WC: USA Christmas wishes six months early
For most hardcore soccer fans in the United States, they're hoping for one thing and one thing only and they're thinking about putting that present on layaway for about six months
What every diehard USA fan wants is the United States to come out of Group E at the World Cup and then continue through at least the semifinals. It's fair to imagine that a good number of those fans are based in the real world and would be more than satisfied with that kind of performance. Given all the factors that have been proven over and over again in consistently reaching the latter stages of the World Cup, a semifinal visit following the quarterfinal run in 2002 would give the U.S. an enormous boost in world credibility.
Please don't misunderstand ... nothing could possibly make American fans more happy than winning the trophy, but with only seven different countries having accomplished the feat so far, it's simple to see how difficult it truly is.
A great deal of doom and gloom has circulated the Internet boards about the impossibility facing the U.S. team. In a recent Fox Sports World Report Topic of the Week, roughly 70% of the viewers who responded mirrored this sentiment.
The question is why?
There is always a surprise team that exceeds all expectations.
The South Koreans did it in 2002, trumping the quality performance of the U.S. The hosts' performances were widely questioned due to the surrounding controversies from their Round of 16 match against Italy and their quarterfinal victory over Spain, but no one can question their fantastic displays during the group stage and the Koreans were not outclassed by the Germans in the semifinal.
In 1998, the small nation of Croatia successfully navigated its way through a group stage with Argentina, Japan and Jamaica, then reached the quarterfinals and dismantled Germany 3-0 before bowing out against the eventual champions France in the semifinals.
It was Sweden who produced the stir at USA 94 by coming out of a tough group with Brazil, Russia and Cameroon, then cruising all the way into the semifinals where they were knocked out by Brazil.
So why can't the U.S. be Germany's big surprise?
U.S. players Oguchi Onyewu, Landon Donovan and Kasey Keller will have to be at their very best to beat the Czechs. (Ronald Martinez/Staff / Getty Images)
The United States' problem used to be finding a skilled player for a position. Now, Bruce Arena is forced to experiment with a left-sided midfielder at left back to try and get his best players all on the field at the same time.
In other words, there's a depth on the U.S. squad that no American coach has ever had at his disposal.
Goalkeeper Kasey Keller is in top form.
The quality of defenders is deep with solid, experienced professionals such as Cory Gibbs, Oguchi Onyewu, Steve Cherundolo and Carlos Bocanegra, backed up by consistent performers Eddie Pope and Gregg Berhalter.
In the midfield, Claudio Reyna and Landon Donovan are complimented by dangerous wingers in DaMarcus Beasley, Bobby Convey and Eddie Lewis, and up top, Brian McBride is a consistent scorer who will be aided by young up-and-comer Eddie Johnson.
Are there holes? Of course there are holes — unless you're Brazil, there are going to be holes.
But was every Croatian on the field who played their best in 1998 a household name and a first-teamer for Real Madrid? Aljosa Asanovic started for the Croats against Germany - hardly considered one of the world's best at the time.
The USA will prove a difficult opponent for the Czechs, Italians and Ghanaians. The most important result of all with be getting off to a good start with points against the Czech Republic.
Few gave the Americans a chance against Portugal in the opening game of 2002, but they came through with the win. The U.S. will have to be even better to beat the Czechs as they will not be taking the CONCACAF champions lightly, but it most certainly can be done. The Czechs qualified in their UEFA World Cup qualifying group by destroying the minnows — the matches of greatest relevance, against Holland and Romania, they won one and lost three.
Put that in your stocking.
