*Before I get to the post just wanted to say I am going to start listing what I am listening to, if anything, as I post. Because why? I don't know really, just seems like a fun idea.
Social Distortion- Mainliner
The two invites for the next edition of Copa America will go to Japan and perennial hangers-on Mexico. This is the second time Japan has taken part in a Copa America. It is my understanding they have been invited due to cultural/heritage links with the western part of the conmebol region. Spain once took part for similar reasons. The big news here, for me at least, is the exclusion of the United States in favor of Japan. In 2007 the US took part in the tournament for the third time after a dozen year absence. However it seems the half-ass "b-team" they sent to Venezuela did not impress and the power brokers of conmebol felt somewhat disrespected.
I totally understand that point of view. Copa America is a 12 team tournament and the invite slots could go to any number of countries eager to participate (Costa Rica for example), so for an invitee to send a weakened squad comes across as unappreciative. It would be one thing if it was a still-competitive Spanish or Dutch b-team but the US delegation lost all 3 of the games in the group phase and piled up a goal differential near the negative double digits.
For conmebol the exclusion of the US may have some cost. Mostly forfeiting exposure for its countries' stars and the clubs they play for to the growing US market. I have heard several times, although I don't know if it is a fact, that the 2007 tournament had better ratings than the Stanley Cup final in the US that year.
The cost is heavier on the American side of the equation. South Americans living in the US will do anything to watch the tournament, but there is a potential to build on that and make the tournament a huge marketing tool for the game to the casual fan. Seeing the US compete with the giants of the hemisphere can only be a good thing for football in the United States. And it is beneficial from a footballing standpoint as well. Playing good teams makes you better, and the US is desperate for good competition. Some people argue the only way for the US to take part in Copa America is with a b-team squad because the Gold Cup is played the same summer, already putting a strain on the MLS season. This is insanity. The Gold Cup is a sham of a tournament, but for the sake of argument lets say the US wanted to do both. There are two options:
1. send the b-team to the Gold Cup to deal with powerhouses like Granada and Panama and let the best players go to South America. The GC is ridiculous, it is the only tournament where only one nation in the confederation is allowed to host it, and it involves teams that aren't even fully recognized by FIFA. Does anyone really care?
2. there are enough Americans playing in Europe, and some doing so very well, who can make up a Copa America squad. Every major European league is dormant in late June/early July, and many of the Americans' club teammates are on international duty during these months. It would seem a tournament like C.A. would benefit everyone involved.
There are some people who have a bizarre pathological obsession with beating Mexico for the Gold Cup every few years. Fine, knock yourselves out. But since Mexico are always in the Copa America wouldn't it be even better to send our best against theirs and hopefully beat them when it matters? This is all a moot point for now because the US won't be in Argentina for 2011, but there is plenty of time to lobby for inclusion in the 2015 tournament.
-AM
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I feel the U.S is concentrated in getting qualified to go to the Confederation Cup. Which they did pretty well in South Africa.
ReplyDeleteHowever it is disappointing to see that we don't get invited for Copa America which has more pedigree than the Gold Cup.
I think the bottom line is that the MLS season starts in the spring, and goes all summer long into fall. This has been pointed out before as a problem with bringing players from europe to the MLS. Maybe the MLS should shorten their season, or have a summer break to play in these tournements. The only other option is to build domes in the northern states and play all winter long. I dont know... but I do know that USA soccer should not be giving up chances to play in big tournements like this, cause unfortunately MLS still isnt very popular and wont be for another 10 or more years.
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