World Cup Countdown

The World Cup is counting down, fellas. American Football is now done, and Football now is the focus that the rest of the world will be turning their attention to come June. All eyes will be on Germany for World Cup 2006. The USA squad is currently ranked #8 in the world, and no longer is taken for granted on the international stage.


USA
Federation: Concacaf
World Ranking: 8
Group: E
Fixtures: June 12: Czech Republic; June 17: Italy; June 22: Ghana
Coach: Bruce Arena
Player to Watch: Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Road to finals: Winners of group
World Cup record: 1930, 1934, 1950, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002
Tournament best: Semi-finals in 1930

Unfortunately, this time around they have found themselves in a group containing Italy and the Czech Republic. And - unlike the 2002 World Cup Finals - no one will be taking them lightly this time. The odds on the game don't consider the Americans favorites either, with only about a 6-1 chance of getting out of Group E. It's no "Group of Death" with Argentina, Ivory Coast, Serbia & Montenegro and Holland together in Group C, but it's formitable.

Nevertheless, I still believe it is just possible for them to get through the group stages. If you look deeper -- the core of their World Cup squad will be the same set of players who were at Korea 2002 -- Brian McBride, Landon Donovan, Claudio Reyna. Similarly, tough talking manager Bruce Arena is still in place and knows what it takes to turn his players into a team. So they have the experience. Plus, newcomers Taylor Twellman, Oguchi Onyewu & Eddie Johnson are electric talents that could be difference makers in the same vein as Donovan in '02.

In my opinion, the USA squad is more talented this time round and with some of their best players now having experience in the top European leagues, they are better placed to compete this time round than in 2002. Of course, it will need one or both of Italy or Czech Republic to slip up for the USA to progress to the next round. The opening game for the USA against the Czech Republic in Gelsenkirchen will be crucial, but this is soccer and it's very possible that a "surprise" USA victory in their opening match against the Czechs could set them up for a good run in the tournament.