Author and columnist for the New York Daily News Filip Bondy has recorded the events and happenings of the US Soccer team over the last few years of qualification, friendlies and tournaments to ready Sam’s Army and the rest of the American soccer viewing public for this summer’s World Cup in his fantastic new book.
A must read for US Soccer fans, the book briefly chronicles the history of the USMNT, delves in depth into the current state of some of the stars of the team and recaps how the US qualified for their sixth straight finals appearance. Bondy, a soccer fan at heart, brilliantly illustrates the heartache, hard-work and sheer amount of time, resources and devotion that has gone into transforming the US from a laughable, hardworking team into the squad who finished second to Brazil in last summer’s Confederations Cup in South Africa.
The book itself is easily both for casual and obsessive fans who wish to understand the history of US Soccer and understand how the US made it to South Africa after their tumultuous CONCACAF qualification. Whether it’s the rise to current positions of key figures like Sunil Gulati and Bob Bradley or the descriptive analysis of the intensity and ferocity of the Mexico-US rivalry, Bondy’s prose is clear and informative throughout it’s duration.
Chasing the Game also gives it’s readers and in-depth look at the famous IMG Soccer Academy in Bradenton, FLA, results, both good and bad, from previous World Cups and even a chapter featuring Sam’s Army – the rabid fan base for US Soccer created by Mark Spacone and John Wright.
Soccer has enjoyed moderate success in these United States for some time now. Since the States hosted the World Cup itself in ’94, the steady and healthy increase in it’s popularity has enabled MLS to successfully exist among an American sports landscape dominated by anything but soccer. Some of America’s top talent now apply their trade overseas with the world’s best while the national team recently enjoyed it’s best finish ever in a major FIFA tournament. Progress in a progressing sports world.
If the US is one step closer to becoming the next world power in soccer, one need to only look at it’s difficult yet momentum building past in order to see that world powers aren’t crafted overnight. Books like Bondy’s do a great job in laying out these such journeys in an entertaining and informative way.
Chasing the Game: America and the Quest for the World Cup by Filip Bondy can be purchased here.
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“If the US is one step closer to becoming the next world power in soccer, one need to only look at it’s difficult yet momentum building past in order to see that world powers aren’t crafted overnight.”
First member of FIFA in our hemisphere north of Argentina. Career club league goal scoring record set 80 years ago. Semifinalists in first World Cup. World record holder for goals in a top flight club season: American Archie Stark in 1925 for Charles Schwab’s Bethlehem Steel.
How long is the “past” that you and Phil refer to? I suspect not long. When we finally stop using the “youth” of the game here in the USA to describe it’s shortcomings, we can address the real problems.
Rhetorical question: Does Bondy have the courage to address the backwards model of our first division? Imposed mediocrity? Closed League?
The US has improved leaps and bounds over their general history of being terrible
With that said, their talent/speed/creativity are still sub-par compared to the world’s best. It isn’t even close.
The US may surprise us all in 2-3 World Cup’s with one good run but that is an exception rather than a rule
MLS hangs like a lead weight on the American game. The debilitation reaches virtually every level. Yes, Rothenberg was able to line up billion dollar NFL backers, but at such a huge cost to our lower divisions, the USMNT, and player development.
If we beat England with a squad comprised of players that Fabio wouldn’t give a sniff, that’s a HUGE accomplishment. Someday, we should set our sights a bit higher.