Like most Americans I used to think soccer was boring, and the only time I really watched was during the World Cup. This changed 3 years ago when I learned more about the sport and started watching more games, and since then I have been a die-hard US Soccer fan. Regardless, I am a die-hard fan of the United States in any sport, even Curling during the Winter Olympics, but I have been closely following the US National Team the past three years. I cheered when we defeated Spain in the Confederations Cup last summer, and cried when we lost to Brazil in the Final. In these last three years I have watched our team grow both in skill and confidence, and I am so proud of them for this. We have grown from a team that just seemed to give up half-way through a match, to a team that fights until the end even when the odds are against us. We may not have the most talented team, but we have proven that we can keep up and even beat the juggernauts of international soccer. Unfortunately we will have to wait another four years to see if we can make a deep run in the World Cup. It was hard to watch the USA lose to Ghana but the future looks bright and now the country is behind US Soccer.
One thing that has been on everyones mind, including mine, is why did Bob Bradley start Ricardo Clark and Robbie Findley if they have constantly shown that they could not help the team during a game? Im sure there is a reason, but only Bob Bradley knows. Can he take us the next level? Only time will tell, and that is if US Soccer decides to keep him as coach. I personally would keep Bob Bradley because if we have grown this much confidence wise why bring in another coach and start from step one? Yes a change could be good, but from where I am standing as of now it would be a bad decision. I honestly think this will be the beginning of a beautiful future. If Jozy is dominate like he should be by 2014 and if Charlie Davies stays healthy we should be strong up front. I see the midfield staying pretty much the same which leaves our defense as the only problem, but we have four years to figure that out however. The pages in the history book for the 2014 World Cup are yet to be written, and we have the pen in our hands. And so the hard work begins.
