Great Expectations?

We’re in a much harder group than 2002. We made it to the quarters then, but it’s easy to forget that the team only won two out of four games. The elation of beating Mexico so sweetly and really taking it to the Germans made it easy to forget that we almost blew a 3-goal lead in that first game and played an utter stinker vs. Poland.

That said, we’re a much better team. I’m expecting to experience the cup much more like a so-so European or South American team would (like Sweden, maybe, or Paraguay). We *can* beat all these teams. We might not win any. It’s fair to say we’ve arrived on the world stage; it’s unfair to expect this team to do more than play really well. The only thing I can expect is for them to play hard and, if it comes to it, to go home with their heads high.

We will have to play out of our skin to advance from our group, IMO. I have nothing but hope that we will do just that.

Posted from  United States

It depends on a couple things. I expect them to get to the round of 16. If they get there and don’t have to play Brazil. Than I expect them to atleast get to the quarter-finals. So it all depends on who they play if I will be satisfied or not. If they play Brazil, England, Argentina, France, Spain, Holland, Portugal, or Germany tehn if they lose I won’t be too disapointed. Anyone else and it will be the opposite.

Posted from  United States

Considering the difficulty of our group, I’d be glad to see three well-played matches that could have gone either way. Matches that PROVE we’re worthy of a World Cup spot.

I’d be very happy (and expect) to advance to the Round of 16.

I’d be jumping for joy to get to the quarterfinals (if it means beating Brazil).

I’d be shouting to the rooftops for a semi-final appearance.

I can’t describe what a championship’d feel like.

Posted from  United States

I’d be really happy to make the round of 16, I think that would entail playing well enough against the Czechs and the Italians to gain some serious respect. Of course, I really doubt we’ll do better than second in our group, and I’m assuming that Brazil will win theirs, so that would put us up against Brazil in the round of 16. I would be shocked/elated/amazed if we managed to pull off a win there, but I think that is really doubtful.

I think it would be an unqualified success if we get to the suceond round. We got quite lucky to get out of a worse group in 2002. I agree with Pete and say that while the goal is to advance, beating either Italy or Czech would be a good achievement.

That all said, WE CAN DO IT!

GO NATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted from  United States

Getting to the second round in this group would be miraculous. But, they said we would finish LAST in our group in 2002 and get trounced by Portugal (remember the “Brazil of Europe” moniker? remember, the “Figo will score 5 goals on the Yanks” nonsense?). So, miracles would be great and skating by into the second round with maybe a draw from Italy or CR and a win against Ghana.

Posted from  United States

At least 4 points.

In my book, the minimum level of success would be four points. If we get four points out of our group, that would constitute (minimal) success, even if those 4 points are not good enough to make it to the next round.

The lone exception would be if we were to get 3 points and yet advance out of the group. Rare, but not impossible (see Chile, WC’98).

Posted from  United States

Just don’t set U.S. soccer back 8 years and I’ll be happy. Worst case scenario: tie the world powers and annihilate Ghana. Anything less will disappoint me.

Posted from  United States

I believe in being realistically optimistic about the USA’s prospects but the defeatest attitude of many of the fans is unfounded. I will be dissapointed if the USA doesn’t win the whole thing! Will they? Probably not but then only one team will. At this point every team has the same chance. The winner, regardless of who it turns out to be, will need luck as well as skill and determination so why not believe?

Posted from  United States

It’s hard to say what would constitute a good World Cup beforehand, given the fact that we’re in a tough group. If we duplicate what we did last time, we’ll have done it playing Italy, Czech Rep, Ghana, and (probably) Brazil, a much more formidable group of teams than 2002. That would be outstanding. I personally think that we’re better than we were four years ago but that we won’t go as far. But that doesn’t necessarily mean we wouldn’t have taken a step forward. It’s a long process and we’re not going to automatically go further in the tournament every four years.

Posted from  United States

ok, im looking at getting to round of 16. really, i wouldnt be happy if we didnt make it out of group play, because in all reality, this team can play with anyone and can beat almost anyone. i expect a great tourny, and hopefully the U.S. MNT season does not end on June 22.

Posted from  United States

Just getting out of this group would be a massive success for US soccer: Portugal, Korea, Poland sounds much less impressive than Italy, Czech R., Ghana…
But if our guys dont make it out but still give 100%, I’ll be OK with that.

Posted from  United States

I’ve been playing with the BBC’s “Predictor” for a month now, and every time I end up with a different Group E result.

What amazes me is how tight the group is, and how easily a team could finish first or fourth with only minor variations in results. European pundits (and William Hill) would soil themselves with shock if Ghana were to win the group or even to advance, but that’s because they can only take seriously one African side at a time and the Ivory Coast is their current darling. But Ghana is a strong, well-prepared side with young legs. And everyone acknowledges how dangerous the other two sides can be. So it’s far from certain that the US will leave the group. But we can, and I sure hope we will.

Then there’s the next problem: if we finish second in the group, we’ll almost surely play Brazil. And the Brazilians look like the grim reaper to me. But if we could win two we’d almost surely win the group. Even going 1-1-1 might well win the group. And if we win the group we could very plausibly make it to the semifinals.

It’s maddening but exciting that a single goal in the group stage might well be the difference between making it to the semis and going home after three matches.

I’d like to point out that if FIFA had properly seeded us (rather than Mexico, whom we bloody well beat in qualifying AND the last World Cup, thank you), I’d feel a lot better about our chances.

