Which American Team Will Show Up Against Ghana?

A Few Moments Between Marcos & Mooch

So here we are, ready to come face to face with a possible milestone in modern American soccer history. The big question: Which U.S. team will show up to face Ghana, a team also in the running for a second-round berth? For the West Africans, it's a simple matter of win and they are in. For the Americans, reaching the Round of 16 is a more complicated formula. In a long conversation with an old friend Wednesday, some interesting points emerged. The friend is U.S. assistant coach Glenn Myernick - "Mooch" to everyone in the soccer world...

So why is this U.S. team experiencing a roller-coaster ride? Mooch says there's any number of reasons.

"For one, we have two separate levels of players and play," Myernick said. "The players in Europe are at one, usually higher; the others are not, so it gets disjointed."

So should all the players be earning their living in Europe, as is the case for most of the teams at the Cup?

"Not necessarily. It is one thing to be playing in Europe, on top clubs and actually playing," he said. "It's another to be on a second-division team, or a lesser country, in which case it's better for a player to be a regular in Major League Soccer."

See Marcos' full report at the Tampa Tribune >>