The World Cup: Bruce Arena and his players, tactics, refereeing and more.

It is simply outrageous the way former American soccer players like Eric Wynalda and Alexi Lalas have come to dominate criticism of American soccer. It is especially cynical the way these two worthies have savagely second-guessed Bruce Arena, the best coach in American soccer history. When I watch Mexican soccer, I see former coaches doing commentary. Where are the former American coaches on ESPN? Instead we are treated to former American soccer players shilling for and making excuses for today's American players. It is absolutely repulsive.
Remember, Arena did not cause Landon Donovan to only show up for one out of six World Cup halves. Arena did not cause Claudio Reyna to give up the ball against Ghana. According to Wynalda, the U.S. players can do no wrong. This is wrong.
The bottom line is Arena is the best the USA has ever had. He should not be treated in such a cynical and shabby manner. This shows what an immature soccer culture the USA has. American soccer fans should be ashamed of this cynical and savage feeding frenzy.
KEITH WATKINS Atlanta

The misrepresentation of the 4-5-1 persists as a quality formation for an offensive-minded team. The English also lost with the 4-5-1.
This formation is pernicious on minds of the team using it. It sets up the mentality of ''we need to be careful and defend.”
The lone striker is ''lone'' — it makes defending easy. An opposition in virtually any other formation is poised to defend easily and spread the field of play.
IAN DUNCAN
Surprise, Ariz.
To all those people who believe that going and playing in Europe is the answer to all the problems the USA had in the 2006 World Cup, I have two words: DaMarcus Beasley.
If that's what happens when you play in Europe, no one should go. During friendlies he looked like he was saving himself for something, but what was he saving himself for during the World Cup?
What ever happened to that hungry and skilled MLS player who played in World Cup 2002?
TOM BAUSO Rochester, N.Y.
 
Firing Bruce Arena, who has done brilliantly as our head coach, is an easy fix that solves nothing. The World Cup tests the entire structure of the national team: players, coaches, and executives. The USA was exposed as deficient in each area. We have four years to fix the problems.
MD HUNT Baltimore

I find it annoying the almost obligatory mention of the cause for the perceived substandard of U.S. soccer: lowly MLS.
In the course of my long life — I'm 85 — I have seen the sport evolve in Europe, South America and here into what it is today, and there is no reason to belittle the standard of the game in comparison with that of other countries where the sport has been No. 1 for a long time.
MLS is the USA’s first home-grown, legitimate soccer league, still in its growing process. It has problems, but the future is bright.
It should also be noted that other teams, notably Sweden, Croatia, Poland and England, all looked awful or, at least, not at all better than the USA.
KURT KLANN Via email

 
Soccer is truly an improvisational game. Tactics and role-filling are secondary to skillful inspiration at both the individual and team level. The U.S. performance at the World Cup was high on effort, but showed only brief flashes of the unexpected dribbling and combination passing necessary to create clear scoring chances rather than hopeful crosses. We need to nurture and develop a quick-thinking creative frame of mind in our players. They should be encouraged to follow their own instincts, and prepared to make the most out of surprises. It is important to note that this kind of independent thinking is essentially different from most American sports, which rely heavily on ''executing'' and ''following a game plan.”
We already know how to improve soccer in the United States because we are doing it! Anyone who witnessed our national team's futile attempt at qualifying for the 1986 World Cup knows that in the past 20 years soccer has improved incredibly at every level. At the rate we are going, it is reasonable to expect that the USA will be a credible challenger for the World Cup in 2026. This means that the U10s you see playing in tournaments today, as well as some of their younger siblings kicking around on the sidelines, may well be world champions someday. And one of them may even turn out to be our Michael Jordan of soccer!
ROB SCHNEIDERMAN
New York

I would agree that Bruce Arena deserves some criticism, but most of the blame should fall on the players. My criticisms of Arena are in the category of both formation and player selection. There were clear signs in the three warm-up games against those world powers Venezuela, Morocco and Latvia that we were neither scoring goals nor producing tons of chances. Sure the 4-5-1 can be offensive with certain teams, but it clearly was not working for the USA, nor was it working in the first game.
Why play four backs when the Czechs only had Jan Koller up front? And against Ghana, we again played backs backs. I clearly would have opted in both games for a 3-5-2 — especially so with Pope out against Ghana. I thought, in his defense, that Jimmy Conrad played far better than Eddie Pope, but there simply was no need to have him in there against Ghana. Eddie Lewis or Bobby Convey, or both, could have been wide left in a 3-5-2 with clear instructions to assist Carlos Bocanegra on his left if he was under siege.
A three-man back line of Boca, Oguchi Onyewu and Steve Cherundolo clearly could have performed well against Ghana.
I don't know why we had so many players ''off'' form. Pope, Claudio Reyna, DaMarcus Beasley and Landon Donovan were clearly way off, and Eddie Johnson's brief appearances weren't real impressive either. Pablo Mastroeni, Reyna and Pope all made silly decisions, and you expect better decisions to be made by veteran players.
SNAKE CARROLL
Sachse, Texas

I have been involved in soccer on three continents, as a player, coach, referee and administrator, for 50 years, and I am convinced that Paul Gardner is right in his plea to switch our coaching methods from the old British/European style of ''long ball'' to the South American style of short ball skills and midfielders who can hold the ball.
European teams like Spain, France and Germany have clearly demonstrated that their success has been due to this change from their old methods.
HARRY SCHWAB
Via email

I cannot help but wonder with all the talk about the USA being one of the fittest teams that it might be possible that the coaches over-trained the players before for this tournament? They looked tired to me. And this may explain the lack of leadership: it is hard to step up when you've been trained to exhaustion.
CHRIS OSMOND
West Seneca, N.Y.

