U.S. soccer prez on World Cup chances: “Why play unless you believe you can win?” — USA Soccer Stud

The United States national team, once the David of international soccer, is growing up. Slowly, but growing. He qualified for his sixth consecutive World Cup last month. He has been in the quarter finals twice, and many people see him as the most formidable rising soccer power. But can he win the world championship?

His general manger thinks so. “One of our players was asked if we could win the World Cup and said why not?” said Sunil Gulati, president of U.S. soccer, in an interview with the New York Times. “I love that confidence. Why play unless you believe you have some chance to win? The fact is if you get past the first round, anything is possible.”

The next question: How? The U.S. routinely downed Goliaths with speed and constant attacking at the 2002 games, before losing to Germany in the quarter finals on a missed penalty call. This squad, however, is a little less exciting to watch — at least for now.