Friday's World Cup draw: A dandy landing for U.S. Soccer

by Steve Davis on Dec 4, 2009 3:31 PM EST

A dove of hope flies today in the U.S. Soccer supporters’ camp. In fact, that little bird is soaring.

History had taught U.S. fans to brace themselves for the draw. If it played out as before, the U.S. would get a brutal outcome, and the second round might easily appear a bridge too far.

What a smooth landing Friday’s draw turned out to be for the United States. My early reaction piece on ESPN Soccernet should be posted shortly. (Update: posted here.) The bottom line is this: After meeting England on the tournament’s second day in a massively high-profile match, Bob Bradley’s bunch faces Slovenia on June 18 in Johannesburg. If there is not something left to play for as U.S. concludes Group C play on June 23 in Pretoria, then something has gone horribly, horribly wrong.

I’ll say it right now: the United States will advance into the second round. They may well fall toEngland in the opener, but I’d reckon a 1-0 score here with the Americans pressing at the end. Then, they’ll find the points against Slovenia and Algeria.

I won’t be shocked to see the United States and England draw in that opener. England has a history of sluggish starts in the World Cup, which isn’t surprising considering how much pressure accompanies the Three Lions at every quadrennial stop. Long story short, everyone back home expects England to win the damn thing, even when the talent looks quite marginal (compared to the real global heavyweights, that is.) Plus, the Americans are simply better when they play as underdogs, with that we-get-no-respect chip on their shoulder.

Things could hardly have turned out more swell for the Americans.

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I hope you’re right! My best friend is English, and our relationship may hang in the balance.

"My face is my mask."

by Jake Shapiro on Dec 4, 2009 3:56 PM EST reply actions

Your ESPN Soccernet buddies are expecting us to fall.....

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/4713385/ce/us/live-draw-instant-analysis?cc=5901&ver=us

Soccernet’s prediction……Advancing: England, Slovenia

I expect you to have a sit down with them to set the record straight. We will advance.

by misfit15 on Dec 4, 2009 4:23 PM EST reply actions

I am not my brothers keepers

And I can’t help it if they started reaching into the bottom drawer too early. (JK, of course. I didn’t say it would be a cake walk. I just think on neutral ground, the Euros advantage will be mitigated, and the Africans will make a mistake that the US might not make.)

by Steve Davis on Dec 4, 2009 4:47 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed. Plus, like you mentioned, we are better as underdogs....for whatever reason.

I hope everyone starts doubting us. It’s more fun that way. Just like Confederations Cup.

by misfit15 on Dec 4, 2009 5:37 PM EST reply actions

Slovenia ain't no picnic

Better than France, but they did beat out the Czechs, Poland, and Russia, they are a good team. Probably average for the unseeded.

But it will be awesome to play England, its great if we win and a disaster if they loose, and they weren’t the strongest seeded team. US very capable of beating Slovenia and Algeria though, so they have a good chance of advancing.

Plus, we may have a slight advantage mentally over England having already played meaningful international matches in SA already and feel right at home for the first game.

South Africa may be first to not advance. They’ll need some luck like the US did when we hosted. Tough draw for them, they basically go one of the hardest teams from each pot even though they were seeded.

That being said, things could easily go all 1998 or 2006 on us, so the team needs to show up in top form (and leave the old guys home this time!).

by Cool Dudes on Dec 4, 2009 8:16 PM EST reply actions

In 1994 USA was fortunate the field was 24 and not 32.

Third place teams could still qualify. At least they will have the home crowd in their favor…..still those are tough countries they face. Shall be interesting. Now we have to wait.6 more months.

2009 NBA Champions L.A Lakers
2009 NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant

by weazel on Dec 5, 2009 3:27 AM EST up reply actions

A bold prediction

Considering the history of US failures.

But I agree, the US will find a way to advance in that group.

Also when I think of it, lucky to get Algeria for Africa instead of a sub-Saharan team. I’m sure they will be playing out of their minds just like Korea/Japan did playing their first world cup on African soil.

by Cool Dudes on Dec 4, 2009 8:38 PM EST reply actions

I don't know that Japan and Korea are analogs

Those two hosted.

Ghana isn’t. Cote d’Ivorie (how’d I spell that?) isn’t.

Japan and Korea kicked ass because they had home pitch. Only South Africa gets that and considering how far from good they are, it shouldn’t help them much.

I am not a Supporter
I am not a Fan
I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Dec 4, 2009 10:34 PM EST up reply actions

Right

How could South Africans possibly relate.

You are so right they are totally incapable of relating their long terrible struggles to other fellow Africans.

by Cool Dudes on Dec 5, 2009 3:00 PM EST up reply actions

I am happy with this group.

Facing England right off the bat will definatly get things going. At least it isn’t the group of death. That belongs to group G. I mean North Korea finally gets back to the World Cup and have to face Brazil, Ivory Coast, and Portugal……that sucks.

2009 NBA Champions L.A Lakers
2009 NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant

by weazel on Dec 5, 2009 3:25 AM EST reply actions