FC pundits left SPEECHLESS by Jurgen Klinsmann's World Cup claim | ESPN FC

ESPN FC's Alejandro Moreno and Craig Burley react to Jurgen Klinsmann's claim that he would have taken the USMNT to the World Cup 2018 semifinals. Moreno says the Hertha Berlin head coach must truly believe he could have done more with the USMNT, but says the United States lack the talent and player pool to reach the latter stages of the World Cup.
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[@DrFunkadunk]

Wow, 7 minutes of speechlessness.

[@kqh123]

So so little speech 😂

[@Jay-ku3ur]

I believe Klinsmann would have taken the USMNT to the 2018 WC Semi-Finals. He would have bought them all tickets to the game and watched from the stands

[@hannibalkim]

Semi final? Against who? Round of 16 at best. Could have lost to france, belgium, croatia, england, brazil, uruguay, russia etc.

[@starboythekoolkid]

@@hannibalkim r/woooosh

[@Jay-ku3ur]

@@hannibalkim Its a joke Alex. I said Klinsmann would have taken them to the game... to watch from the stands... get it.??

[@sjhbartlet]

How arrogant

[@Jay-ku3ur]

@@sjhbartlet ???

[@Bdhacker101]

Nobody: Craig Burley: *Cough Cough*

[@mojebi3804]

*scratch nose*

[@andreslinares6429]

Funny to think he ended up being a fellow pundit 😂

[@gameplaynation4280]

I would take Klinsmann again any day over Arena. At least Klinsmann understood that the players playing outside the US are much better than the players used to mls quality of play

[@michaelocallaghan7377]

Klenzman brought the u.s. to above middle of the road and now there below the middle

[@boubacarbah1937]

This is the only time I probably agree with the panel opinions 💯

[@raoulduke8720]

They weren't supposed to have any opinions, the title says SPEECHLESS! 😂

[@BratatoChip]

Raoul Duke r/whoosh

[@stevencooke6451]

@@raoulduke8720This is their version of speechless. Maybe Craig's coughing is symbolic,

[@cweeks4504]

Under Klinsmanm the US played the best style of football The countries ever seen. Not sure about top 4 but he may have squeezed out a quarter finals run at best

[@coryf6460]

This is the same man that chose Wondo over Donovan. Enough said.

[@deomartinez77]

Exactly!!!! The minute you start leaving your best players for personal reasons is the minute I lost all respect for him.

[@MaximusTheChosenOne]

Yeah he blew that one... we could’ve made it to quarters with Landon

[@MoviesUnderTheSurface]

USMNT older establishment players not liking Klinsmann is probably the best thing you can say about Klinsmann as manager of the USMNT. Those players needed to go. Some of them still do!

[@maxgrillo8264]

I don’t know about the semi-finals, but I think he could’ve taken them further than anyone else. He has a lot of knowledge of the game. Really stupid hearing people calling him arrogant, my dad is actually really good friends with him, not arrogant at all. He believes he could take them to semi-finals, can’t get mad at him for believing that. He’s really not a bad coach at all.

[@gbcoolsag]

I think these guys are taking what Klinsmann said out of context. If you actually watch the interview he did not claim to have some sort magic. All he said was that there was a plan when he was in charge and it was interrupted when he left. He didn't say they would do better just because "I am Jurgen Klinsmann". That's a stupid interpretation of what he actually said.

[@paullinecooper9510]

I am a British/Russian Citizen l love my Figure Heads, aligned myself in loyalty and obedience.

[@handono5382]

Speed recovery craig!!!

[@koz9000]

Since when are Alejandro Moreno and Craig Burnley experts on the USMNT?

[@skoman2006]

JK would have qualified with them no problem. Arena....hugh mistake!!!!

[@nFWAYGo]

I would take Jurgen in a heart beat over a guy who says that Canada , CANADA !!! Is now our rivals

[@dundukas7899]

canada has a good team

[@nFWAYGo]

Andrius Vxx sorry, if USA had there full potential squad which does not include mls players we would surpass them, just smoke and mirrors from the federation . We used to go toe to toe with Mexico and destroy any other concacaf teams now it’s a struggle to compete against Costa Rica and even Jamaica lol

[@tonyjones155]

If Canada is a rival, America is in deep trouble!!!

