A young, inexperienced U.S. national team took its first unsteady steps toward the next World Cup on Friday. And while those baby steps weren’t always effective or attractive, they were important simply because they got the journey started.
That the U.S. lost its first game of the new World Cup cycle to Brazil — 2-0 before an announced crowd of 32,489 — wasn’t a surprise. The Americans have lost 11 straight to Brazil, a national team record.
“We’re earning stripes, man,” said Wil Trapp, who wore the captain’s armband in just his seventh appearance for the national team.