Coach Ralph Soccer Connection

THE STORY BEHIND “YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE”
A brilliant documentary revealing the story behind “You’ll Never Walk Alone” as it became a football anthem for Liverpool and, latterly, for Celtic. Originally, a tune from the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical “Carousel”, it eventually became a #1 hit for the Merseybeat group Gerry & the Pacemakers in 1963. At the time, the Anfield Kop pioneered singing along to the hits of the day; “YNWA” became their anthem to greet the team entering the field and, as the years passed, to celebrate the Reds' greatest triumphs.

Its meaning resonated in the 2005 Champions League final as Liverpool found themselves 3 goals down at half-time to AC Milan. In defiance, the fans started singing “YNWA” at half-time, and the Reds pulled off one of the greatest all-time comebacks to clinch their fifth European title. It was a song that gave hope in the face of desperate odds. And so it proved. Similarly, after the Hillsborough tragedy, the song brought comfort and a connection to Celtic, who had also adopted “YNWA” as their anthem. The clubs joined together at Celtic Park to honour the 96 who died at Hillsborough. As a fan, it's difficult not to get emotional about “YNWA” when sung by the crowd, whether in circumstances of joy or tragedy.

“You’ll Never Walk Alone” is entwined in the ethos of Liverpool Football Club on and off the field. The only other English club that I can think of associated with a song in a comparable manner is West Ham and “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles”.

A couple of asides that arise in the documentary. First, clips of the 1965 Inter Milan European Cup semi-final, the most memorable game I’ve ever attended. Second, I’m currently in Chile, and last week I was telling Paula about my first LFC hero, Ian St John, and the clap/cheer of the fans gave to recognise “The Saint”. It turns out it was adapted from fans in Chile when the 1962 World Cup was televised on the BBC.

Who knew?
YNWA!

Why Liverpool Sing You'll Never Walk Alone - The Untold Story #Liverpool #CelticFC #LFC #Football How did a Broadway show tune from 1945 become the most iconic anthe...

LIVERPOOL 2 LEEDS 4
After 2 preseason victories, the Reds slumped to defeat after leading 2-0 at half-time. The internet is in overdrive. Hysteria has set in!! However, for me, this was a great game for Andoni Iraola. He will take away a lot. One thing being overlooked as the fanbase goes through withdrawal is that Leeds, in both halves, fielded teams of experienced players. The Reds, in comparison, continued to play a liberal sprinkling of Academy players. In the first two games, the mix was 4 senior players to 7 Academy players. With the arrival of Wirtz and Isak, it flipped to 7 senior players starting with 4 Academy youngsters. Liverpool dominated the first half with the big names showing up well as the team left the pitch 2 goals to the good at the interval.

Wirtz, Isak, Ngumoha and the highly impressive Trey Nyoni left at the half. In response, Leeds brought on Harry Wilson, Aaronson, Calvert-Lewin and Longstaff. Leeds now had players who could hold and possess the ball. Liverpool’s midfield three of Gravenberch, Jones and Szoboszlai struggled to match them, the latter being replaced eventually by Harvey Elliott. Up top, Koumas, Chiesa and Morrison weren’t in the game. Heading back to Merseyside, what might Adono Iraola be pencilling in on his notepad?

1). Potential big buys are on the way - who can we afford to lose to generate funds?
Curtis Jones - looks like he is already on the way out
Harvey Elliott - may join him if the Reds splash out on someone like Alex Scott
Kostas Tsmiskas - if Luke Chambers has done enough to suggest he can move up, might the Reds entertain selling Kostas?
Federico Chiesa - always rumoured to be on his way. With Isak’s injury record, it may be wise to keep him around unless …
Cody Gakpo, said to be in conversation with Tottenham. If sold, replacing him with a striker/backup to Isak would make sense. Plus Alexis Mac Allister - are the rumours true? If sold, he should bring in a good fee.

2). Academy players who could step up to the first team squad.
Trey Nyoni - a standout and a major factor why Jones could be leaving.
Luke Chambers - impressed throughout the American tour. On the verge of the first team squad.
James McConnell - close to the first team squad but might be crowded out — potential sale.
Calvin Ramsay - a potential sale but looks like a useful right back and the Reds are short-handed in that department.
Lewis Koumas - I believe he could contribute in a full-strength Liverpool team—also a potential sale.
Kieran Morrison - similar to Koumas but younger, with a loan being the best possible option.
Mor Talla Ndiaye - first-team squad, if only because of Liverpool’s lack of central defenders. Definite potential.
Callum Scanlon - did well but because of his age might be a potential sale.