[@Lionking_2004]

Canada is actually improving , their attack is really good their midfield could be better and defensively eh but their improving theirs actually multiple kids from canada in mexican soccer academies when I was at the tigres academy in summer 2019 for the time i was in mexico was a good 7 Canadian kids their could be more in other academies across mexico

[@kathrynanderson8766]

I would take Jurgen's grandmother over Jay's Brother. Worst MNT managers since 94: worst - Jay's Brother; 2nd worst - Sarachan; 3rd worst - Klinsman; 4th worst - Sampson

[@kqh123]

Does Craig really have to be there? Dudes clearly struggling

[@saulgarcia7083]

Well that ain't saying much

[@BacyardRucusRJC1]

Hey dom didn’t mane score the fastest hat trick in epl when he played for Southhampton?

[@TheBigtonkss]

rich roach yes

[@primetime758]

USA could of been the proud owner of the worst w/c loss in history if not for Howard vs Belgium... Belgium should of won that 11-0 in full time

[@cinnaminson0653]

Soccer rarely if ever works that way.from what I have seen players miss 90% or more of the good chances for whatever reason. It wasn't just Howard the Belgium players also choked over and over and often made bad decisions.

[@primetime758]

@@cinnaminson0653 yes ok but the scoreline made USA look good when in fact they played like cowards... and scored a lucky goal... if the Belgan players actually made there shot count and Howard didn't have a 4 leaf clover in his pocket USA would of been the proud owners of the worst loss in w/c history

[@ADAJ3KINGANGEL]

Arrogant & stubborn manager, great former player though.

[@mojebi3804]

Classless crybaby and wuss player

[@stevencooke6451]

Re his playing career, a very good striker for club and country but I found his propensity to dive a bit irritating. Pretty poor manager who thinks very highly of himself.

[@maxgrillo8264]

ADAJ3 he’s actually a super nice guy, dad is good friend of his. Really not arrogant. He had a bad team

[@ppputalawuea]

I dont know..remember brazil 2014..usa played with alot of heart under kilnnsman. I think they could have gotten to the semi finals if it wasnt for that one mistake in the last 30 seconds of the portugal game. US would have won the group if it wasnt for that mistake and maybe gotten to semi finals.

[@jefflebowski4287]

The Belgium game was amazing and the best a us team have ever been. Bring back jergen! We can’t have an mls style team.

[@crackmonkey2181]

Not as good as the 2002 team, which surprisingly was mostly MLS players. They should've beaten Germany, and really played better than them. And that Germany team went to the final. That 2002 team on paper shouldn't have been very good, but there was some real chemistry with that team.

[@Americanfootballer]

@@crackmonkey2181 The 2002 team played fearless that World Cup they need that again.

[@Deco_2k]

They should of listen to coach and most of the player should of stay in Europe!

[@alexyacoub4131]

Jeff Lebowski amen

[@SupaMicNasty]

He actually said the same about the Copa America, and he took us there.

[@jonwhite182]

I think we should all wash our hands of this 👏

[@texasrush0407]

feel better Craig!!

[@dundukas7899]

nah, feel worse

[@texasrush0407]

@@dundukas7899 jealous

[@sameepghimire470]

No wonder Americans call Football "Sucker", 😂😂😂

[@kwesirollins666]

They would have made the world cup and they would be farther along on HOW to play. The older players hated him and the Meolas of the world hated him too. Proof: he played Pulisic at the #10 against Mexico and Lalas and Holden KILLED HIM! 2 games later they both said how great it was when Arena did it. Smh. If the goal is to WIN the WC, they are further away now than when they fired Klinnsman.

[@y1521t21b5]

Bring back Bruce Arena...

[@ryanyarbrough6792]

The results for qualifying under Klinsmann aside when he was at Brazil he was quoted as saying that the U.S. wasn't good enough for the later rounds. His mentality around the team during his tenure was one of reminding the USMNT that they just weren't good enough. I feel the failed qualification came from a locker room that was in disarray over Klinsmann. The rift with Donovan definitely hurt a had it been Donovan off the bench instead of Wondolowski in front of the Belgian net we are talking about a different outcome all respect due to Howard's world beating performance. Klinsmann always got himself in trouble with the team in his interactions. The transition in personnel and the constant changes in formation plus Klinsmann debbie downer attitude and off field distractions(i.e. his son getting in a twitter war with Donovan which he was in no position to be in) had too much of an effect on a USMNT with no direction and hunger.

