The USMNT’s failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup is nothing less than an abject failure. It’s a failure for U.S. soccer on so many levels, from player development and youth organization to individual performances and coaching decisions. It’s a failure that must be learned from so as to never repeat it again.
Taylor Twellman was back at it again Wednesday morning. After his epic rant went viral on Tuesday night after the Americans’ shocking elimination from the 2018 World Cup, Twellman returned to the ESPN airwaves to rant some more on the morning SportsCenter.
Después de la patética derrota de la USMNT ante Trinidad y Tobago y su posterior expulsión de la Copa del Mundo, quizás ningún hombre del planeta tenga tanto derecho a decir "te lo dije" como el ex entrenador jefe Jurgen Klinsmann. Esto no quiere decir que Klinsmann no debiera haber sido despedido o que hubiera dirigido a los Estados Unidos a la Copa Mundial, sino que en última instancia ha sido reivindicado en sus críticas a la Major League Soccer y a la mentalidad de los jugadores estadounidenses.
Normally I do not care much for Taylor Twellman as a broadcaster. He sounds like he's arguing with a vaery angry invisible person all the time. However, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I also think Twellman does good things. His work in concussion prevention is admirable. And then there was the rant Twellman went on after the USA's elimination from World Cup qualification.
I have never seen anyone that angry be that articulate at the same time, so kudos to Taylor Twellman. He said it better than I could have.
$400 million. That’s how much Fox Sports paid to wrestle the English-language World Cup broadcasting rights away from ESPN. That total includes both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, but Fox’s plans for the 2018 edition took a massive hit last night when the United States was eliminated from contention by Trinidad and Tobago, a country trumped in population numbers by Hawaii.
The nightmare is real. Three days before Friday the 13th and a few weeks before Halloween, U.S. Soccer completed its horror-show qualifying campaign with a 2-1 loss to Trinidad and Tobago in Cuovo, eliminating the Americans from the World Cup given the results elsewhere in the CONCACAF Hex. With Honduras beating Mexico 3-2 and Panama edging Costa Rica 2-1, the U.S. fell from third to fifth place.
This is not a goal. The ball did not go in the goal and therefore it cannot be a goal. The United States are out of the World Cup because this was called a goal. It was not a goal. The ball did not cross the line.
I need a drink. Goodnight.
The USMNT has a mean streak now. They're still the team that lost to Costa Rica and drew Honduras last month, and that still needs at least a draw against Trinidad & Tobago to be completely sure of not being knocked out of World Cup qualifying, but when they want to be dickish, this team can be gloriously dickish.
Heading into Tuesday’s final matchday in the CONCACAF Hexagonal, there are still a number of scenarios that could confront the United States when the dust eventually settles. Most importantly, the USMNT controls their own destiny. However, things could get a bit dicey in the event of a draw or catastrophic loss. Let’s check it out!
The United States beats Trinidad & Tobago