Column: U.S. Soccer Goes Backward

U.S. Soccer officials can blame themselves next time they fret about why so few Americans are paying attention to their sport.

Given the chance to be bold, the Americans played it safe and boring. As usual.

Instead of hiring a national team coach so impressive it told the world they were ready to be players in the only game that matters everywhere else, they dithered like minor leaguers Friday. First explaining how a seemingly perfect match with German superstar Juergen Klinsmann went so wrong. Then clarifying this arrangement with an interim coach whose reputation is so dazzling, they stuck him with the JV team, too.

"(Klinsmann) and I agreed about just about …

Column: U.S. Soccer Goes Backward

U.S. Soccer officials can blame themselves next time they fret about why so few Americans are paying attention to their sport.

Given the chance to be bold, the Americans played it safe and boring. As usual.

Instead of hiring a national team coach so impressive it told the world they were ready to be players in the only game that matters everywhere else, they dithered like minor leaguers Friday. First explaining how a seemingly perfect match with German superstar Juergen Klinsmann went so wrong. Then clarifying this arrangement with an interim coach whose reputation is so dazzling, they stuck him with the JV team, too.

"(Klinsmann) and I agreed about just about …