3). Loans.
Ifeanyi Ndukwe - has to go on loan to be eligible for a work permit. Only 18, but already looks to be first team squad ready as 4th/5th option.
Will Wright - if Jayden Danns can get fit, send him out on loan.
Harvey Davies and Josh Sonni-Lambie - both are possible loans.

What will Iraola do? If it were left to me, I would bring back former Academy players like Neco Williams (RB) and Jarrell Quansah (CB). If Darwin Nunez were free, I’d bring him back too. He can do a job. Rather than chasing £100m superstars, I would favour someone similar to West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen. Bowen is a good player, team-orientated and versatile. It’s money well spent. I laugh when I hear that FSG want to buy players with a resale value. There has been a string of players from Emre Can onwards who have run down their contracts and left. This is a clue to a significant problem at Anfield, and it began during the past couple of years of the Klopp era - Sporting Director! YNWA

Inside Liverpool's summer so far - should fans be worried? BBC Sport's Aadam Patel reports on the latest from the Liverpool tour of the United States.

Every Friday - Morning Coffee (or Tea) on American Scouser.
This week, an overview of Liverpool’s first 2 games in the USA plus Curtis Jones! My thoughts plus Gally & Ryan.

Preseason Update | Arm Band Theatrics & Transfer Talk | Morning Coffee or Tea Show The Friday Morning Coffee ☕ or Tea 🍵 Show is back and reckless as e...

LIVERPOOL’S TRANSFER CONUNDRUM
It’s against the grain, but I’m the Liverpool fan who does not particularly salivate over who Liverpool could be signing each and every transfer window. Looking back at the past decade, Liverpool has prospered when it has brought in players who are on the way up rather than the so-called superstar. This summer, a significant effort was made to sign Yan Diomande, a so-called generational talent. Instead, Diomande plumped for wealthy European Champions PSG once they showed interest. However, in a further twist, PSG has been left in the dust when Real Madrid muscled in and flashed the cash. The teenager is now a “Galactico”. Yan Diomande would have been a good signing for the Reds? It doesn’t feel that way to me.

The fact is, while Liverpool FC is one of the world’s most iconic clubs, it doesn’t attract those kind of players. Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni are recent examples of heralded players that Liverpool has tried to woo. They were always likely to choose the Bernabeu instead. It doesn’t end there. Alexis Sanchez and Martin Zubamendi turned the Reds down and ended up at Arsenal. Liverpool thought they had Moises Caicedo, the kind of defensive midfielder that the Reds desperately needed, before he switched in a heartbeat to Chelsea. Chelsea, an unstable club with numerous talented players and a merry-go-round of managerial appointees, versus England’s most successful club with one of the greatest managers in Premier League history. Does that make sense? To compound the circumstances, the next day the Reds' next #6 choice, Romeo Lavia, also chose Todd Boehly and his madcap brigade.

No tears should be shed over these players. Owners FSG are regularly called to task for their relative stinginess in the transfer market, window after window. Still, it didn’t prevent the Reds from being the most successful English club of the period, behind only a moneybags club that stands accused of significant financial irregularities.

What has worked for Liverpool when they have delved into the transfer market? Consider Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso, Luis Suarez, Sadio Mane and Mo Salah to name but a few. These were all top young players on an upwardly mobile trajectory. Everyman and their dog wasn’t chasing them. Think further back through LFC’s history to the recently departed Kevin Keegan, Alan Hansen, Ray Clemence and Ian Rush, to more recently Philippe Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge and Andy Robertson, the bargain buy!

Liverpool’s recruitment sang a different tune after winning the league in 24-25; Liverpool Football Club was going to make a statement, going BIG in the transfer market to the tune of £450 million. What was overlooked was that roughly half of that was recouped in player sales. In the process, a title-winning squad was dismantled too quickly. Too many came in and even more went the other way. The question I asked then, and one I would still like the answer to, is “why?” From the heights of 24-25 to the turbulence of 25-26, where does it leave the club under new manager Andoni Iraola?

