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Originally Posted by JJG
First touch and ball control are what really separate most players at the higher levels and critical to the game of soccer. It seems these skills are not pushed early. The "good" players are usually good early on because they are more athletically gifted. When they no longer have such a large physical advantage, they have nothing to fall back on and get frustrated. They end up leaving for sports that better show their athletic abilities.
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THe ball control thing is absolutely true. The US is fit and a very physically strong team, and would absolutely keep pace with the likes of Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands if they had any semblance of ball control. (We don't and probably never will.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by JJG
The second part is we just don't have the culture for it just yet. Yea, a lot of youth play, but there is not much national exposure to the higher levels of the game and it has very little exposure in most inner-cities.
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This will snowball, but I doubt the US will ever have a major Association Football presence. That said, I think it can continue to develop and get up there almost to the level the NHL is at right now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JJG
It's very hard to compete with other countries who have soccer academies scooping up and cultivating really young players. They have much better player development and coaching their entire lives.
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That's my point
