Except the NFL isn't competing with other leagues to attract top talent, so you're kind of comparing apples and oranges. What does it matter if the teams within the league are competitive with one another, if they're not competitive with the rest of the world and thus second rate?

Ahh yes, it's all clear now. All we need to win is your can-do 'Merican attitude! Let's get your agent in touch with the USMNT forthwith.

Germany and Belgium obviously had more talent at every position to anyone halfway paying attention. What's your deal? The talent needs to improve to be competitive, why rip the manager for pointing that out?

Classy.

There is plenty of self-reflection within pockets of America, sure. I'm not sure that too many of the people tweeting Nazi jokes have the requisite grey matter upstairs to do it, but I guess fucking Twitter isn't the best place to look for level-headed discussion and reflection.

"Who needs self-reflection when you're exceptional?!"-the logic that insulates a nation and its leaders from ever learning from their fucking mistakes

And any other country, including ours, could just as easily fall into the same trap and make the same mistakes. We are all human, and we are all vulnerable to committing the same follies, so maybe come off the high horse a bit lest we forget that.

And thus making any critic's point about Americans being insular, xenophobic and ignorant for them. Good job. Doing our country proud.

I hear these two nations fought a war with each other once!

I burped.

What a keen observation.

I think we all know who the condescending prick here is.

You are a serious tool.

Aww, beat me to it.

No, you.

If by "owning up to it" you mean being a little bitch about it, sure.

Were you?

Well it probably couldn't be improved upon by a smug xenophobic asshole, at least.

The discussion just wouldn't be complete without someone bitching about the ties' existence. Thank you for that.

Could you?