What is the reaction to USAs soccer draw today?
With FIFA doing everything in its power to help host South Africa receive a favorable draw and advance to the second round of the World Cup next year, you knew somebody would get the shaft.And it might just be the United States. The seedings for the 32-team field were announced Wednesday in preparation for Friday’s draw in Cape Town, and the odds are greater for the United States to be slotted into a tough bracket rather than an easy one. The Americans were placed in Pot 2, with fellow CONCACAF teams Mexico and Honduras; New Zealand, the lone qualifier from Oceania; and the four Asian teams: Australia, Japan, North Korea and South Korea. With Asia and Oceania considered the weakest of the six confederations, the U.S. was hoping to be paired with one of those teams. Now that can’t happen, and the result could be ugly. As host, South Africa is given the A-1 slot and designated a top seed despite being the lowest ranked team in the tournament (No. 86) in the latest FIFA rankings. Other Po
In what may be the most watched FIFA World Cup by Americans, the United States took its first step to its highly-anticipated run at the gold by getting England in the World Cup draw in Cape Town, South Africa. On Dec. 4 the world watched as qualifying World Cup teams were drawn and placed in groups to determine their positions when the tournament begins in June. The United States and England will face off on June 12, and were drawn in Group C along with Algeria and Slovenia. At least one American on the national team will have his hands full, as Modesto’s Heath Pearce will join the squad in slowing the highly-touted English in seven months. The 5-foot-10-inch defender, who also plays for FC Dallas, could come face to face with England’s David Beckham, in a situation where a long goal allowed could be all it takes to come up short. Pearce is no stranger to action, though, as he set team highs for starts on the US National Team with 11 and was first in minutes played with 945 according t
United States talisman Landon Donovan was upbeat after being drawn in Group C with England, Algeria and Slovenia. Donovan, the USA’s all-time leading goalscorer, has a potential head-to-head meeting with Los Angeles Galaxy team-mate David Beckham when the two countries open their Group C campaigns in Rustenberg. “It could have been worse,” Donovan said after watching the draw from New York. “It’s going to be fun. Depending on where I play, playing against Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard in a midfield against those guys is going to be pretty fun. Sources: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/teams/england/6711953/World-Cup-2010-draw-USA-reaction-to-being-drawn-with-England.
