U.S. SOCCER COACH DESERVES THE BOOT
Greg Ryan, fresh off leading the U.S to a third-place finish at the 2007 World Cup, admitted his desire to remain the coach of the United States women’s national soccer team. A day after the 4-1 defeat of Norway, Ryan said he hopes to lead the team to further success in the future.
“I want to continue on as coach. I don't feel my job is done yet with this team. We had a lot of youngsters here and this was a first World Cup for so many of our players,” Ryan said.
But the U.S. Soccer Federation should not give Ryan the chance, especially after the boneheaded coaching move he made during the closing week of the World Cup.
Hours before the U.S semifinal match with Brazil, Ryan announced he would play veteran goalkeeper Briana Scurry in place of Hope Solo, who had not conceded a goal in almost 300 minutes of Cup play.
Scurry has been a star for the national women’s team, collecting two Olympic gold medals and a World Cup title. Ryan said he picked Scurry due to her quick reflexes. Another probable factor in the decision was that Solo had never faced Brazil.
Scurry hadn’t played a full match in three months and it showed. In the seventh minute, she came out to catch a free kick and it slipped through her fingers.
Brazil did not capitalize on that mistake, but in the 20th minute lack of communication between Scurry and midfielder Leslie Osborne led to an own goal, the first score of the game. In the end, the U.S. had its 51-match unbeaten streak snapped as Brazil handed the U.S. its most lopsided defeat in World Cup history, 4-0.
After the game, a livid Solo was more than candid with the media.
“It was the wrong decision and I think anybody that knows anything about the game knows that,” Solo said. “There's no doubt in my mind I would have made those saves…You have to live in the present. And you can’t live by big names. You can’t live in the past.”
That outburst got Solo kicked off the team.
Let’s be really honest here. Ryan’s controversial move figured into the outcome of the Brazil match. The U.S. players looked dazed and flat, the same characteristics that came from their keeper. Scurry’s rust was a huge factor. As Brazil continued to pile on easy goals, the U.S. team looked confused and demoralized.
Ryan’s decision seems like something out of a Disney movie. Pull the hot goalkeeper that got you into the finals and then play the wily-veteran cold and win the game. Hum, sounds familiar, like D2: The Mighty Ducks. Expect the result wasn’t as good.
In events like the World Cup, which are played once every four years, there is no room for mistakes and no second chances. Ryan messed up and should pay the price. In some situations there are not obvious opportunities for reconciliation.
U.S. Soccer officials should give Ryan the boot.
2 comments:
Is it possible for someone to blow a coaching move as blatantly as this guy and get away with it in any other sport? What are we really talking about here? Oh yeah, women's soccer. I have nothing against female sports in general, and I am aware that this was a play in tournament for the Olympics and all, but in the end we're still talking about women's soccer. It's fortunate for this poor head coach that most Americans wouldn't be able to pick an unmarked soccer ball out of a lineup of sports equipment to save their lives. If we were a nation of soccer fanatics that matched the fervor of say, Brazil, then we'd be burning this guy at the stake. The reality is, however, that this guy can make poor coaching moves all day long and face no consequences. He could even expel a player for talking back about it...interesting.
Wait, wait, wait Nick, I think this same move could be made in women's basketball which is even worse to watch. On that note, I agree with FPS, the coach was out of line benching the hot stud goalkeeper and putting in the cold vet. Yet, Solo is classless to come out and say the things she did right after the match. Honestly, I think that a celebrity death match on MTV could solve this goalie crisis...
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