As frustrating as it may have been to see how FIFA all but arbitrarily stacked the cards against the United States being placed in a favorable group for the 2010 World Cup draw (Friday, noon, ESPN2), here are three reasons to try and remain optimistic.
(Actually four, because Charlize Theron is co-hosting the draw, and in dress rehearsal she took a jab at FIFA, calling out, “Ireland!” when she pulled out the ball for France.)
1. Every group will have a seeded team, so there are no easy outs » Okay, that isn’t exactly true because every team in Pot 2 is praying to be chosen for Group A. Not only would that mean facing host South Africa — ranked No. 86 in the world — but also it would mean avoiding another African team, all of which will be extra motivated. The reality is, however, that the U.S. will have to go through a world power. Perhaps Argentina will be the most beatable, due to loco head coach Diego Maradona.
2. If the U.S. avoids Portugal and France, the draw will be a success » Or the opposite might be true. Ranked fifth and seventh, respectively, the Portuguese and French should be far and away more imposing than the rest of Pot 4. But Portugal is hardly the same formidable power that the U.S. upset in 2002, and the French are due for some bad African continental ju-ju after Thierry Henry‘s handball against Ireland.
3. The U.S. got no favors in 2002, and still made it to the quarterfinals » In spite of the antiquated use of one referee and no video replay, the games will be — at least, probably will be — decided by what happens on the field. No matter who the U.S. plays, if they’re the ones who score first, as they did in the 4th minute against Portugal in 2002, and not the ones who get scored on first, as the Czech Republic did in the 5th minute in 2006, the chance to advance rises exponentially. Even if the U.S. ends up against Brazil, Ghana and France.
Oh, please don’t let that happen.
