Foreign coaching has propelled the USA women - is it time for the men's team to emulate that success?

Watch Highlight of Women's World Cup Final : Japan vs USA.  

For all the success the United States women’s national team has had during the 2011 Women’s World Cup, it wasn’t too long ago that the team struggled to live up to expectations and appeared to be stagnating.

The U.S. hasn't won the World Cup since 1999 and had fallen behind Brazil and Germany when it came to pumping out talent. Making a bold decision to hire a foreign coach three years ago, the team has been reinvigorated and now awaits Japan in the 2011 World Cup final.

With the United States men’s national team declining in the quality of its play during the most recent Gold Cup, is it time for the team to emulate its successful partners?


While the difference in talent and playing style between the men’s and women’s game remains substantial, the philosophy of coaching is relatively the same.

For example, the Japanese men's and women's teams play an almost identical style of soccer. Since most teams have a physical advantage over the Blue Samurai, both teams emphasize passing and ball movement.

U.S. starting goalkeeper Hope Solo believes that under a foreign coach, the U.S. national team improved because the team was liberated by the freedom and confidence granted by Pia Sundhage.

“I think a lot of the American-style coaches, they like to be more involved with every pass and every play,” said Solo.

“From the moment Pia stepped in, she really changed the dynamic of the team. She has a completely different philosophy. She is one of more laid-back coaches I’ve ever had. She really wants to push the players to start being creative and thinking for themselves on the field.”


Surely the male and female games must be approached differently, but the Xs and Os apart, the tactical and technical sides of the game don't change much on either level.

During the Gold Cup, in almost every match the U.S. team appeared lethargic and uninterested. The only time the team looked motivated was, ironically, the first 30 minutes of its embarrassing 4-2 loss to Mexico in the final, when it took an early two-goal lead.

After that match, star player Landon Donovan refused to back head coach Bob Bradley, revealing a growing frustration with the current coaching situation.

It isn’t that head coach Bob Bradley is inept as a coach; he has done a solid job under difficult circumstances with an average group of talent. However, the team needs a change in the mental aspects of the game. A foreign coach would provide the team with the means to continue its growth.

Solo remembers being immediately impressed by Sundhage’s style of coaching, as it allowed the team to enjoy the game rather than focus on too many instructions.

“She said, 'You guys are creative, you are soccer players,'” said Solo. “She wanted us to think and read the game for ourselves. She makes us think when we watch films and dissect the game so that when we step on the field, we can think for ourselves and she doesn’t have to be on the sidelines saying, 'Pass the ball to Carly' or other instructions.”

She added, “She lets the game come to us.” 


source: Goal.com