USA - Group G
The draw for the group stage was a tremendous blow to the hopes of American soccer fans. Ever since hosting the 1994 World Cup, the tournament and soccer in general have been growing in popularity in the U.S. The past few World Cups have seen a much more dogged American team, and the hiring of Jurgen Klinsmann (and the willingness to let him do things his way) showed a real desire for success. Then the draw came. Couple an almost-impossible-to-escape-from group with pre-tournament matches in which the U.S. defense has been embarrassingly porous, and the U.S. prospects look dim. The potential absence of Cristiano Ronaldo provides some hope, but even should Portugal stumble, Ghana remains an obstacle.
Players to watch: Landon Donovan was left off the final squad, but he’s been a fading force since the last World Cup anyway. Midfield marshal Michael Bradley will need to have a strong tournament to stop the ruthless attacks of the Germans and Portuguese stars. Captain Clint Dempsey will also need to find the back of the net, as goals have been hard to come by in previous campaigns.
Prediction: Finishing better than third in the group just doesn’t seem likely.
