There is an international joke that people use to describe USA soccer "when it comes to soccer, Americans have square feet but can run forever." Fitness coach Pierre Barrieu, is the master behind team USA and their top fitness level, he says "people don't realize the work that is needed for the team to be like this. They don't understand that our guys have the mental strength to put themselves through this. There are a lot players around the world who would not want any part of this."
"You can't push the soccer aside; obviously thats still paramount. But we don't have 11 players on Champions League teams like the big countries do. So we have to take care of everything we can control so that when its time to take the field, our bodies our ready to excel at their maximum potential."
Barrieu oversees not only the team's fitness but their meals and weight workouts as well.
There is also an understanding that not every player is capable of the same fitness workouts and results. For example, Landon Donovan, is capable of running a sub five minute mile with minimal effort, however, Clint Dempsey must put out twice the effort to have the same result. Both men were atop of the leaderboard for distance covered at last years Confederations Cup, Donovan ran 36 miles and Dempsey ran 35 miles over the 5 game span.
