USA 5th in latest FIFA rankings

[THEOSU]

[ QUOTE ]
Compare that to the US lineup versus Mexico September 3:
GK Kasey Keller
D Frankie Hejduk
D Gregg Berhalter
D Oguchi Onyewu
D Eddie Lewis
M Claudio Reyna
M Chris Armas
M DeMarcus Beasley
M Santino Quaranta
M Pablo Mastroeni
F Jeff Cunningham

subs:
Landon Donovan
Steve Ralston
Brian McBride


[/ QUOTE ]

Well, considering that Donovan, Ralston and McBride started while Cunningham, Mastroeni and Quaranta were subs, that squad looks wholly different.

Four players who started that match and two substitutes are not on the WC roster (Hejduk due to injury). It can reasonably inferred that a side that defeated Mexico 2-0 has been improved markedly for the World Cup competition.

And, again, it ain't just about talent. If it were, Brazil would never have lost the World Cup.

[Fallen Hero]

theosu, it doesn't matter, spain is still better in all positions.

[THEOSU]

And yet Spain got just as far as the United States in the past two world cups...

[Fallen Hero]

[ QUOTE ]

And yet Spain got just as far as the United States in the past two world cups...

[/ QUOTE ]

and your point is?

PS: in 2002 they were playing the best football of all the teams still left in the tournament, until they got robbed against Korea.

[THEOSU]

I think my point is pretty clear. Spain apparently has more talent than the US and yet the US has gotten just as far as them (or, as in 98, Spain did just as little). What's the point of comparing talent in this case?

[Fallen Hero]

[ QUOTE ]

What's the point of comparing talent in this case?

[/ QUOTE ]

We're telling you that Spain is far better than the us, in every single position. Italy and Czech are better than Spain. See the logic?
If your point is that a better team isn't garanteed to win then obviously you're right but it doesn't make much sense to sit here and say that Togo could win the wc.

[kolotoure]

I don't know of one USA player who would make the starting 11 of Barca/Arsenal/Chelsea. Whereas all the good international teams have at least one

[THEOSU]

all,

I don't dispute the fact that the American side is less talented.

I dispute that this is being the endall as a barometer of 1) ability and 2) assessment of potential when it has been proven time and again that this is simply not the case.

[Fallen Hero]

[ QUOTE ]
assessment of potential when it has been proven time and again that this is simply not the case.

[/ QUOTE ]

how is it not the case? brazil has 5 wins; italy, germany, argentina all have 3. The most talented teams have dominated this competition (huge "duh"), it's obvious there will be upsets but to say that the better teams won't win more games doesn't make any sense.

[kolotoure]

When was the last time the world cup final had a total outsider team in it? Yea exactly