What is Wrong with the US Men's Soccer Team?

The US men’s national soccer team isn’t going anywhere no matter what it may seem. Some argue that the focus needs to be on the youth and getting them experience and developing them; some say we need the right manager and the best players if we want to win, but both are wrong. The truth is the US men’s team is going to fail no matter what. Young American soccer players who play in the MLS will never win a major international tournament. Former American stars like Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard, Michael Bradley, and Jozy Altidore have all played in Europe, and the US men’s team won’t get better until their players start playing overseas.

Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams played in the German Bundesliga this past campaign, and both experienced fine years. Pulisic nearly helped Borussia Dortmund win the Bundesliga title, while Adams helped his RB Leipzig squad secure second in the DFB Pokal. Both of their squads’ dreams were crushed by the German giants, Bayern Munich who formerly employed a young American winger by the name of Julian Green. While Green has played overseas for most of his career, he still has not really broken on to the international scene for the US men’s team which is a rare case for Americans playing in Europe. So, while it won’t happen in all cases, playing for European teams will prepare players for the tough international battles.

American heroes like Landon Donovan (Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Everton), Clint Dempsey (Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur), Tim Howard (Manchester United, Everton), Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Aston Villa, AS Roma), and Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar, Sunderland) all have had tremendous success In the men’s national team after playing for European clubs. In fact, when the US team was at its best, it boasted Brian McBride and Carlos Bocanegra who also played overseas for Fulham. These players are proof that it is vital for America to start loaning or transferring their players to Europe for necessary development that will greatly benefit the international men’s soccer situation.