World Cup: US draws Group of Death

[ckissick]

I've added FIFA world rankings in ( ), and added up the total world ranking scores per group. Argentina should barely break a sweat, while the US will have to work very hard to advance. And, I'll miss Sweden.

Group A: 1. Brazil(10), 2. Croatia(16), 3. Mexico(20), 4. Cameroon(51) TOTAL:97

Group B: 1. Spain(1), 2. Netherlands(9), 3. Chile(15), 4. Australia(59) TOTAL:84

Group C: 1. Colombia(3), 2. Greece(12), 3. Ivory Coast(17), 4. Japan(48) TOTAL:80

Group D: 1. Uruguay(6), 2. Costa Rica(31), 3. England(13), 4. Italy(7) TOTAL:57

Group E: 1. Switzerland(8), 2. Ecuador(23), 3. France(19), 4. Honduras(41) TOTAL:91

Group F: 1. Argentina(3), 2. Bosnia(21), 3. Iran(45), 4. Nigeria(36) TOTAL:105

Group G: 1. Germany(2), 2. Portugal(5), 3. Ghana(24), 4. United States(14) TOTAL:45

Group H: 1. Belgium(11), 2. Algeria(26), 3. Russia(22), 4. South Korea(54) TOTAL:113

[scottbombedout]

I'll take it by the lack of replies there isn't a lot of interest in soccer in the US

Wasn't the draw a long drawn out affair? Anyway, Englands first game is at 2 in the morning. The kids are already planning their night

[Joe Bob]

I'm in.....the US will have to beat Ghana (the 3rd lower quality team), win and/or tie a couple others to advance. Time to drop the Depends diapers and play young and hard.

I'll sleep with Sid if they win the group.

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by scottbombedout

I'll take it by the lack of replies there isn't a lot of interest in soccer in the US

I don't think I would cross the street to see any world cup match, although i'm sure most of those countries feel the same about NFL football.......to each their own !

[flskala]

Group of Death.... yeah right. Portugal had to go to the playoffs just to get in and Germany isn't the powerhouse it once was. I say the US advances to the second round! To sum it up tough, the WC is in Brazil and there's NO WAY a Latin/South American country isn't winning this thing.... but, Go Croatia!!!

[mikesride]

My Dad is a huge soccer ("football") fan. The guys are amazing athletes for sure. For some reason the sport never really connected with me. I think popularity will pick up in N/A as time goes on, there are lots of youth leagues all over the place! Enjoy your tournament gentlemen! My father will be rooting for The Netherlands....he is still a little bitter about last years final!

[Kraftwerk]

Sweden didn't make the cut ?? Damn,,

[ckissick]

Originally Posted by flskala

Group of Death.... yeah right. Portugal had to go to the playoffs just to get in and Germany isn't the powerhouse it once was. I say the US advances to the second round! To sum it up tough, the WC is in Brazil and there's NO WAY a Latin/South American country isn't winning this thing.... but, Go Croatia!!!

Germany not the power house it once was? FIFA ranks them #2 in the world. That's power, to me. But the US could definitely advance.

[Paco Anton]

The first match for Spain is against the Netherlands, which is a repetition of the final match of the last World Cup. To add emotion, the team that comes up second in this group will most probably play Brazil in the last 8, and we know FIFA will not let the host be eliminated too soon.

On the other hand I believe that to identify the group(s) of death we should add the ranks of the top three teams since the last one is usually easily eliminated. Even using this approach USA's group is still the harder with just 21.