The United States has made huge progress in soccer in recent decades, particularly in recovering from the depths of 1985. Many American fans seem to expect that progress to be a constant upward slope, but the ups and downs in big competitions of major powers like England, Holland and France, and of secondary powers like Denmark, Portugal and Belgium show that it doesn't work that way in world soccer. We will win again — and lose again.
ROGER ALLAWAY
Abington, Pa.

I would like to make a defense for DaMarcus Beasley. I suspect his pre-first game comments about not knowing what was happening weren’t really accurate—he likely had a strong inkling of what was happening and in his eyes it wasn’t good. I suspect I have tapes of almost every televised U.S. game in which DaMarcus has played.
His performance, including the 2002 World Cup, thrives when he gets an explosive start on the left side receiving passes and attacking the ball. During last September’s game against Mexico that qualified the USA, the point was made that the opposition often felt he was the most dangerous American on the field, and consistent fouls on him all over the field that evening served to support this.
His right-side positioning against the Czech Republic seemed to often result in indecision, less clean touches, and loss of explosiveness, all of which helped defenders neutralize him.
This is an area where I believe Bruce Arena erred — he wanted Beasley out of his best position in order to get Bobby Convey on the field. It was a gamble that did not pay off. Convey’s improved skill level and great hustle notwithstanding, he was unable to compensate for an uncomfortable Beasley.
JOHN HOFMANN
Merced, Calif.

The U.S. team failed on many levels, but the most blatant, most glaring, and most disappointing failure was Landon Donovan. For a guy who talked a lot of smack before the tournament, he didn’t play poorly as DaMarcus Beasley did — at least DMB put in an effort. No, Landon actually “hid” from the ball for three whole games. Sedentary positions behind midfielders, mistimed or non-existent runs and a lack of vocalization allowed Landon to actually avoid receiving the ball. And for letting him get away with that, his teammates were accomplices to his despicable AWOL mentality. Think enablers. They should have demanded more from him.
SCOTT GIARLA
Via email
 
It was disgraceful to see these World Cup referees commit so many wrong calls and issue an excessive number of yellow and red cards. This will only alienate fans from watching such a beautiful game.
VICTOR SANDFORD
Via email
 
The local morning radio sportsmouth was incensed that the USA lost to ''a nation where they have to close the mines to have enough electricity to run the televisions to watch the games'' (his words, not mine). Simple truth: the Ghana players face better competition day to day than the U.S. players. World Cup results have nothing to do with GNP.
BILL FRIEDL
Kailua, Hawaii

Why did Bruce Arena neglect the one lesson that should've been learned from 2002?
The lesson of the 2002 World Cup was that playing fast, skilled players who are young and eager to make a name for themselves pays off. Clint Dempsey showed it in 2006. Franck Ribery was one of France’s most effective players.
Many known stars disappointed – David Beckham, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Zinedine Zidane (until the game against Spain). The older players need the push from the younger players. The younger players need the opportunity to show they can make something happen.
STEPHEN BAILEY
Via email

Just like any CEO when the company goes ''belly-up,” who should be blamed for the fiasco that was Germany?
As know-it-all Bruce Arena has stated, ''It all comes down to me.”
And I do believe it does.
LEO PEREZ
San Antonio, Texas

U.S. Soccer is not in tragic form as supposed heavyweights of the game have stumbled as much or worse. That said, the world stage informs those who wish to hear her wisdom. Yes, the game demands and the player responds. The demands of 2006 were a bit much
for our boys. Now let's see how they respond. If Landon Donovan, for example, wishes to lead a world-class team as a world-class player in 2010, he must hone his skills in the most competitive environment available. If LD or any other aspiring talent believes anything else, fools are they all. I wish not to bash MLS as it is making a contribution
and maturing to be sure. But let's be clear, those who wish to be the best must compete with the best as oft as possible. All must agree that the most fierce competition produces the best.
KEVIN M. SIMS
Gastonia, N.C.

