Oh absolutely. It's weird because I'm part of this generation where 70% of kids are playing football recreationally. The problem is kids drop out and find something else, I'd say soccer is about 4th on the list of "What do kids want to play?" behind American football, baseball, and basketball. The recent health concerns from American football may swing the numbers a bit, as well as the recent exposure from all the television hoopla that's come around. I hate being yet another one of the people who keeps saying, "We're close to being world class!". I'd say another 20 years and that could change. The coaching would have to improve to create better players. If I understand England's situation, I'd say they're the opposite of the US. England has all these coaches and players willing to play but funding for local equipment and pitches is down. Whereas I personally have about 7-8 pitches within short driving distance, but no one has a fierce desire to be a world class soccer player. Many more people idolize LeBron James or Michael Jordan over Donovan or Dempsey.
