Upon further review, I actually like that US Soccer has decided to send a lesser talented team to Copa America.  This is the challenge that us fans so far have spared Bradley becuase of the way his hiring was handled.  This is Bob's opportunity to show that he can coach.   Countries like England, France and Italy have to babysit superstars.  You don't have to impress upon any soccer-heavy nations' players the importance of going out and playing well for your country.  Well, one thing Americans can do is play well as underdogs or when no one else thinks they have a chance.

This is Bradley's Herb Brooks moment.  Herb Brooks ran afoul of USA Hockey from the day he got the job--he refused to bow to their player decisions and even benched or berated his own college players who won championships for him at Minnesota.  Bradley has a chance to show US Soccer that he won't be a yes-man or a syncophant, and that he is not an opinionated arrogant arse like Bruce Arena.

And, really, who cares about US Soccer's cred or our reputation to our Yankee-hating fellow American Continental brethren?  The Copa is in Venzuela for gosh sakes.  We don't need cred with these folks because they have none for us in the first place.  American soccer players are discounted from the moment they arrive on the pitch in Europe and Central and South America because of where they are from.   A team of American Soccer superstars would still be laughed at by CONMEBOL Countries.

Leadership can do amazing things.  I hope Bradley has a few tricks up his sleeves to make these mostly kids believe they can actually win a game at the Copa.  Stranger things have happened.  What American team of any caliber would have been thought to hold Italy to a draw with 9 men at the World Cup? 

The Crucible in Caracas awaits you, Mr. Bradley....

A response to U.S. goes young for Copa America