To paraphrase what is out there on the internet … Liverpool needs to sign 6 or 7 more players this summer. When things were moving in the wrong direction last season, it was claimed there were too many newbies, which makes it difficult to integrate them into the squad. Do the same fans want history to repeat itself? It could be argued that after one disastrous season, Liverpool Football Club has gone from relative stability to a head-on full rebuild.

The million-dollar question, literally for most, is who will replace Mo Salah? The hundred-million-pound player is the answer to ease the pain of a legend’s departure. With Diomande in the rearview mirror, the flavour of the month is now Bradley Barcola, a bargain at £145 million!! Barcola is a good player, but is he truly worth that kind of money?

For me, the question should be: two £100 million players were bought last summer; shouldn’t cementing their roles under the new manager be the priority? Sign players who can help in that direction. Last year, I questioned the value of the Alexandre Isak signing due to his injury record. If he can stay fit for a period of time, he is dynamite. But can he?

Barcola doesn’t have that kind of history; it won’t stop him from getting crocked. There is always that possibility. Couldn’t £145 million be spent more wisely on several players to bolster the squad overall? Hasn’t the Marc Guehi lesson been learned when the preoccupation on Isak took the focus away from a position where the Reds needed help more?

In an ideal world, signing 3 players for the first team squad each summer would be perfect for my tastes. Liverpool has already forked out for two: Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz. For years, Liverpool has needed a bona fide defensive midfielder. However, it appears a new defensive midfielder is unlikely, as the Reds have more immediate need in 3 positions: Right Back, Central Defence and Right Wing. Let’s look at who LFC has on their books currently in each position.

1) RIGHT BACK.
Conor Bradley - talented but injury-prone. Out indefinitely.
Jeremie Frimpong - good player, but appears better suited to a wing-back role than right back.
Joe Gomez - regularly plays full-back on either side of the field if needed but is a central defender primarily. Injured!
Calvin Ramsay - signed as a teenager, played 2 games under Klopp before having a series of injuries. Bench warmer under Slott.

2) CENTRAL DEFENCE.
Virgil Van Dijk - past his peak but still a force. Liverpool would be in trouble if he were to pick up a serious injury.
Joe Gomez - an underrated defender but a sick note! Injured 7 minutes into the new season!
Jeremy Jacquet - highly-rated new signing but coming off a serious shoulder injury and literally being nursed into the season.
Giovanni Leoni - top-rated prospect recuperating from an ACL injury. When will he be game-ready?
Stefan Bajcetic - made the breakthrough under Klopp as a #6 but originally a centre-back. On the verge of a comeback after a series of injuries.
Wataru Endo - #6 who can also play the position. Severely underrated by the fanbase, currently recovering from an injury that kept him out of the World Cup.
Mor Talla Ndiaye - Starred in the U17 World Cup for Senegal. Looked impressive in the preseason games.
Ifeanyi Ndukwe - Standout in Austria team that reached U17 World Cup Final. See Ndiaye! His issue: needs another year before being eligible for a work permit.

3) RIGHT WING.
Federico Chiesa - talented international who's been hampered by injuries. Never given a reasonable run by Arne Slot. Will he stay?
Lewis Koumas - Welsh international who helped Hull City into the EPL last season. Has characteristics similar to players who excelled at Bournemouth under Iraola.
Kieran Morrison - talented Academy youngster who is already a Northern Ireland international.
Jeremie Frimpong - good player who can play the position in a pinch but would likely do better as an impact sub rather than a starter.

CONCLUSION.
Liverpool are in a pickle! The title-winning squad was dismantled too quickly. Was there a real plan on integrating last summer’s signings into the squad? The Jota tragedy obviously threw things askew, but it cannot mask that players were signed without a plan overall. For example, Frimpong is a good player who might play a part in an Iraola system. However, where does he fit comfortably in a team that plays with a back four? He was supposed to be Trent’s replacement.

Some would also say that the Reds are light at centre-forward with Isak’s injury record and with Hugo Ekitike out long-term. Chiesa or Koumas might be able to deputise, and there is talent in the Academy: Jayden Danns, Keyrol Figueroa, Josh Sonni-Lambie and Will Wright. Danns is the best bet currently but unfortunately keeps the injury theme going. The remaining 3 would need to be eased into first-team football.

