I think this generation of US youth, though, is something to look forward to in future years. The quality is getting better and better. They didn't look out of place against France. France were beasts though. They still have that balance between physicality and technique just right, imo. The US will get there too. They have much to be positive about.
In all honesty, I wouldn't disagree in a technical sense, or even a tactical one. We are getting better in those areas.
Our shortcomings being exposed in international competition are mostly of the psychological side of the game. Our young players are too coddled, made to feel too brilliant by helicopter parents, desperate recruiters masquerading as coaches, and even the Federation who relentlessly present only the supposed positives behind players and performances that are sometimes abysmal.
Watch the body language of our 23s, 20s, 17s, etc. when things go wrong.
They don't know how to deal with failure. They've always been reassured that their participation in DA, ECNL, playing in Regional and National competitions or whatever, sets them above the
hoi polloi of the average youth player.
That's where we miss Bob the most. No matter his tactical deficiencies/simplicities and his love for the certain type of mostly Neanderthal player, Bob was always able to get his teams to play the full 90 minutes. We're missing that now that the Fed has turned into little more than a marketing entity...
"Make it fun!" "Keep it positive! "Use the sandwich approach!"
Yeah, that does a lot of good as Deulofeu surges through the back four on yet another scything run...