Hall of Famer Tab Ramos played for the USA at the 1990, 1994 and 1998 World Cups. He took part in the qualifying campaigns for the 1990, 1998 and 2002 World Cups. The current USMNT, like the one Ramos played for in 1994, qualified automatically as host.
SOCCER AMERICA: Nine months ahead of the World Cup, and a year into Mauricio Pochettino’s time at the helm, let’s start with the South Korea game. Were you concerned after the 2-0 loss, or did you like Pochettino see positives in the performance?
TAB RAMOS: The South Korea game was a small window into what we could encounter at the World Cup next summer. Our team was disconnected in the defensive third and the attack was sporadic until South Korea took the foot off the gas. Defensively, we paid for the few mistakes we made against good players.
SA: There is logic to the notion that the only results that matter are those at the World Cup — as Pochettino said after the South Korea loss, but how important is it to get wins like the USA did against Japan?
TAB RAMOS: Wins matter. Players gain confidence, the team plays better, fan support and excitement increases, the game benefits all over the country. And coaches sleep at night. It’s why you play the game.
SA: Do you recall times during your playing career when you and/or the team still felt good about preparing for a major tournament despite not getting results in preparation games?
TAB RAMOS: No, not ever. Not on the national team and not on any club I played for or coached. When losing becomes a habit, players are always waiting for that tough break moment in the game to immediately put their heads down. Eventually, that moment arrives, and the team is done.
Teams used to winning have that same moment arrive at times but they dust themselves off and get on with the game until they beat the opponent. Big difference.
SA: As a coach, did you recall feeling good about the progress of your team after bad results?
TAB RAMOS: There are moments when you can lose and still feel like you made progress. It depends on your overall objectives and how the team played.
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