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Not-So-Great Expectations

As the U.S. Shows Humility, Critics Ask—Are They Too Timid?

Last August at the orientation camp for the U.S. Olympic hockey team, the brass delivered a simple message.

"We said, 'Anyone who doesn't think we can win a gold medal in Vancouver can get up and leave," said Brian Burke, general manager of an underdog U.S. team that came within a sudden death goal of the gold medal. "Your attitude going in is critical, especially in a short tournament."

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AFP/Getty Images

U.S. coach Bob Bradley at a June 1 training session.

Five months later another American team is entering another short international tournament as an underdog but with a decidedly different, and dare we suggest, un-American, approach.

Ask Bob Bradley, head coach of the men's national team about his team's goals for the World Cup in South Africa , and he goes no further than a desire to emerge from group play. During a press conference Wednesday at the team's headquarters near Pretoria, Mr. Bradley said his team isn't overawed by England but stopped well short of claiming that Team U.S.A. is ready to compete for a championship.

World Cup Saturday

The United States takes on England in a high-profile Group C match, while South Korea plays Greece and Argentina faces Nigeria in Group B.

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Associated Press

"We understand that when we play as a team when everyone is committed the right way we can play with top teams," he said of his team's chances. Not exactly Vince Lombardi.

Reciting their mantra of the last few years—"Respect everyone, fear no one"—is the most boastful any U.S. player gets. Most don't even go that far, and instead talk about the privilege and honor of playing on the world's most hallowed stage.

Ask if he could imagine what it would feel like to beat England, Landon Donovan, the team's best field player said, "It's hard for me as a competitor as an athlete who sees the big picture to let my mind go there. I understand how much is put into this game, and what it means, I definitely do, but there is more to it. We have to be ready to react no matter what happens on Saturday."

No one has dared to suggest this U.S. team has come to South Africa to take home the trophy. No one ever does, and that just might be part of the problem for Team U.S.A.

Charlie Maher, a sports psychologist at Rutgers University who has worked with the Cleveland Indians and Cavaliers, calls this attitude "satisficing—just being happy and content to be part of the competition."

We know. No one wants to make Brazil or England or Spain angry and give them any other reason to want to beat the U.S., (as if being nice and respectful will convinvce them to give us a goal or two). But humility is a double-edged sword, and it hasn't done the U.S. much good on the soccer field. We're 3-12-3 at the World Cup since 1990.

"They're downplaying," said Jim Fannin, the motivational guru who has worked with numerous professional athletes. "But when you downplay something you're seetting yourself up. If you do well you're an overachiever, but if you start to lose you expect to lose. It's not an honor for Brazil or England to be in the World Cup. They would never say that."

Here's the message Mr. Fannin would prefer to hear:

"We're putting a team on the field to win every match, we're going to win every match, and when we do that, we will win the World Cup."

Not everyone agrees with Mr. Fannin's approach. "You need to be realistic about who you are," said Bob Gansler, who coached the U.S. team in 1990. "You go in with realistic objectives and hope you can get beyond it. You play to get to the second round, and then you can roll the dice."

Sounds plenty pragmatic, but here's the thing about the World Cup. Sure it's about great players and great coaching, but it's also about drawing on your national character to persevere not simply over another team, but another nation.

Germany has won three championships and reached seven finals and 10 semis. But few would argue Germany has been so successful because its players are so much better. Its success is built on German discipline and German will, a refusal to wilt. The Brazilian flair and confidence and creativity has most teams beat before the first whistle.

The U.S. doesn't have the most skilled players or the most technical coaches and training. Here's what the U.S. does have: It's brash (admittedly, at times, to a fault). It's determined. It has no fears. It's players are among the most physical and competitive in the world.

It's time to start acting that way. Mr. Maher, the Rutgers sports psychologist, said at the pinnacle of professional sports the slimmest of margins separate the best teams, and the primary difference may be mental. It's about "expecting that winning is an appropriate outcome," he said.

So go ahead, Landon Donovan, tell everyone a U.S. team is eventually going to win the World Cup, and it might as well be this one. Clint Dempsey, talk like the Texan you are. Tim Howard, tell the world the goal line is the border that no one shall dare cross.

We'd love to hear it, and we won't even hold it against you if you come up short. This whole humility act isn't getting us anywhere.

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