Scholarship table
I'm not sure how you could have the Netherlands and Italy unranked...but Colombia and Switzerland ranked.
World Cup draw today. Think I'm going to find a reason to stop into Highbury to watch around 10 am.
And i'm not feeling good about any of our possibilities...
motherunnatural carnal knowledgeer.arguably, the hardest group EVER.australia has a better chance to advance
Meanwhile France sneaks into the softest group by a mile.US also has the toughest travel schedule of any team in the tournament, over 9000 miles in the group stage. The fact that FIFA is the most corrupt organization in sports makes this harder to take as well.This BLOWS.
I think Italy has the same travel schedule.US HAS to beat Ghana. Then draw Portugal. Hope for the best against Germany. Slight sliver of hope that Germany will have qualified before our match and not need any points.
I think US plays Germany second.
#USMNT schedule: June 16 vs Ghana, 6pm ET. June 22 vs Portugal, 3pm ET. June 26 vs Germany, 12pm ET
Actually, this may play out well for us. The more I consider this group the more I like it:Ghana: At some point we have to beat them. They've been our nemesis, but we've played them even both matches. I'd love to see us get a lead just so we learn whether or not Ghana can play a football match when their players aren't rolling around on the floor time-wasting. By no means unwinnable.Portugal: Yes, it's Ronaldo, but that's about it. Portugal isn't a deep team whatsoever. Good defense but suspect keeper. I think we can get a draw.Germany: We play them third. I can't stress how important that is. We play them third. Most likely, the Germans will be sitting on 6 points. As long as we get at least a point out of our first two games, the Germans will be assured advancing, which means Loew will probably go with reserves, giving us a good chance to win. If we can get 4 points out of the first two and the Germans take 6, both sides will know that a bore draw will get them through, and with Klinsy being Loew's old boss, I have little doubt we'd get what would probably be a sad display of football but a satisfying result for both sides.
Not even close to hardest group ever. US is positioned well. Opponents they are familiar with and have motivation to perform well against. As for travel, humbug. Half of this team is going to be MLS players who deal with lengthy travel their entire season and the other half will have virtually no travel being taken place last third of their club seasons. No effect.Germany on 9US on 4Portugal on 2Ghana on 1July 1st against Belgium.
taking a second look, being in with spain, netherlands and chile would be tougher
average FIFA ranking of 11.25? yea, i'd say that's pretty difficult. you might find a more difficult group at some time in the past, but i bet that's up there for sure.