Yeah, it was a huge positive win, but doesn't suddenly propel the USA team into the "Top Five" or anything of that sort. If I were rating I'd prolly either leave 'em at 14 or even knock 'em down about 4-6 notches to 18-20.
The "feeder" isn't good and MLS is prolly on the level with English League One or Zweite or Dritte Bundesliga, and Secunda Liga in Spain. Just not enough talent for and endless supply of rising young talent and seasonal competition to keep the veterans honed.
Most of the best of the current team play in Europe (not Donovan,) but few beyond Dempsey and Mike Bradley have contracts and regular playing time in a top league side during the season. Altidore's rights belong to Villareal in Spains top division, but they had him out to Xerez on-loan this just season and he didn't get into a single game with an unremarkable Segunda-side. (Prolly, in that case, xenophobia and a moron managing though.)
USA football still has a long way to go to be Top Ten competitive with Brazil, Argentina, England, Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Croatia, Russia, Netherlands, Caneroon, Nigeria. This win doesn't change any of the problems nor really raise the level of play in the USA team. But, it was nice to watch; and the effort of DeMerit and Onyewu in central defense was just incredible. They made some tackles and clearances that were simply way beyond what had been shown by this team during this WC-cycle.
Funny, Onyewu is, I think, out-of-contract at the moment with Standard Liege in Belgium and will have probably raised awareness about his own play with this tournament. He's consistently prolly the best USA player. DeMerit has been a very nice surprise.
Trouble right now is that as these guys get older there's not much to replace them at least not that's notable. So, still a long road for USA to how in the international game.
