Eriksson: U.S. will win World Cup someday - soccer24-7.com Forums

***Celticrugby*** · May 14 2005, 04:10 AM

Eriksson: U.S. will win World Cup someday
RONALD BLUM / Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson thinks it's only a matter of time before the United States will win a World Cup.

"I'm sure," Eriksson said on Thursday.

England plays the United States on May 28 in Chicago, the opener of a two-game U.S. tour that ends with a May 31 matchup against Colombia at East Rutherford, New Jersey. It will be the first U.S. trip for the English since a three-game tour in 1993, when England lost to the United States 2-0.

"I know soccer is growing immensely in the United States, especially at the youth level," he said during a telephone conference call. "Maybe it's difficult still for the senior teams to have the headlines in the papers because of the confluence with a lot of other sports. I think the United States needs football, but even more, football needs the United States."

He was impressed by the Americans' play at the 2002 World Cup, where they advanced to the quarterfinals in their best showing since the first tournament in 1930.

"In the World Cup they were very organized," he said. "They never gave up. Very, very good fighting spirit. America always has that in every sport they go into."

Eriksson, whose team leads its World Cup qualifying group, picked a 22-man roster on Thursday that includes 12 players with 10 or fewer games of international experience.

Manchester United stars Wayne Rooney (needs rest) and Rio Ferdinand (knee injury) were bypassed along with Chelsea's Frank Lampard and John Terry, and starting goalkeeper Paul Robinson of Tottenham Hotspur, who all have injuries.

Liverpool's Steven Gerrard and defender Jamie Carragher will miss the trip because they play against AC Milan in the Champions Cup final on May 25 at Istanbul, Turkey.

Real Madrid midfielder David Beckham and forward Michael Owen will be available for the second match but might miss the first because the final games of the Spanish league season are that weekend.

"I might try if I see that Real Madrid is out of winning the league, try to take them for both games," Eriksson said. "But that's nothing I can do anything about today. I have to wait at least one week to do that."

Eriksson said Manchester City goalkeeper David James will start against the United States, which is preparing for World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica at Salt Lake City on June 4 and at Panama on June 8.

Peter Crouch, a 2.01-meter (6-foot-7) forward, is among three players on the roster who haven't played for England's national team.

"I'm not sure yet if he's good enough," Eriksson said. "He's a player who can give you something different because he's a very, very good header. It's very difficult to defend against him when the ball comes up in the air." Beckham figures to get a lot of attention on the tour. "He's very popular. I guess he's the most popular football player in the world," Eriksson said. "I think it must be very difficult for him because what he wants to do is talk about football, of course, and sometimes it's too much about the private life, of course. But I must say he's handling it very well."

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Let's hope the USA, Canada or Mexico win one someday so we can show the world what North American footy is all about.

Fins Prompte · May 14 2005, 04:22 AM

Could be a while though.

***Celticrugby*** · May 14 2005, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IBES

Could be a while though.

Or never if your pessimistic view of American soccer is correct.

Fins Prompte · May 14 2005, 05:08 AM

My answer was in reference to your comment about USA, Mexico or Canada winning the WC.

As for the US, I don't think they have improved that much really. I still cant see them beating Brazil, let alone the best of Europe.

I still cant get over how they got beat by a brazil under 21 team in the gold cup and they were not that impressive in the Confederations Cup either.

I still see them winning it if they are hosting it again.

***Celticrugby*** · May 14 2005, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IBES

My answer was in reference to your comment about USA, Mexico or Canada winning the WC.

As for the US, I don't think they have improved that much really. I still cant see them beating Brazil, let alone the best of Europe.

I still cant get over how they got beat by a brazil under 21 team in the gold cup and they were not that impressive in the Confederations Cup either.

I still see them winning it if they are hosting it again.

No one thought we'd get to the Quarterfinals either, let alone almost beat Germany.

Its not a coincedence that the US started becoming better on the international stage since the MLS started either.

I think this team's prime will not be this world cup, but in 2010. That I think will be our best shot at contending for awhile.

Depending on how the groups are formed for this year's world cup if we make it to the knockout rounds, I'll judge that as a successful tournament.

Speaking on this game though, did you get tickets yet?

VivoSCP · May 14 2005, 10:04 AM

They beat the Portuguese NT a while back which I am still biting myself for. I think they have improved I'm looking forward to the world cup. But, lets not get ahead of ourselves theyre going to beat teams like Portugal or Brazil.

Fins Prompte · May 14 2005, 11:26 AM

Not yet, found some good seats on ticket master.com. Just need to go with my friend to the mall and buy them there since they dont give you the luxury of printing them off and I dont trust the USPS at all.

**mejulian** · May 14 2005, 01:13 PM

I only read the headline but it seems like Mr Eriksson is only trying to be friendly and knows nothing about the US footy. Can he be more vague?

I don't know if the US will be a power someday, but one should never underestimate the Americans, especially when it comes to any kind of competition.

RiverPlate10 · May 14 2005, 02:03 PM

ya for sure someday...maybe 2200 when they have some robots playing good soccer for them

***Celticrugby*** · May 14 2005, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IBES

Not yet, found some good seats on ticket master.com. Just need to go with my friend to the mall and buy them there since they dont give you the luxury of printing them off and I dont trust the USPS at all.

What section are you going to be in?

Fins Prompte · May 14 2005, 05:52 PM

the good cheap ones lol