As Andoni Irola rebuilds the squad, my preference is to see a return to signing up-and-coming players, with the best of the Academy starlets given more game time. Before any more signings are made, it would be huge if Endo, Bajcetic and Danns could return to the fray.

In my opinion, signing a central defender good enough to start is the priority. If the recruit can double up at full back, it's a bonus. By all means sign a right winger, but £145 million? Let’s get Wirtz and Isak firing first. Peak Mo Salah is not going to be replaced similarly to peak Steven Gerrard or Luis Suarez was in previous eras. Teams evolve in different ways with different personnel, and the system will be very different to the last campaign. We should expect Dominik Szoboszlai and, if he continues to flourish, Rio Ngumoha to become the new stars of the team.

In the meantime, can fans be a little more balanced with their wishes? Liverpool are unlikely to be in the title race next season. It is not 24-25, where the new manager had a squad that was talented, deep and ready to go. This is a rebuild. A central defender and a left winger have already been signed. A starting central defender and reasonably priced right winger should be added to the LFC wish list.

The Reds have a resourceful manager again. Allow him time to get his philosophies across and build team spirit. At the end of the 26-27 season, Iraola will be clear on how he needs to arrange his team and squad going forward. No more statement signings, please! Next time - how to put a squad together to compete in the Premier League and Europe.
YNWA

POSTSCRIPT: If it were left to me, I would bring back former Academy players like Neco Williams (RB) and Jarrell Quansah (CB). If Darwin Nunez were free, I’d bring him back too. He can do a job. Rather than all these £100m superstars, I would favour someone similar to West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen. Bowen is a good player, team-orientated and versatile. It’s money well spent. Sometimes I laugh when I hear that FSG want to buy players with a resale value. There has been a string of players from Emre Can on who have run down their contracts and left. This is a clue to a significant problem at Anfield, and it began in the past couple of years of the Klopp era - Sporting Director!

Richard Hughes is apparently on his way out, so what are FSG going to do about it? Bournemouth, Brentford and Brighton are lauded for their recruitment. When are some of the bigger clubs going to learn the lesson and follow their lead? The one signing I would make is Dougie Freedman. Who he? Crystal Palace Sporting Director 2017-2025, now out in Saudi. Why? Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, Adam Wharton, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Daniel Muñoz, Dean Henderson, Ismaila Sarr, Cheick Doucoure and Maxence Lacroix. That’s some serious recruitment and a factor in the success of unfashionable Palace over the past 18 months.

WORLD CUP DEBRIEF #3: ENGLAND
England’s performances are scrutinised to exhaustion, and the 2026 World Cup was no exception. Despite the endless debate, I’ll go against the grain: England played well, securing third place — their best finish since 1966. Of course, there’s one glaring caveat: the inevitable disappointment of the last 25 minutes against Argentina.

I didn’t expect England to win the World Cup, but I thought they had a chance — and as it turned out, they really did. It was an opportunity not taken. Unlike in 1966, when England benefited from home advantage, this tournament was always going to be gruelling: the travel, the heat, and Mexico’s altitude all took their toll. Comparing generations is never easy, but England’s defence falls well short of the legendary ’66 lineup. Gordon Banks, Bobby Moore, and Ray Wilson were world-class and would eclipse England’s current defenders. Bobby Charlton was the Jude Bellingham of his era, and up front, England boasted two consistent goal scorers — Roger Hunt and Geoff Hurst, with the great Jimmy Greaves in reserve — rather than just Harry Kane. Manager Thomas Tuchel faced both weaknesses and squad limitations. For the most part, he managed them well, though his right-back selections were puzzling. Reece James is an outstanding player, but it was surely foreseeable he wouldn’t last the entire tournament.

England’s best football came in the second half of their opener against Croatia — a level they arguably didn’t reach again until the third-place playoff, which felt more like a testimonial match for Didier Deschamps. France were the most exciting team but ultimately fell short. Spain were deserved winners, though their style, while admirable, rarely excites. England did what was required in each match: they were disciplined, organised, and had two match-winners in Bellingham and Kane, both capable of rescuing the team. Credit is due to Tuchel’s predecessor, Gareth Southgate, for building a foundation the German could improve. Despite the limitations, the squad still had talent, pace, and depth — assets generally used well until the ill-fated Argentina game.

