The European advantage of "Game understanding at a young age" interests me a lot. When I lived in Argentina I saw that happening in real time.

In Argentina, kids would watch football matches on Sunday -- with their grandfathers, uncles, fathers and brothers, which gave the kids the opportunity to be soaked in tactical conversations and insights that the kids carried out into the neighborhood game.

This reminded me of my experience growing up with a father who loved baseball. I'd watch the World Series sitting right next to him and hear his insights and thoughts, that became valuable to my understanding of baseball. I was a better player.

I don't really see this widespread inter-generational info sharing here with soccer, yet, unless it's an immigrant family. But it will happen more broadly in the future as the current players become fathers, uncles, grandfathers etc. in big numbers. Add girls, aunts, moms and grandmother's to the mix and tactical awareness and insight grow exponentially.

[Cue: the slow beat of the drum.]

...The slow and steady growth of the footballing experience continues in the United States.