What's that sound you hear??? Oh. that's just me jumping up and down, banging my hands on my work desk. But fear not it's not because I'm scared, angry, or sad at the draw. Quite the opposite. I am stoked. I am elated. I am massively overjoyed. I wanted us to have the so-called "group of death". It's our destiny and we should be used to that by now. We have, quite arguably, the deepest, strongest player pool in our history. We are surging and we are getting better and better each passing match. I am now more confident that we can take on anyone in the world and get a result. I am that confident. Sure we have some major issues to work out and we are not world beaters on a consistent basis. However, on any given night we can play with anyone. This our WC to make a statement -- a loud statement -- that we are a national team to be reckoned with. I know, I know we've said this in two previous Cups but we lied to ourselves. We knew we had false hopes and dreams --- at least I did. The best way to make the loudest, boldest statement is to progress against the stiffest of competition. No one can discount you. No one. I am excited -- very excited -- about the draw. It's going to be the biggest test we've ever faced and you know what, I'm not scared or the least bit nervous. Bring on Ghana, Portugal, and Germany. Bring them on!!
I don't want any part of an in form Belgium. I know they're popular and trendy, but that team is freaking stacked with talent, top to bottom. Those forwards make Asamoah Gyan look like a pu$$y.
Distance from Natal to Manaus is 1719.12 miles and Manaus to Recife is 1761.81 miles according to this: http://www.distance.to/Manaus/Recife Not sure where Grant Wahl is getting 9000.
Do you want to maximize our chances of advancing from the group, or maximize our chances of winning the group? Germany beating Portugal helps us advance from the group, but hurts our chances of winning it. Germany drawing Portugal helps us win the group, but hurts our chances of advancing from it.
Portugal in the last 3 tournaments has only gone out to either Spain or Germany, and qualified from the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark group last year to boot. Before that, we were Euro 2004 runner-ups and WC 2006 semi-finalists. I think you have major tournaments and qualifying confused.
But I dont think that team had this guy Not so sure about that. The climate conditions play into the USes cards. You're used to play vs some coconut islands.
Group B would have been a harder draw for us than Group G, I agree. But even if ESP/NED/CHI > GER/GHA/POR, Group G is more of a group of death because the US is tough and Australia is one of the weaker teams in this WC.
I'm not even thinking about winning the group. It may not matter anyway, since I'm not sure that the favorites in group H - Russia and Belgium are all that different in difficulty and it could go either way as far as their finishing first or second. So yeah, given our order of games, we want Germany to destroy their first two opponents, have already qualified for the second round, rest some starters and play us a bit more defensively which could help us get a last point we might need to finish second.
The past is the past. I say that Ghana should fear us! Also, very important that we have Germany last.
It's the hardest group for Australia. No one matches our group for all-around toughness. If we were in group B it would be Group of Death. Australia isn't very good.
USA can beat Ghana, the problem is history says otherwise. They need 3 points against Ghana anything less and they're going home. 3 points against Ghana would give them a chance. Still very tough and likely 3 and out.
I will say, playing in Central America in qualifying will help us against Portugal. No big deal for us--same as Honduras and Guatemala at noon.
Very well may have to change their base...perhaps one of the other countries had their base up north and has been drawn to play closer to Sao Paulo and would be willing to "trade"...?
Again, Costa Rica are crap, Uruguay are equal with Portugal, Germany>Italy and England are not very good in Intl. tournaments. Our group is worse, and worse for us.
Nope, they had this guy. It's so cute that you think the Caribbean islands have the difficult climate in CONCACAF. Just wait until the Hondurans hear about that.
I'm thinking I want Fabian Johnson as our left back and either Cameron or Chandler as our right back. This Evans and Beasley stuff just lost any remaining charm.