Last Monday night the U.S. National Team defeated Ghana in the first round of the World Cup.   The manner in which it was won led many pundits to question the style implemented  by both Manager Klinsmann and the team itself.  Was it an attractive victory, with style and verve?  Admittedly, no.  After Clint Dempsey scored a terrific goal in the first minute, Ghana laid siege to the U.S. penalty area, and the U.S. defended with their lives.  It was a planned defense, however, as the U.S. players concentrated their efforts to force Ghana’s attackers into wide areas and defend the subsequent crosses.

Obviously, we’d all love to see our National Team play with the artistry and beauty of the 1970 Brazil team.  The reality, however, is that at this point in our nation’s soccer development, we lack the technical ability to play that way against superior teams.  Essentially, we’ve got a lot of piano carriers and not enough piano players.  It may not have looked pretty, but I for one am pretty proud of the effort and spirit a few Americans put forth on the world stage – when nobody expected much.

In my last post, I mentioned that as a coach, I often tell young players that the most important play is the next one.  After defending in the heat and humidity for 81 minutes, the U.S. succumbed to the tying goal.  Part of the blame for Ghana’s goal was directed at Fabian Johnson, who failed to track the run of scorer Andre Ayew.

Most American supporters were undoubtedly thinking that two points were thrown away (and at that point praying that the point could be salvaged).  Fabian Johnson, however, had other ideas.  While John Brooks received the plaudits for scoring the winning goal, it was Johnson who refused to give up on a ball that was going out and forced his opponent into yielding the corner that lead to the goal.  That mental strength to let go of a mistake and move forward to create an opportunity is something all kids can learn from sport.

The U.S. has always defended with dogged determination, and relied on counter-attacks and set pieces to score against superior teams:

Klinsmann was brought in to change that approach, but it’s too early to expect us to be playing like Spain.  Do we want to see that?  Duh – of course we do.  But we also want wins.  You are always training your troops to become better, but (and my apologies to Donald Rumsfeld) you go to war with the army you have.

Rather than complain about the style of the national team, look to how things are done today at the youth level.  If you want to see the National Team play creative, attacking soccer, kids need to be trained in the right way now.  Coaches should be able to explain their philosophy so that parents understand what the team’s priorities are.  Kids need the freedom to play that way and learn the game – not merely to manage individual game results so they can “win” a league title at u-10.

While most Americans are excited about what Klinsmann can do with the current senior team, I am more interested in changes related to our youth system – which was a big reason he was hired in the first place.  No other American National Team manager was given the resources currently at his disposal, and I for one hope to see renovations to what is a firmly entrenched youth development structure that continues to put too much emphasis on winning at the younger ages.  He has the bully pulpit, and I hope he uses it.