US soccer chief to talk to coach

Associated Press

JOHANNESBURG

U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati says the American team did not meet his expectations at the World Cup and he likely will meet with Bob Bradley after the tournament to discuss the coach’s future.

Bradley was hired in December 2006 and has a contract running through the end of the year. The Americans were eliminated in the second round with a 2-1 overtime loss to Ghana.

“I think the team is capable of more,” Gulati said Monday. “I think the players know it. I think Bob knows it. And so at that level we’re disappointed we didn’t get to play another 90 minutes at least.”

Gulati described Bradley as being “very disappointed” with the team’s outcome.

“The missed opportunity is partly a chance to get to the quarters and the matchup with Uruguay, but it’s also a missed opportunity to stay in the American public’s eyes for another four, five, six days, maybe 10 days, when interest is at an all-time high,” Gulati said.

“I have no doubt there will still be people at bars watching games at strange times, that the TV ratings will still be good. But what the ratings might have been for a quarterfinal game or dreaming beyond that, it’s certainly a missed opportunity.”

Gulati said extensive talks with Bradley probably will wait until after the World Cup final on July 11.

“I want to sit down with Bob. I think that’s the appropriate thing,” Gulati said. “I want to hear his views, express some of mine and see what makes sense. I think he’s done a very good job. I want to make that very clear. ... When we’ve had our ‘A’ team, the record is pretty darn good. ... The problem is that our expectations have risen pretty sharply and there have been some performances where we didn’t play as well as we would have liked.”

Gulati said a coach can do only so much.

“I think it ultimately comes down to players.”