In retrospect, the semi-final was finely balanced, with England perhaps having the edge before Anthony Gordon’s goal put them ahead. The debate now centres on whether England reverted to old habits — dropping deep to protect their lead. After scoring, the team retreated, echoing the Southgate era’s caution. In earlier matches, Tuchel used Hydration Breaks to spark his team, but this time, his words seemed to fall flat. Substituting Ezri Konsa, a defender, for the counter-attacking threat of Anthony Gordon appeared to be an attempt to reinforce the back line, but it backfired. In the final 10 minutes, two more defenders — “Big” Dan Burn and Nico O’Reilly — were introduced, the latter presumably to contain Lionel Messi as he began to influence the flow of the game.

Meanwhile, Reece James and a fatigued Declan Rice made way. This was likely the scenario Thomas Tuchel envisioned when he selected Jordan Henderson for the squad: a backs-to-the-wall moment requiring experience and composure. Unfortunately, Henderson was unavailable, having broken his arm celebrating the Azteca victory. Many questioned his recall, suggesting he should be a coach instead; it is not the same. While Henderson probably played a key role in setting standards during training, he couldn’t contribute on the pitch when it mattered most. For Tuchel, his trusted veteran wasn’t there when the crunch moment arrived.

For many fans, the closing minutes of the Argentina semi-final will linger longest. Ultimately, Thomas Tuchel must shoulder responsibility. He made bold choices, but they failed. Coaches, like players, can have off days — unfortunately, this was the one that mattered the most. It would be fascinating to hear Tuchel’s private reflections: what would he change, given another chance? I suspect he knows where he went wrong, even if he’ll never admit it publicly. Who can blame him?

The post-mortem is, inevitably, familiar: if only Trent Alexander-Arnold had been there to deliver crosses for Toney and Rashford, or Wharton to break Argentina’s lines. Never mind Cole Palmer and Phil Foden. Would Tuchel pick a different squad if given another chance? Only he and his staff know the answer. When the dust settles, England’s third-place finish stands, and the experience will serve Tuchel well heading into the 2028 Euros. The next question is whether he’ll remain in charge. He’s contracted through 2026, and unless he feels he’s reached his limit, he should stay. The only real issue, as Arne Slot experienced at Liverpool, is loss of fan confidence after a painful collapse. With long gaps between international fixtures, the fury will fade. I believe Tuchel has the resilience to weather the storm and take on the pressure.

Third place under such challenging conditions is nothing to scoff at. Brazil, Germany, and Italy — who failed even to qualify — would have gladly traded places. My suspicion is that even if England had won, some would still complain about their style. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: who would want to be England manager?

World Cup 2026: Is England's third-place finish being under-appreciated? England have secured their best men's World Cup finish since winning the tournament 60 years ago. Is their performance at the 2026 edition being under-appreciated?

WORLD CUP DEBRIEF #3: SCOTLAND
Selecting an All-Time Liverpool XI, my team would feature Steve Nicol, Alan Hansen, Andy Robertson, Graeme Souness and Kenny Dalglish. That’s 5 Scots in my top LFC XI from players who played for the Reds in the last 60 years. My point is that Scotland has produced many top players in my lifetime. During the seventies it was Scotland, rather than England, who flew the flag for the UK in the World Cup Finals. But after the late nineties, things began to change. The influx of foreign players into both the English and Scottish leagues reduced the pool of homegrown Scottish talent, and the national team’s fortunes suffered. From 1998 until 2021, Scotland failed to qualify for a major international tournament, a stark contrast to their earlier prominence.

Manager Steve Clarke, a coach I would label as “resourceful”, bucked the trend, having his side qualify for two successive Euros as well as this year's World Cup. Despite passionate support from The Tartan Army, the Scots have struggled upon qualification in every final, with the 2026 World Cup being the latest disappointing performance. Under Clarke, including the group stages of the past two Euros, Scotland’s record stands at 1 win, 2 draws, and 6 defeats. The manager's resourcefulness clearly hits a wall, as Scotland has consistently found it difficult to translate qualifying momentum into tournament success.

