How U.S. Soccer will eclipse European soccer?

There is no doubt that U.S. soccer has come along way in the last decade but we are still light-years away from competing with the best whether club or country. In the 1994 World Cup the U.S. squad finished 3rd in their group behind the likes of Romania and Switzerland, not quality opponents. Then the appearance of the MLS in 1996 brought hope and aspiration to U.S. soccer. But four years later the U.S. squad finished last in their group recording 3 straight losses including one to the Iranian National team. The outlook for United States soccer looked quite hopeless. Then the 2002 World Cup came around and there was feeling in the air that we could do well in this tournament, mostly in part due to the success of the 2000 sydney olympics. The U.S. advanced out of their group beating Portugal and tying South Korean. Then Something happened that no one could have forecasted before the tournament, they advanced to the quarterfinals against germany. They lost 1-0 to germany but watching the game it was easy to tell that it should have been the other way around. When the final whistle blew Oliver Kahn feel to his knees happy to survive the onslaught that occurred on his goal. The excitement increased over the next few years, the United States soccer community was just waiting for the 2006 World Cup. But then it came and soon went away with the lackluster performance in group stage finishing last. The hope of the nation fell once again. United States soccer failed again but this time it did more damage than the last time. This time soccer disappointed a nation looking to due something great.

So we ask the question: What is needed for the U.S. to achieve consistent results?
This is the most simple answer to this question. Youth Academies. When the owners of our MLS teams start spending money on youth players and not old timers brought in to sell jerseys, we will be able to compete. When we see the La Galaxy signing 20-30 players under the age of 13 to train in an academy that they set up to produce the stars of the future, we will be able to compete. When they start running the MLS as an opportunity to revolutionize soccer rather than a business, we will be able to compete. When we look at the EPL, how many of their stars or even players came out of college to play for Manchester United or Arsenal. Zero. They come from there academies that are specifically design to develop players day in and day out. When we get these academies, WE WILL COMPETE.