The U.S. has a population over 318 million (3rd behind China and India) with over three million boys under 18 playing soccer. Yet the U.S. has not produced a critical mass of elite players to compete on equal terms with the world’s best. In contrast, Holland is a country of less than seventeen million. Per capita, it produces more elite players than any other country in the world. Holland (64th, 16.8M, 5th in UEFA CL, 1st per capita in UEFA overall, 5th in 2014 FIFA rank). Uruguay (135th, 3.4M, 10th in UEFA CL, 6th per capita in UEFA overall, 8th 2014 FIFA rank). Belgium (75th, 11.2M, 9th in UEFA CL, 2nd per capita in UEFA overall, 4th 2014 FIFA rank). Argentina (31st, 42.6M, 8th in UEFA CL, 9th per capita in UEFA overall, 2nd in 2014 FIFA rank). Spain (29th, 46.5M, 1st in UEFA CL, 3rd per capita in UEFA overall, 10th 2014 FIFA rank; note that FCB La Masia produces more players for the top five UEFA leagues than any other club). Italy (23rd, 60.7M, 2nd in UEFA CL, 4th per capita in UEFA overall, 11th in 2014 FIFA rank). England (22nd, 64M, 3rd in UEFA overall, 5th per capita UEFA, 20th 2014 FIFA rank). France (20th, 66M, 7th overall in UEFA, 8th per capita in UEFA, 7th in 2014 FIFA rank). Germany (16th, 80.7M, 4th in UEFA CL, per capita 7th in UEFA overall, 1st in 2014 FIFA rank). Brazil (5th, 203.3M, 6th in UEFA CL, 10th per capita in UEFA overall, 6th in 2014 FIFA rank) Together, these ten countries have produced the most number of elite players who have appeared in the final game of the UEFA Champions League (CL) since 1992. Likewise, in the top five leagues of UEFA, each country (even Uruguay that has the same population as the US has players) produces 100x+ more elite level players per capita than the U.S. Now ask yourself, why? The obvious answer: they develop better players.
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 04:58:36 +0000
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