The Scots admittedly had a tough draw this year with two top-ten teams, Brazil and Morocco, in their group. The light at the end of the tunnel was that 8 of the 12 third-place teams would move into knockout rounds. If the Scots could defeat the so-called “patsies” in their group, Haiti, they would have a good chance of advancing. They did win but only by a solitary goal. With defeat to the two top 10 teams likely, Scotland would have to ensure they did not lose heavily. Unfortunately, with a goal difference of -3 after the two losses, the Scots were one of the 4 third-place teams unable to make the cut to the knockout rounds. Those were the results; what of Scotland’s performances?

It’s not unkind to say that Scotland were poor and once again found wanting in the pressure of finals competition. In their opening game, little Haiti were the better team in the second half, with Scotland hanging on for the 3 points. The Morocco and Brazil games were both lost through costly defensive lapses — errors that are punished at the highest level. While Steve Clarke had clear limitations in his squad, the performances lacked not just attacking threat but also composure and belief. Scotland managed only one goal in the tournament, underlining a deeper creative and psychological problem to be addressed if future campaigns are to be more successful.

Post-tournament, we have the usual chest-beating and recriminations. In qualifying, Scotland were often second best to Denmark and Greece but could still gut it out and create chances. That was not to be seen in Boston and Miami over the last month. One interesting insight was that Clarke’s skill set as a coach was not suited to tournament finals, when he had considerably more time to deal with the team than in qualifying. His strengths came to the fore in qualifying, with a shorter turnaround time between matches.

Another thought was that Scotland no longer has enough players competing at the higher levels of play. Whilst true, examples like Cape Verde and Curacao show that teams with players from lesser-known leagues can still perform above expectations with the right structure and mentality. Scotland, on paper, is significantly stronger than these countries, yet the minnows performed with more cohesion and belief. Similarly, Norway — a nation of comparable size — has advanced by investing in youth development, coaching, and a modern playing philosophy.

When I was growing up, Scotland was a strong football nation while Norway were considered a lesser light in European football circles. Times have changed, and Scotland now has much to learn from these nations' approaches. Can decisive steps be taken to emulate Norway's current level by focusing on development and infrastructure? What can Scotland learn from others, and what are they willing to implement?

Despite renowned Scottish FA coaching schools, there is a disconnect somewhere. A National Academy between Glasgow and Edinburgh is being touted as a possible solution, and — if successful — regional academies could follow. However, this will require real investment and a willingness by the Scottish FA to prioritise long-term development over short-term fixes.

I’m hearing schools football in Scotland isn’t what it once was, so where do the children play? Compared with the United States and the problems it faces, Scotland is a much smaller country. Is there a way to reorganise youth football nationally? It’s a smaller country, and the centres of population are clearly demarcated. Shouldn’t it be easier than the challenges the youth game faces in America? Again, whatever solutions are feasible, it's the long game if Scotland wants to rise again in international football and start producing Dennis Laws and Kenny Dalglishs regularly.

Taking it all in, I don’t have the answers and can only observe from across the ocean. What I do know is Scotland's history and great passion for football. While England is the home of Association Football, Scotland was more than the neighbouring rival. Scots provided much of the impetus for the sport's initial growth historically, as well as innovations: passing the ball for one! When my beloved Liverpool played their first-ever game, all eleven players were Scottish. The nation’s passion is manifested by the Tartan Army, who follow their team through thick and thin. Alternatively, could it be that the game is stuck in the mud north of the border, with history and tradition standing in the way of progress?

Steve Clarke graciously stood down after Scotland were eliminated. He deserves credit for returning Scotland to the world and European stage, but his successor faces an even tougher challenge. Reasonable goals must include qualifying for major tournaments and playing with greater ambition, even in defeat. Yet if the passion of the Tartan Army is to be fulfilled, nothing short of a comprehensive overhaul — rooted in long-term vision, investment, and bold reform — will suffice. The Tartan Army deserves far more than what they received at the 2026 World Cup, and the time for change is now. Will it be taken?

WORLD CUP DEBRIEF #2: USMNT
I always find it difficult to assess the USMNT. So many are critical when things don’t meet expectations. I moved to the country in 1983 as the professional league was dying and the national team was very much in the wilderness. That is where I see the sport coming from to where it is today. When the USMNT breakthrough came in 1990, the World Cup squad was made up primarily of players just out of college, with a couple still playing there. It wasn’t surprising that the USA lost all three games, but lessons were learned, and 4 years later on American soil the last 16 was reached. A 1-0 defeat to eventual champions Brazil suggested progress was being made.