[@fisterhr]

US Soccer started declining during JK's tenure not because of anything he did, but because of our greatest players deciding to come home to play in the mediocre MLS. The MLS's low level of competition is what deteriorated the players and thus deteriorated the national team. It's even worse now with a pro MLS coach fielding pro MLS teams that suck. The USMNT is being regressed before our eyes but they don't care because it is all about money. CONCACAF changing the rule to make it easier for USA to qualify to the next world cup was part of the big plan too so why worry about putting together a good and competitive team? So, after following the USMNT since the late 1990s, I stopped about a year ago. When they bring in a coach that is not dumb enough to field so many mediocre MLS players, like Dave Sarachan for example, maybe I'll start watching them again.

[@jacecook621]

Would be nice to see the US Soccer president try to make changes and improve the system

[@RobertLindeman-th7ff]

Craig Burley sounds like an early case of Covid

[@KJT922010T]

Sadly no country in CONCACAF will ever make it to the semifinals in a World Cup. Only the quarterfinals at best like Mexico, Costa Rica and the US have done before.

[@maxchase3570]

Kevin TenEyck México is a sleeping giant 🇲🇽

[@flashgordon7426]

max chase Good one. 🤦‍♂️ They’ve been a “sleeping giant” their entire soccer life lol. If they really were, they would of woken up long ago, with the likes of Brazil, Germany, France, Argentina, Uruguay, Italy etc etc. But they haven’t, and it’s all do to the FaCT they are extremely overrated and simply aren’t good enough. Just because all the Mexican fans exaggerate about how good the team is doesn’t mean they ACTUALLY are!

[@LM2.JES90]

US made the semi finals, granted it was during the very first World Cup lol

[@LM2.JES90]

Flash Gordon Mexico fans are delusional

[@flashgordon7426]

SoSaJE Exactly right bro. They are also the most obnoxiously annoying fans on the planet and have ZERO class. Mexico has and never will be anything more than a Decent team at best.

[@HubertofLiege]

He coulda been a winner. He coulda been somebody!

[@mactire6045]

Did Ale just use the term 'git'.

[@thlee3]

IM SO SICK OF THIS ESPN FC PANEL. none of these has-beens provide anything insightful or compelling. no difference than just hiring random fans to talk, not former pros.

[@ComradeOgilvy1984]

The USMNT was never great, but they had a very solid defense for years, well before Klinnsmann's tenure. And that was the basis for their modest success in WC 2014. My biggest problem with Klinnsmann is the defense steadily fell apart in the post 2014 years. And it did not soften because Klinnsmann was bringing in new blood -- the important idea his supporters like to talk about; on the pitch, he was more and more dependent on an aging cadre of players to hold the team together. After the USMNT failed to qualify for 2018, I heard a lot of pundits and fans openly talk about how the US needed to build from a solid defense, like, say, Germany(!). Do we need to know more about how a perfect failure Jurgen Klinnsmann really was?

[@jefflebowski4287]

Bring back Jergen!!!

[@giocrypt5148]

And Arena did... oh right, nothing

[@lifetimeleadership]

I call BS on the commentator. If Its the talent pool how have they pulled off big team upsets? its coaching. they're never consistent and don't prioritize international play. Kinnsman had his favorites and couldn't see over their inadequacies. They have no game plan and can't get the team synchronized. When you have a bunch of high dollar pros coming together, it takes a real leader to get them to work together.

[@gabrielherrera5885]

craig sounds sick :( feel better papa

[@BadWolve]

Klinnsmann was indefinitely better than Bruce and his underlings...

[@Chiefbiggums12]

I mean, he is a bit out there, but if we look at and say they replaced panama in that group, belgium would still win the group, if the US can beat england (assuming they get 3 points from the other game) they head into the side of the bracket england was in. They could have beaten columbia and sweden, there ya go, final four. I dont think they would have beaten england but, it would have been possible

[@edthesock2101]

Ridiculous punditry! If the players are not good enough then the manager is not at fault! Clueless!

[@NFLBlitz214]

😂😂😂

[@Vortexdr]

Eh Klinsi has accomplished more in his life then all three of these nobodies out together. I'm going to trust him more in regards to anything football then these chumps

[@unionse7en]

why not HUDSON? lol

[@MortChrist]

Jurgen Klinsmann and his US team could at best perform admirably at the WC, maybe hope to squeeze in a 2nd place from a weak group stage, but that would absolutely be it, tops. That is, IF he had the man management to NOT lose the dressing room and if he had a more modern and flexible view on the sport's tactics.. US football is still too far behind tactically and development wise to contest the big boys of EU or South America and should settle for competing with the subtop of those unless a golden generation hits.

