Further Examination Of America’s Possible Draws

The World Cup draw has not been kind to the American’s lately.

In 2002, they drew South Korea, the host, and Portugal. In 2006, in Germany, the U.S. was grouped with the Czech Republic, Italy and Ghana. (“I remember a famous coach coming up to me,” then coach Bruce Arena recalled. “He said two words to me: ‘I’m sorry.”’)

So you can understand if they are a bit nervous today, especially when they glace at Pot 1 and see Spain and Brazil as possible opponents. For now though, they’re keeping it in perspective.

“Since we have no control over something that is by definition random, we’re just looking forward to the draw but we’re not making any predictions,” U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati said. “I’m sure secretly all of us have preferred opponents and a preferred sequence of games.” [...]

“I think we hope for a group where you feel like it gives a good opportunity to move forward,” said Bob Bradley, who replaced Arena as U.S. coach after the Americans’ first-round elimination in 2006. “There’s always going to be, at the end, a ‘Group of death,’ and you say to yourselves, ‘Well, hopefully we’re not part of that.’ It’s out of your control.”

With one team from each pot joining The Yanks, just what exactly are some of their possible groupings? Martin Rogers has the answers. First, the good.

South Africa, USA, Uruguay and Switzerland.

If the draw comes out this way, then you will probably be able to hear the whoops of delight from the American delegation – even from a couple of continents away.

As host nation, South Africa is installed as one of the seeded teams and is the one that everyone wants to face.

Hey, well that’s not so bad. In fact, if balls bounce that way, the U.S. would probably be the favorite to win the group.

Now, what about the bad?

Brazil, USA, Ivory Coast and France.

No team wants to be drawn with Brazil, which invariably saves its finest performances for World Cup time.

The U.S. played the game of its life against Brazil in the Confederations Cup final – and it still wasn’t enough. The Samba kings have emerged victorious the last two times the event was staged outside Europe and will be a strong favorite again.

The prospect of being drawn with Ivory Coast in the group stage isn’t anyone’s idea of fun, either, with Didier Drogba and company considered Africa’s best chance for a deep run.

Then there is the small matter of France, the 1998 champion, which squeezed into the tournament (helped in part by the Hand of Henry) and will have a point to prove after receiving heavy criticism at home.

That would probably result in a pretty quick return home. And Rogers doesn’t even mention that by missing Brazil, the Americans would still face the possibility of playing Spain, the world’s No. 1 ranked team.