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Lack of Experience or Lack of Talent?

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With the 2014 FIFA World drawing closer International teams all over the world are preparing and practicing in hopes to Qualify, including the United States Mens National Team (USMNT). However, the chances for the USMNT to qualify are not looking so bright after a sickening 2-1 loss to Honduras last Wednesday  which proposes the question is it a lack of experience or a lack of talent that made the USMNT look so horrendous in Honduras.

(Image: justcreative.com)
The 2014 Fifa World Cup is scheduled to begin June 12th, 2014. (Image: justcreative.com)

The US is by no means considered a top soccer country in the world on the mens side, but they still are expected by many to at least qualify for the 2014 World Cup.  In Honduras on Wednesday the US had a new look on the field starting only four players who had played in the 2010 World Cup.  Of the four, Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard are the big stars now after US legend Landon Donovan announced his retirement following the 2012 MLS Season.  Dempsey who scored the lone US goal in the game has had some success in England’s Premier League for Tottenham and Howard has been the goalie for a few years now for Everton. Midfielder Michael Bradley and forward Jozy Altidore have also had success playing over seas.  Defender Geoff Cameron has also been playing overseas with some success and fellow defender Omar Gonzalez was the MLS cup MVP.  So seemingly so there is some solid talent on the team even though none of the players are considered to be superstars.

As for the experience part again, only four starters in the game against Honduras played in the 2010 World Cup and some of the US starters had not ever played in a World Cup Qualifier match before Wednesday.  The most experienced of the defensive starters for the US was center back Geoff Cameron with only 11 games played in a US jersey.  Luckily for the US defense Cameron is also the oldest of the group at the age of 27 so there is still room for the group to develop and come together to help out the future of the US soccer team.

In conclusion it appears that the USMNT has some talent on the field and some experience, but they are also definitely lacking in both of those ways.  Hopefully the young group can put things together before their next game against Costa Rica on March 22nd and show us the they are a legitimate contender that can qualify for the FIFA World Cup on a regular basis.