[@davemojarra4734]

I believe him.

[@ejyounggun08]

How is there even a discussion? Klinsmann is responsible for the US NOT qualifying for the last WC, let alone a chance at the semis.

[@ducyshine6657]

Klinsman is so far THE BEST coach USMNT ever had. Don't be stupid.

[@badjujuforever]

id really like to see team USA v Australia (socceroos) in like a 3 game series or something i honestly think the teams would be pretty equal, which isnt amazing for america

[@BecuaseTheInternet1080]

They would of been the same group as England and Belgium and they wouldn’t of got out of that group. Tunisia could of given then a run for there money!

[@rlubin9356]

Usa possibly could of gotten out of that group even though it was very unlikely just look at the 2014 world cup usa was in a group with ghana portugal and Germany people said usa was going to be fourth in that group and that Ronaldo and Germany were going to humiliate usa but usa still managed to make it out of the group so they definitely had a chance

[@Risklander]

They would of been in France group instead, because of Australia who beat Honduras who got the 4th place in the hex, which USA could of got

[@GorillaRadio88]

Talk is cheap Juergen. You had your chance

[@derekinstuttgart3810]

American players should all strive to come to europe it will make them better players.... just like baseball players come to the usa to be around great baseball players... this moreno guy clearly doesnt like klinsman and is pro MLS... um i dont agree with his views....

[@ducyshine6657]

Tactical wise, he's the best coach USMNT ever had. He just couldn't connect with US MLS players. MLS is so sorry league.

[@JonCz13]

Craig had the rona

[@josefranciscodasilvaeolive674]

The collective amnesia around Klinnsman stint as the USMNT Manager is frankly the greatest mental trick the soccer community has ever known. He was terrible as head coach. The team was consistently disjointed and exhausted. He constantly rotated squads, positions and tactics with no end in mind. He played his best players out of position and had no idea how to change tactics mid-way through a game. He was one of the greatest players ever. As coach, he was awful.

[@misteree78]

Where's the analysis? US may have taken Panama's place. They certainly could have won the group v England. Then they could have made it to the semi's. When you compare managers in the hex you have to compare their records vs similar teams. Klinsmann 0-2 v Mexico and Costa Rica. Arena 0-1-1. Not that much better. I really wish ESPN would get some real analysts instead of these guys who have huge egos and part of that is shameing the US whenever they can.

[@kavemanlives4274]

He was never a good coach

[@tonymontepeque6877]

overall every single coaching hire has been sub par, klinsmann just happened to be the least horrible of them all, but hes still bad regardless

[@dreiproductions]

Klinsmann was, by far, the best coach the USMNT ever had. That's not saying much but USA did not make to the World Cup mainly due to the idiots upstairs firing Jurgen Klinsmann and replacing him with the godawful Bruce "Bullfrog" Arena.

[@axxessmundi]

That's just as ridiculous as Mexico reaching the semifinals in a WC.

[@lordmill4572]

Hahaha

[@axxessmundi]

@Azzury Street yeah that's like comparing a a gerbil to a hamster. Never apex competitors out of the weak Concacaf.

[@axxessmundi]

@Azzury Street Mexico has yet to produce players like Asian and Africans such Salah, Mane, Son, Drogba, Toure etc...that's low tier in comparison to Uefa and SA players. Mexican and US are just a side bitches.

[@supremes9223]

@@axxessmundi you are right but pulisic is looking like a strong prospect from our nation

[@axxessmundi]

@@supremes9223 It's European coaching and strategy which is the main ingredient. Look at players like Son and Salah. Look at what Jorge Jesus did in 5 months to awaken Brazils dormant giant. European coaching is the key cornerstone. The American player is still green.

[@createimag4088]

Jurgen Klinsmann is the 2nd worst manager in footall history. Frank Deboer being number 1.

[@lamThinker]

Doesn't help the US has bad players

[@jkansas2045]

Why are we still taking about this guy.... Klinsmann was bad... also shows how weak the US Soccer Organization is, they have accomplished so low of a standard that pundits are still talking about Klinsmann ...