The USA is not my favorite team but one thing is for sure they are one of the strongest teams in the tournament due to their strong work ethic, skill, and athletic ability. Not to mention that the team time and time again has the best goalkeepers in the world as well. One thing that is admirable is that no matter who they play Americans play their style of football and never whimper against a “stronger” team such as Italy for example. I have a feeling the Italians are shaking in their boots as they must have been biting their nails when they saw they would have to face up against the US. One thing is for sure this squad is way stronger than the previous squad in 2002 and they have as many chances as most of the other teams in the tournament.

Posted from  United States

Although this may sound a little crazy, I don’t think it is impossible or unrealistic that the US finish atop their group. You can run through numerous scenarios, but the long and short of it is, if the US plays to their potential (and keeps the left side of defense tight… my biggest worry w/o Gibbs around), I could see them taking 1 or 3 points against the Czechs, take 1 against the Italians and depending where a potentially Ghana stand on a relative basis, take an additional 3 points there… pitting the US agaist the runner-up of Group F (Croatia, Australia or Japan), all of whom are beatable.

My biggest hope is that the US plays good, quality ball with some solid goals. While not making it out of the group might be viewed as a failure from the “average” US sports fan (which would be a shame, by the way), a strong showing by the US team would hopefully result in continued opportunities for our players to find themselves in the top foreign leagues (England, Germany, etc.). That is only a positive, net-net in my view.

Btw, for any others in HK, is there a gathering spot for the US – Czech game?

Posted from  Hong Kong

My prediction is we’ll be #2 in the group, perhaps with two ties and a win. Next up in Brazil, and I predict that we’ll pay them close enough to gain respect (think Germany in ‘02), but get bounced out thanks to ur bad luck with the draw.

If somehow we pull off the miracle and beat Brazil, then I think we have a legit chance of winning it all, as I think there will be more pressure on every other team in the quarterfinals than on the U.S.

Posted from  United States

America F*CK YEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH

Posted from  United Kingdom

I think USA will go to the round of 16, and everyone will be happy and all. They will then face Brazil and get smashed by a solid 2-0, and as a result the american team will be considered a solid 2nd tier team. Something like Sweden or Ukraine.

Posted from  Brazil

PLEASE PEOPLE…LETS BE REAL…WHY EVEN WAIST YOUR TIME THINKING USA WILL WIN A WORLD CUP???? LET ME EXPLAIN TO THE ONES THAT DONT UNDERTAND THE GAME….TO WIN A WORLD CUP…YOUR FIRST NEED TO KNOW HOW TO PLAY…THEN YOU NEED TO BE THE BEST…AND USA…CAN BE THE BEST A MANY THINGS BUT LETS BE REAL…NOT AT SOCCER…

Posted from  United States

BUT IF THE USA TEEM REALY WANTS TO WIN ONE DAY…THEY MUST BY ALL THE BRAZILIAN PLAYERS FIRST..BRING THEM HERE AND LEARN HOW TO PLAY…THEN GO FOR THE CUP….SORRY..BUT I KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN A WORLD CUP…AND ONE OF THE FEW THINGS THAT YOU CAN NOT BY YOUR WAY TO THE TOP….

Posted from  United States

1) Please please do not type in all caps. I understand que “voce nao sab escrivir muto biem”

2) Any US fans in Santo Domingo should go to Beerhouse (if you need directions let me know). They are rebroadcasting the games every night at 7:30, and in addition to plenty of presidente, yes, Jairzinho, there will be “brahma” all around.

cheers

Posted from  Dominican Republic

Honestly, I could see this US team doing a whole range of things. I believe they’re perfectly capable of getting out of their group. Whether they will is a different story, and could depend entirely on luck. If we advace, but don’t win our group, a round of 16 finish would satisfy me. But if we somehow got past Brazil, I would be delerious with joy. If we manage to win our group, then I think we can make a strong showing to at least the quarterfinals, or maybe even beyond. Who knows?
But realistically, all you can ask for is that these guys leave everything on the field. If they do that, no one can fault them. (Although we can sure as heck fault the crappy seed)

Posted from  United States

Our best bet is against Italy, Italy is the team that can choke in this world cup, its the team that has lost much of its firepower, the italians are strong individually but lacking when they come up against TEAM play and the US side is strongest when TEAM play is considered. Those of you that seem to be thinking that the czk’s are going to be pushovers need to look at the team stats. They are hugely powerfull and very very very tough internationally both individually and as a team. I expect US to lose the first game, the key then will be the italy game, and then getting the job done against Ghana. As far as my predictions go. On paper we should finish 3rd, a great world cup would be getting out of the group alive. A good world cup would be beating ghana and making a solid showing against the european teams. Once we are into the round of elimination, anything can happen. I would say the odds are 3-1% against at getting out of the group and then almost every elimination game will be 9-1,10-1 against

Posted from  United States

A successful World Cup for the US, for me, would be to defeat a quality European side in a major game on European soil. If we can beat the Czechs or the Italians, we will have really announced the arrival of US soccer. I think we have a better chance against the Czechs, to be honest. The US fares well when it scores first and it scores quickly. With the finishing skills of the US, we’ll need a lot of chances early, and a lot of luck. I don’t see that happening with the solid Italian defense.

Realistically speaking, I think we’ll finish 3rd. I see a tie and a loss against the Czechs and the Italians. If we beat Ghana, we’ll have maintained the status quo of worldwide disrespect for US soccer. I’m hoping for at least that out of the tournament. Anything more would be great (especially advancement!) and anything less could be a potentially fatal demoralizing blow to the nascent soccer culture in the US.

Posted from  United States