enough to create the said result.

Are you seriously suggesting that those sensitive shrinking violets of the Italian national team, so used to the gentle and empathic fans of Serie A, were so intimitated by the American crowd that they couldn't play?

Damn. That might just be the most spetacularly uninformed statement I've ever read on the internet. I know you're entitled to your own opinion and everything, but you're drowning in a sea of wrong with this one.

forza azzurri!

Saha, cannot play, he got two yellow cards and is disqualified from the final

I'm sure the game will continue to grow in this country and the players will gt better. Just look at Eddie Johnson. He's a guy that could have been playing football, baseball or basketball. Why Bruce Arena didn't use him more we'll never know. But coaching concerns and better athletes aside, to me it looked like the Americans simply weren't as comfortable with the game as players from other countries. The grace and flow that some teams had we didn't-think european basketball 20 years ago. That's something that can only come from groups of children playing the game from sun-up to sun-down every summer and any other time they can squeeze playtime in. I'm pretty sure that is happening with more frequency now.

Another point I'd like to make that hasn't been given much discussion is how some aspects of soccer are diametrically opposed to American sports sensibilities. The theatrics players use to influence referee calls makes us scream "wussy, get up and play!" To Americans, a player had better be in dire need of a doctor anytime a stretcher is employed to carry someone off of the field. When we see a guy get off of a stretcher and go back into the game we throw our hands up in disgust and view all aspects of the game with suspicion. Yes this is due to a lack of understanding and appreciation for the game's finer points. But its tough for many to get behind a game that to them lacks any real "manhood" to play. Until soccer marketers deal with this point, major growth of the game will be limited.

Finally to the person that said American fans behavior was apalling at the match against Italy, I say "puuuhleease!" This is a game where monkey chants (especially in Italy) are allowed and hooliganism is expected. If millionaire soccer players can't deal with rough crowds maybe they really do lack the balls grown men have.