After a disastrous 1998 World Cup, the USMNT bounced back in 2002. A historic 3-2 victory over Portugal (Figo et al.) saw the team fall by a single goal to eventual finalists Germany in the quarter-finals. Since then, the USA has failed to go as far, falling as they did this year in the round of 16. Consequently, the 2026 World Cup is written off as another disappointment. It was a home-turf tournament, and yet another typical USMNT World Cup performance was delivered.

Before examining this year, it's important to be mindful of how the draw can favour a team in the knockout rounds. In 2002, the USA came up against familiar foes in Mexico in the last 16. That is a team that the USA can beat. In recent tournaments, Belgium (2014) and the Netherlands (2022) are countries that the USA will lose to more than they will defeat.

This time it was Belgium again, but a Belgian team said to be on the decline after the bulk of their “Golden Generation” had moved on and one that had hardly impressed previously. As we all know, Belgium triumphed comfortably, and the dreams of the US fans lay in tatters as the inquests began. The Balogun red card controversy disrupted preparation for the game without a shadow of a doubt. Did political interference affect the United States? Yes and yes again. The team was suddenly under pressure as the entire football world turned on the Americans and their perceived special treatment by FIFA. A single telephone call wrote off the impressive displays of the earlier games. Further, the Belgians were galvanised. It was apparent from the kick-off.

Would things have been different had Balogun not played? That we will never know. Perhaps it would have been the USA who were galvanised, and Balogun’s replacement, Ricardo Pepi, is a proven player at Champions League level. Putting the Belgium debacle to one side, I think the team showed enough to suggest that overall things are moving in the right direction. The squad is made up of seasoned pros balancing experience with potential. Despite Lexi Lalas's thoughts, I thought the shadow team that lost 3-2 to Turkiye with the last kick of the game showed up very well. Some experts forget that the Turks were pre-tournament favourites to win the group. The US options in reserve are well in advance of previous World Cups. Keep in mind injuries kept out players like Johnny Cardoso (Atletico Madrid) and Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic), who would have undoubtedly added to the cause.

Good players, but what of the football? The best I can remember from a USMNT, especially that opening half against Paraguay. The USA has pace and showed they could knock the ball around with skill. Coach Mauricio Pochettino’s imprint was on the team for all to see. Can it be built upon for the future? Further, can the USA make it into the last 8 and beyond? There is something to build upon for sure, whether Pochettino stays on or not. The country has an established professional league and players playing professionally all over the world. The pool is growing continually, but taking things to the next level is neither easy nor straightforward. We should not expect linear progression.

Having a pool spread so far apart presents challenges. If the number of Americans competing regularly in the Champions League continues to rise, it will be an avenue for a future coach to build the core of a team to compete with the best. One interesting aside with this year’s edition. Traditionally, the US has been strongest in goal. Keller, Friedel, Howard and Guzan are all goalkeepers who enjoyed lengthy and successful careers in the Premier League. A keeper at that kind of level would surely have strengthened the hand of Pochettino this year.

Naturally, the disappointment has led to the usual soul-searching about the state of the game in the USA. I’m not going to discuss this in depth, but I think it has to be accepted that Pay-to-Play and College Soccer are ingrained in the American way. I see both these routes as helpful for the game as they give visibility. Look at all the top-class soccer facilities nationwide, for example. They were not there in 1983. However, these routes will not yield the best that American soccer can offer.

The World Cup has brought a lot of money into the coffers of US Soccer. How about some serious investment in a nationwide Academy system based on principles of other established soccer countries? Most of all, invest in a bigger and more thorough recruitment system. Over the past few years, I’ve been coaching at the youngest ages in club soccer. There’s some real talent here in Massachusetts, particularly in the ethnic communities. Where do these players go? Multiply this by 50 with a well-funded scouting network, and who knows what level of player can be produced.

It sounds so simple, but it is the long game. It isn’t the modern way. However, I see no other way of producing a USMNT that can regularly expect to go beyond the last 16 in the World Cup. For me, the performances of 2026 are way beyond what we had in 1983 and 1990. 2002 too. It’s easy to clamber up the bottom rungs; the upper rungs to the very top will always be more of a challenge. Before the Belgium game, the US team had impressed the football world internationally with their performances. Remember, many worldwide do not consider the USA a football/soccer country. For a short time, they did.