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| USA National Soccer Team's Next Generation |
Today News In USA - Earlier, Argentina outlasted Switzerland, 1-0 in extra time.
Despite Tim Howard flying all over the place, the United States bowed out of the World Cup on Tuesday with a 2-1 extra-time loss to Belgium in the round of 16.
For starters, the team’s 10 MLS players will fly back to the States to rejoin their professional clubs over the next few days (midfielder Mix Diskerud also will rejoin Rosenborg in Norway’s professional league, which follows roughly the same schedule as MLS). For the national team, the only match on the immediate schedule is a Sept. 3 friendly against the Czech Republic in Prague. The first window for international matches in 2015 is March 23-31.
The winner will play the United States — the 2013 Gold Cup winner — for the right to play in the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia. If the United States wins the 2015 Gold Cup, it automatically clinches the right to play in the Confederations Cup, the eight-team tournament that is considered a rehearsal for the next World Cup. Expect a U.S. roster filled with mostly untested players at the Gold Cup.
The USA National Soccer Team will host the 2016 Copa America Centenario, the annual South American tournament that also will feature six CONCACAF teams. Then there’s the 2016 Olympics, also in Brazil, assuming the group of younger American players qualifies.
Soon after the Copa America ends in June 2016, the Americans will begin two-stage qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Turns out, Juergen Klinsmann was correct after all. The U.S. scored once, the first goal against Belgium at the Cup outside of a penalty kick.
With gradual upgrades of Major League Soccer, the World Cup's prep school for many Americans, and proper placement of worthy players overseas, plus more coaches on the youth level who can knowledgeably instruct and are not just the well-meaning parents of the left midfielder.
Of more immediate concern, while Team USA players justifiably can pop their shirt buttons out of pride, those aiming for the next World Cup must consider a sobering thought.
