U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone has defended the U.S. men’s national team’s desire to win amid growing questions over its mentality.
With just over a year until a home World Cup, pressure is building on the USMNT after it fell flat at the Concacaf Nations League last month.
The USMNT was stunned 1-0 by Panama in the semifinal before falling 2-1 to Canada in the third-place game, failing to win the Nations League for the first time in four editions of the competition.
Criticism of the USMNT hasn’t just centered on a lack of execution on the pitch but also a perception that the team wasn’t giving its all.
“If you aren’t going to show up and actually give a s!%* about playing for your national team, decline the invite,” USMNT legend Landon Donovan said after the Nations League. “Talent is great; pride is better.”
USMNT midfielder Tyler Adams conceded Donovan had a point in an interview with “Men In Blazers” this month.
“We need to get back to the basics,” Adams said. “The biggest thing for me is just to compete, to compete at a high level.”
Parlow Cone, a former U.S. women’s national team star, admitted that seeing the USMNT questioned for its effort was difficult for her.
“For me as president, it’s challenging when the narrative is around effort,” she said on the RE—CAP Show with Tobin Heath and Christen Press.
“Because every time I wore that crest—I’m not saying I was always great, because that’s far from the truth — but I always gave every single thing I had in me.”
Parlow Cone added that the USMNT should look to emulate the mentality that it displayed at the 2022 World Cup, when it advanced to the round of 16 after going through the group stage unbeaten.
“I saw that from the men in ’22. I saw that mentality. I saw it, I felt it, and the true belief that going into any game that we had the opportunity to win,” Parlow Cone said. “So I think it’s important in the next year for our men to get back to that mentality and that belief.
“Are we one of the best teams in the world? We’re not right now, and that’s just a fact. But could we beat any team on any given day? Yes, and we need to get back to that mentality.”
With a home World Cup on the horizon next summer, Parlow Cone expressed her belief that with a shift in mindset, head coach Mauricio Pochettino could lead the USMNT to a deep run in the tournament.
“Playing at home, could we go on a run? Absolutely,” she added. “I’m a huge fan of our men’s national team. Throughout my five years [as president], I’ve gotten to know the players. And I struggle with people saying that they don’t care, because I know they do.
“I know they’re passionate. You have to use these games to help you prepare for the World Cup. Things don’t just magically come together at a World Cup. You need to prepare to get there. And so luckily, we have a little bit over a year, so I have faith in Mauricio and his team to get us there.”
