Reply to USMNT vs Ecuador Game Thread

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[quote=Anonymous]I was OP for the sub thread stating that it is our players, not our coaches that are the reason the USMNT does not have success.

The replies to this have started a sub-context argument of economics v. culture. These are not conflicting arguments, they are part of the same argument.  Economics are part of any culture and culture also, in turn, drives economics. Most kids begin and continue playing a sport because they like it. However, "elite" athletes, especially in the teenage years, may focus on the sport that a) they like and b) is also of most economic benefit to them, if they have a choice, which many "elite" athletes do. In the US these elite athletes tend to not choose soccer. This is both cultural and economic.

When younger, they may also start playing the sport and liking the sport due to role models. Those role models are who they see on tv all the time, and talk to their friends about and emulate, etc. These roles models are on tv because ... they make A LOT of money because they play a sport that has a lot of tv coverage (which also turns into lucrative shoe / other contracts … i.e. even more commercial exposure).  In other words, they are sports role models because of the [u]economics[/u]. This in turn drives the culture which views the sport as something to be fans of and to aspire to be a professional at. Only a small percentage make it to that level and even a smaller percentage become starts at the level and an even smaller percentage become [i]international[/i] stars at that level. These elite of the elite are what the USMNT is missing.

Anyhow, until BOTH the cultural and economic factors combine (and feed each other) to get more elite athletes to play soccer in the first place, continue to play soccer as they become teens, and train like fanatics to become world class at that sport (because there are economic and cultural forces driving them to do so in addition to their own motivation), the USMNT will not have the success our country is accustomed to in having in other team sports.

This is neither good nor bad, it just is what it is. It does make it frustrating to be a USMNT fan, but it also tempers expectations. If US Soccer really wants the men's team to succeed at greater levels, they need to focus on the economic and cultural factors of the game to grow, identify, and retain the best of the best. They currently fail at this on the men's side, but to be fair, there is A LOT of competition in this country for the attention and dedication of the elite.
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