First off, that is a fantastic stop watch--thanks for posting.

US soccer is regarded as strong, but basically in the top tier of the second rung of world powers. We have made tremendous strides in sending players to Europe and to steal a baseball metaphor, we are a tough"out" at the international level, but lack the special sauce in the form of really dynamic talent to challenge at the top.

Mind you, this is increasingly a problem in Europe as well--England in particular regularly laments it lack of attacking talent. As the soccer-industrial complex has strangled its grip in terms of player development, young players are quickly pushed into a "system" and have their creative talents thwarted at an early stage. The US has some very good professionals, but we will never really ascend to the top until soccer can compete with the big three sports for the very best athletes. In Brazil, Germany, Argentina, and Italy, the best athletes play soccer; while the size of the US suggests that even our second or third-tier athletes can compete with the first-tier of the rest of the world, that has yet to be proven.

I think a Heuer/soccer forum would be a big hit!