I agree with most of the criticism of the U.S. national team, but writing off MLS and sending our best players overseas isn't the answer. We need to invest more in MLS. With new stadia, new owners, more money, we can and should retain more players and bring over better foreign players as well. The new CONCACAF Champions League will help. MLS should contribute to Copa America and should get into the Libertadores Cup. The youth systems and more reserve games will help, too. None of this will deliver a contender in 2010, but we can hope for 2014. In 2010, we need to get a luckier draw and we need to come with a new resolve. A new coach is needed to inject some energy and enthusiasm. Juergen Klinsmann would be ideal if he is so inclined.
CHET YOUNG
Via email

It's time to realize that MLS isn't even up to the standards of even the League Championship in England. Until now, I always sympathized with Landon Donovan about his stays in Germany. No longer. Besides playing in Europe, our forwards and midfielders need to gain about four inches and 50 pounds — otherwise they'll continue to be blown off the ball as they were in Germany.
Also, everybody ought to just shut up about Bruce Arena. Without him, we would still not have advanced out of CONCACAF. I think we should consider a change, but only because he's been here eight years, and after a while any manager would get tuned out.
Eric Wynalda ought to keep quiet. As I recall, he was one of the ringleaders against Steve Sampson in '98. Guess if you can't cut the mustard as a player, you go after the coach.
 If there is a change in managers, there are some top foreign coaches out there who know what is it to win at the World Cup level. I'm really tired of hearing that foreign-born coaches don't understand the ''American mentality.'' How ridiculous and parochial!
Finally, did anyone notice the Freddy Adu interview on ''Pardon the Interruption''? Guess he doesn't want to play for the U.S. national team, though he didn't have the brass to come out and say so. I don't care how good he may become, if he can't say he wants to play for the USA and is playing us off against Ghana, then release him from any obligations now and be done with it.
J. SAGETT
Bonita Springs, Fla.

Thank goodness Bruce Arena's ''pet'' Claudio Reyna is retiring from the national team. He is not a leader. Brian McBride should have been the captain of this team, not him. Claudio was personally responsible for giving up three goals in the tournament, one in each game. His lackluster effort toward Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky allowed him to shoot an unstoppable ball. In the Italy game, Alberto Gilardino scored on a header while he stood there with his hand in the air requesting an ''offside'' call that never came. We all saw the play in the Ghana game where he was schooled and personally responsible for the breakaway leading to the first Ghana goal. Arena loses his objectivity when it comes to his ex-Virginia players.
PHIL LUDKOWSKI
Barrington, Ill.
 
It’s going to take a while to improve the quality of MLS (which is now painful to watch), and to get our young players to Europe and South American. Let’s start with getting the next coach in place and not lose the opportunity to snatch up Juergen Klinsmann!
JEANINE HULL
Washington, D.C.
 
The USA looked physically tired, especially in Game 1. I don't know if Bruce Arena overworked them, but that appears to be the case because they never seemed to rebound from the loss to Morocco. With such an experienced team, shouldn't the focus be more toward fostering team chemistry and flow on the field?
As a former college and high school coach, I understand the importance of leadership on the field and agree that the USA had none. There appeared to be no vocal leaders, and I don't see how you can give the captain's band to an immature 24-year-old. I'm not trying to be too harsh on Landon Donovan, but he's 24 and has not really proven himself against top-tier competition.
DONNIE HOLSTEIN
Omaha, Neb.

We were in Germany to see the USA play. Frankie Hejduk and Joe-Max Moore were in the stands just below us for the Ghana game — seems like we could have used their passion and fire.
ERNIE MORRISON
Via email
 
It’s about time that FIFA got serious about thugs in the soccer world. I watch for the artistry and magic of individual skill and teamwork, not for any player to ''take a card” for a professional foul.
Both U.S. players deserved red cards for their foolish slide tackles and attempts to take the body not get the ball. We would still be watching Marco Van Basten if he wasn't injured by the professional foul. Too many players are just physical and allowed to take a skillful player down.
I applaud the referees for cracking down. All players and coaches should have learned after their first 45 minutes of play and by watching other games.
STEVE LEPORE
Greenfield, Mass.

Please do not tell me that Jorge Larrionda acted correctly in issuing a straight red on the Pablo Mastroeni tackle in the USA-Italy game. The crux of the issue has been the inherent lack of consistency throughout the tournament by the officials. This has been noted by the dubious call issued by Markus Merck on the phantom foul on Oguchi Onyewu. It is quite unfortunate that officiating became center stage in the tourney.
GEORGE PRIDA
Via email

I feel very sad at the U.S. performance at the World Cup. Certainly, we're not No. 5 in the world, not even close. Surely, Bruce Arena bares some responsibility for the way the team played but not as much as people appear to be pinning on him. What the team lacked in Germany was heart and determination. So we got some bad breaks — that's for sure — but that doesn't give the team license to give up. To see a team with great heart, just look at Australia — coming back twice from being down, once to win and the other to tie.
JASON GREIF
New York
 
Certainly Claudio Reyna, the old reliable, made the biggest mistake of his life. Certainly Landon Donovan, the ''engine'' of the U.S. attack, turned out to have the horsepower of a '68 VW Beetle. Certainly every call that could have gone sour, did.
But the primary responsibility for the U.S. failure has to fall at the feet of Bruce Arena. When your team isn't ready to play, when you put out the most conservative alignment possible in a game you have to win, when you leave your most dangerous scorer on the bench for 60 minutes when offense means everything, you have lost your edge.
MIKE GAYNES
Moss Beach, Calif.