How far will the US advance in WC2006?

[DCunited11]

winners.
heck yes!

[SectionX]

the problem with the US team is that they are playing sh!t teams all the time im their qualifier group so when they come to the World Cup they level of difficulty goes up so much that it's too much for them. They make the groupplay, but nothing more.

[swhoolie]

I am an American, hey Santos Fan y'all think your gonna win against Dorados tomorow? I think you will.

[Ed-D]

the problem with the US team is that they are playing sh!t teams all the time im their qualifier group so when they come to the World Cup they level of difficulty goes up so much that it's too much for them. They make the groupplay, but nothing more.

yeah, that was a real problem in '02, wasn't it?

[prymetyme]

i think the'll make it to the semi's but you never know i can see them winning because in a one game playoff you never know in 2002 they defenetly outplayed germany but lost in a one game playoff anythign can happen

[apmgtv]

It depends on the draw of course. If we get put in a group of death, then we probably are lucky to make it out of group play. With an easier group, I would say semis is possible. At this point in US soccer history, I just don't want another showing like WC'98. A repeat of '02 would be absolutely great. Anything more would be beyond reasonable expectations.

[kpaulson]

I think this poll positively has to be stuffed. Semis? Are you kidding? I love the team, but it's a complete crapshoot. Sure, Turkey and S Korea made it to the semis last time-- and neither is likely head and shoulders superior to us (we were fortunate to tie Korea at the WC and a second rate Turkey beat a second rate US in the confed cup)-- but teams of that caliber cannot count on making the semis. Is it possible? Sure. But it will probably take three upsets for us to make it (probably one in group play, one in the round of 16 and certainly in the quarters). The last WC, the only true upset was against Portugal. While the US hasn't gotten blown out in games that count against elite opposition, it also hasn't won many either... Three upsets would be extremely fortunate.

[prymetyme]

yeah i think semis are possible but it really depends on the draw if we get stuck with 3 european super clubs were screwed but if we get really lucky i dont think the semi's are impossible

[kpaulson]

yeah i think semis are possible but it really depends on the draw if we get stuck with 3 european super clubs were screwed but if we get really lucky i dont think the semi's are impossible
Sure, if we get really lucky-- we're close enough that anything can happen in a one-off game. But we are absolutely not good enough to be able to count on that happening once, let along three times.

I agree that the draw in the group will make a big difference, but after that, I would find it hard to believe that we won't have to face two very good teams to make it to the semis.

[prymetyme]

yeah i agree wiht you that getting our hopes up for a big world cup showing isnt good we shouldnt expect that but be happy if it happens

[simonb_nyc]

Semis.

[Sempre]

Making the quarter-finals again would be respectable.

This U.S. team, after all, will no longer have the element
of surprise. The Portugals of the world will play them with-
out complacency.

[jcmartins]

I think the US might reach the eights or if they're lucky the quarters, of course it all depends on the group they fall on... I'd personally like to see them going far... There is no need to hope more than that, but we never know, ...

[Ed-D]

Making the quarter-finals again would be respectable.

This U.S. team, after all, will no longer have the element
of surprise. The Portugals of the world will play them with-
out complacency.

the U.S. didn't exactly have the element of surprise in '02 either. Most American players were pretty well-known by the Portuguese and others. It wasn't so much complacency that did the Portuguese in, it was good old-fashioned under-estimating (although I suppose that is a form of complacency, after all).

I also think that in '98, the U.S. was in a tougher group than last time. Germany were the defending Euro champs and the Yugoslavs had some star power. Ditto Iran, who flat-out outplayed and outhustled (and frankly, embarassed) us in that game.

What will happen in Germany next year? A lot of it of course will depend on the draw. I don't think the U.S. will have a repeat performance of the '98 debacle, but I'm not sure the quarterfinals are in the cards either. The semis? Dream on. I think the round of 16 is a realistic goal, but of course a lot of it depends on the group. Speaking of which, are we going to be in the "B" pool, or worse yet in the "A" pool (made up of the best teams)? If so, and if we can avoid facing a heavyweight (i.e. France, Germany, England, Brazil, Argentina, Holland, Italy, Spain) that would increase our chances of advancing.

[DutchFootballRulez]

WC'06 depends on the group.

We won't get a group like in WC'02 with South Korea, Poland, and an old, unfit Portugal.

[feyenoord!!]

yep, who they playing? :rolleyes:

winning a tournament depends a lot on the draw.

[SS2006]

first round out

[simonb_nyc]

first round out

That's Mexico. This post is about the US. Quarters again. Guaranteed.

[SS2006]

im not mexican
and i think i can choose my own options :)

[simonb_nyc]

im not mexican
and i think i can choose my own options :)

I didn't say you were Mexican. It's just common knowledge that Mexico will be out in the first rounds while the US will make the quarters. You said that the US would be out in the first round so I corrected you. Simple.