[chuckinca]

Originally Posted by JohnN

Taltarzac,
If I live to 92, the US will win LOLOL

And I realize soccer is a lot "bigger" today, I'm a certified soccer coach and had coached my kids for some 20 seasons (and the young Miss JohnN won 2 high school state championships). There is a lot of participation and talent .....

....... my point was the "big 3" still funnel off talent in men's soccer vs. other countries where perhaps only basketball competes for talent and on a more limited basis.

Around these parts, it is unusual for competitive younger soccer players (say U10 thru U14) to drop soccer and concentrate on football, basketball or baseball. It isn't rare that you see two sport athletes playing soccer and baseball or soccer and the high school football kicker but since most of the high schools around here have soccer in the winter, playing soccer and basketball can't be done.

After high school, the 1 or 2% that find room on a university team make a decision on which sport to play based on the openings on the individual sport team. I believe this is where the funneling off of soccer talent happens and there isn't much you can do about it because the players want to play and they'll play the sport where they are wanted.