This Is American Soccer, US Soccer, MNT, WNT, and MLS - Tackling the subject of Soccer in the US, and worldwide.

It is hard to please everybody, and no one on the US MNT knows that better than DaMarcus Beasley. A few years ago - even a few months ago - he was being touted as the next big U.S. soccer star. Leaving MLS, the star watched some playing time disappear along with a healthy hamstring, and many thought his skill level went with them. This led to an up and down performance during qualifying, topped off with the verbal spat (or was it?) with Bruce Arena after the Czech game. Then, of course, he almost scored against Italy.

The DB roller coaster rolls on, but as long as he continues to believe in himself, most concede he is the kind of player we need - right up there with Gooch and EJ - to carry American Soccer into the future. The old guys are gone, and like it or not, that decision is out of our hands.

Cagey veteran or youthful exuberance? Reyna and the rest of his generation will likely not see another international tournament, so the debate that controlled the airwaves - Play EJ, Reyna is the best we have, Reyna is worthless, McBride is a statue, McBride is the best target anywhere - won’t be there.

DB and the rest of the boys will get their chance in 2010. For that reason, South Africa will be a better measuring stick than this year. Looking back now on 2006, I see two teams out there. Bruce never seemed to know with which to believe in. So, he went with both, and it backfired.

So lets take a deep breath and peruse some evidence of today - in this last of the Meal Tickets series. Tomorrow, it is likely to look much much different.

More behind the scenes photos from Eindhoven, home to Beaslye’s club team, PSV, and a short documentary are after the jump…


taking it to the streets of Eindhoven

PSV stadium, photos of the players line the hallway outside the locker room

(all still photography by Toby Page)