U.S. v Germany: A psychological retrospective

I’m a little too hard on the U.S. Men’s National Team sometimes. It’s the manifestation of an inferiority complex inherited from years of middling U.S. Soccer. I’m so desperate to prove that they are good enough that, when they prove themselves otherwise, I jump on the bashwagon so as to align myself with the haters. That way, I am impervious to their barbs; see, I know why they aren’t as good as the optimists say, you aren’t telling me anything I didn’t already know.

Well, you get the idea. So, with the self-diagnosis out of the way, let’s talk U.S. v Germany.

The Sporting Rogue appropriately titled his match report “Full-strength Germany Pummels USA B-team.” Well, he’s right; that’s exactly what happened. And here’s where I slip into my psychosis.

The quality chasm that exists between U.S. and European football was blindingly obvious after Wednesday’s match. But, it was our B-Team, right? Yes. But consider what happened when England sent their B-Team to Chicago.

After the England game, I sat aboard an Aurora-bound train, silently mourning the loss. I overheard a couple of English guys patiently explaining “soccer” to their bemused fellow passengers. They went on and on about the performance of their second team and spoke with pride about the lads who wanted so badly to make the World Cup side.

After the Germany match, I recalled those conversations and thought about how wonderful it would’ve been to have seen a scoreless draw. It would’ve been nice to talk about Brian Ching’s passion. It would’ve been great to say that Corey Gibbs made a triumphant return to the squad. It would’ve been fun to say that Clint Dempsey continued to contribute.

Instead, Deuce was suspended, Corey Gibbs collapsed under the slightest pressure, and Brian Ching was, well, Brian Ching.

It wasn’t Germany, but our lack of depth that defeated us that day.