[@rthelionheart]

The US is NOT Germany. Germany is powerhouse rivaled only by its peers in Western Europe and perhaps by only two South American teams. Everyone else is beneath them. No team ever becomes a 4-time World Champion by accident.🤨

[@moneyindabank]

Craig has Covid

[@djbunuelo4096]

Just bring Bielsa, everything will get fixed!!! TRUST ME!!!!!😉😉😉😉😉

[@war199912658]

U.S In the top 4 😂😂 they could barely beat the Caribbean teams they wouldve just gone to the world cup to be destroyed.

[@Risklander]

That was after Klinsmann left

[@overdosehtxboxing-ss2sx]

Hahaha

[@zekusas]

Dont forget about Canada we are coming

[@rlubin9356]

@Matthew Cherubin as an American I actually think canada has a good chance of qualifying for the world cup but getting out of the group stage is unlikely

[@binshakbooga9238]

Oh Canada, we're doodoo at soccer

[@tobysultan-othman4669]

He would have actually done it ... seen the team he was building since 2014

[@LeechUFC]

I do believe it’s realistic for the US to do well... before 2018, Croatia weren’t even contenders to make it out of groups and England was a laughing stock team while guys like Columbia and Sweden were the definition of mid-low table nations in international competition. They all smashed it and suddenly England and Croatia are seen as top nations in football. Any country can make a name for themselves , it just takes 3 games. Iran and Morocco did better than Germany after all at the world cup

[@josefranciscodasilvaeolive674]

Croatia has a history as a footballing nation. Not necessarily Croatia has a nation (since it didn't exist 30 years ago) but great players came from that part of Europe.

[@peterdalmationcro4217]

No chance buddy keep dreaming Croatia’s B team will slap the USA I’m not having a go mate but it’s the cold harsh truth you underestimate Croatia way to much sure sometimes their lazy & don’t perform as they should but when they come to play there’s not many countries that would even come close Croatia’s knockout Germany, Holland , England out of world cups not to mention beating Italy & Spain in past euro championships the list goes on & on who have USA beaten in a World Cup? Your a hundred years behind my friend gee wiz not knowing Croatia have been a constant power since their beginning is beyond me.

[@mrs8171]

Craig LOOKS sicker than a dog. Go home bud. Sleep.

[@stevencooke6451]

2014 was a mirage: they squeaked out of the group, and then managed to hang tough against a very good Belgian team. They should have been able to qualify for Russia, but there is no way they were better than England, Belgium, Croatia or France. I've always suspected Klinsmann is more style than substance. He was also flattered by Germany's performances in 2006. I have a lot of respect for former Bayern and national team captain Philip Lahm who noted that Klinsmann had no plan or strategy for games leading to players meeting before the game to come up with tactics.

[@Y0utubeIsFuckingHomo]

Jurgen Klansmann

[@MrHutchiemcfly]

Sir Switch Crookington naw bro he certainly no klansman I’ll say that

[@robertmorici8605]

Yeah Klinsmanns an idiot

[@colindoyle5108]

Why is everyone annoyed? American men’s team have never and will never be a good football team, ever

[@barry9817]

Never say never man,,, who knows what the future holds.....

[@Y0utubeIsFuckingHomo]

Lol, he was terrible coach.

[@juzcruz3672]

USA lol

[@rlubin9356]

Well we weren't always a joke 😂

[@juzcruz3672]

@@rlubin9356 Aleast we got into the world cup 🤣🤣

[@KayvanKermani]

lost respect for klinsman or whatever his name is.

[@serialkilla23]

USA team are way overrated. They can’t even win gold cup.

[@brysonfrank6476]

No. I think USA could have made it to the final four. Look at England. They made it and weren’t any good then. As soon as they met a decent quality Croatia, they got beat.

[@bashaneplummer5321]

No bro don't ever compare the US to England please

[@ashleythomas4112]

I'm English and you're right. We played 3 matches against really good teams at that World Cup (Belgium twice and Croatia) and lost all of them.

[@XhoowieX]

USA would have had almost no chance against Colombia and Sweden. Don't be silly.

[@bjehulk]

England wasn’t that great and they got lucky with a favorable path to the final no doubt. But even still, just look at the gap in player quality between USA and England. Would any of the American players make it into the English starting XI? There’s no way we could’ve got the Semifinals. We probably couldn’t make it out of the group given that we would’ve been in either Panama or Costa Rica’s spot, and both of them had tough groups.

[@bashaneplummer5321]

@@ashleythomas4112 i agree with you