Is This The Real USMNT Golden Generation? - World Cup Best XI: 2002 vs. 2022

0:00 - Introduction
0:51 - Episode Details
2:01 - Brad Friedel vs. Zack Steffen
3:27 - Eddie Pope vs. Miles Robinson
4:29 - Tony Sanneh vs. Tyler Adams
5:55 - Gregg Berhalter vs. John Brooks
7:44 - Frankie Hedjuk vs. Sergino Dest
8:45 - Eddie LEwis vs. Antonee Robinson
10:02 - Pablo Mastroeni vs. Yunus Musah
11:00 - John O'Brien vs. Weston McKennie
11:51 - Claudio Reyna vs. Giovanni Reyna
13:54 - Brian McBride vs. Ricardo Pepi
15:03 - Landon Donovan vs. Christian Pulisic
16:13 - Closing Comments

On this episode of @StateOfSoccer we will be diving into a comparison between past, and present day. On this episode I will be comparing the 2002 USMNT World Cup XI vs. the projected 2022 USMNT World Cup XI. Now obviously the US Men's National Team still has to qualify but considering the term 'Golden Generation' being thrown around to describe the current USMNT I thought this would be fun.

In this episode we will be going from player to player and awarding one-point for whichever player is stronger at the time of their respective World Cup. The 2022 projected starting XI is up for a challenge because this 2002 USMNT team went all the way to the Quarter Final in an eventual loss vs. Germany.

So let's se....'Who Is The Real 'Golden Generation?'

#USMNT #USMNTRoster #USMNTContent

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[FutbolGalaxy]

That was a really interesting and entertaining video!! Great job Brian!! Happy Thanksgiving!! 🦃⚽️🇺🇲

[davidmilko]

While an interesting comparison there are a couple things I'd challenge....
1) Brooks > Berhaulter. Gregg was consistent, but never played in Champions League.
2) Look at the age comparison of the 2 squads. The 02 squad was mostly an experienced/finished product, while the 22 squad is extremely young and is still a work in progress. A better comparison will be the 02 squad and the 26 squad....at which time most of the XI will be of similar age.

[FutbolGalaxy]

Yessir!! Berhalter played for gaLAxy!!!

[citizenstranger]

saying this is the golden generation concedes the notion we wont get better.

[steeler]

Learned a lot about the 2002 squad. Awesome comparison

[ricopo]

I suspect this surge of young talent isn't a golden generation so much as it is the new normal. Rather than a freak /random occurrence of soccer talent being simultaneously born- I think it's brought on by the USA finally having some semblance of a development pipeline. 10 years in- we are seeing it just now beginning to bear fruit.

[guillermomerlano]

Do this same video on 2026 when all these kids get close to the beginning of their prime and then ask yourself which it's a real golden generation. I'll tell you right now, it's not even as close as MLS level to Premier league 😉

[louisz]

2002 team got badly beat by Poland. The current team hasn't been beaten that badly, yet.

Also, the 2002 team required help from So. Korea to even get out of the group stage. The 2022 team is younger, faster, and more experienced at the highest level which is Champions. The 2002 did not beat Mexico 3 times like the 2022 team.

[starwarssatan]

Its 2002 unless we get to the quarters again

[magneticpitch]

nice episode! i can see our 2022 team going just as far, maybe win one more game

[AW-zkqb]

This generation won't be done until after the 2030 World Cup. So comparing how they do in 2022 to 2002 wouldn't be proper. Compare what they do after the 2030 World Cup to 2002

[nicholasjagneaux]

-- The 2022 home kit > the 2002 home kit.
-- The 2002 away kit > the 2022 away kits. (I don't like either one especially, but the Stadium away kit is horrible. The only thing that could redeem it would be *at least* a quarter-final appearance.)

[tedefinance]

It’s the Silver generation. Golden in 2030!

[citizenstranger]

the 2010 team was better than 2002. we got lucky to advance from the group in 02.
edit: we switch to 3-5-2 after the group, we were 4-4-2 for the group games.

[LostnEurope]

Nice way to look at it... BUT the 2002 team was a better squad. Until the 2022 team reaches those accomplishments, then we will have good conversations. Soccer is a team sport and makes for team achievement. We have a good 2022 squad and I will be backing our Red/White/Blue Boys and the whole way...

[dianarachii]

Awesome episode. Really well thought out! I agree 2022 > 2002

[quanshi]

This guy got really creative to make it look like a good match up. In reality, this isn’t even close. ‘22 barring injury has much better talent than ‘02. Tbh our B/C squad today has much better talent than ‘02 squad.

[dixoncider]

wait so Tyler Adams is playing for RB SALZBURG?

[koz]

Love this deep dive! Keep going man, this is the content we need! Cheers

[johelectrix]

Round of 16 escape from Group stage in 2022 World Cup you can correct me USMNT fans