World Cup draw complete!

[loki44]

The draw is complete! Team USA draws Italy, Czech Rep., and Ghana. Tough but manageable.

Here are the groups:

http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/051209/1/5nx0.html

 

[Ferret]

England play Paraguay, Sweden and Trinidad & Tobago. Apart form Sweden, should not be to bad.

I don't think america are in that bad a group to be honest.

 

[loki44]

England play Paraguay, Sweden and Trinidad & Tobago. Apart form Sweden, should not be to bad.

I don't think america are in that bad a group to be honest.

Agreed on both counts. USA's draw could've been a lot tougher. England should move on. Group C strikes me a potentially the toughest at first glance.

 

[jonesy]

And Finland plays against...oh, right. Nevermind then.

I'm going to be rooting for Japan to go all the way. Goals Nippon, goals!

 

[johnsemlak]

England play Paraguay, Sweden and Trinidad & Tobago. Apart form Sweden, should not be to bad.

I don't think america are in that bad a group to be honest.

England's got a good group, but the Sweden matchup will be tough. Should be no problem advancing though

The US's group may not look bad at first glance, but they've got Italy--always tough, the Czech Replubic--probably the 2nd most difficult unseeded European team after Holland, and Ghana--the toughest African team by some accounts (I'm very unfamiliar with their squad but Micheal Essian is certainly a top class player). I'd say advancing will be very difficult. Then there's the issue that a likely 2nd round opponent is Brazil, but I wouldn't even look that far ahead yet.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

If the US does well cooming out of this group, maybe they will finally stop being perceived as underdogs.

Not that many people in the US will even notice...

 

[Jdvn1]

US was trying to place ahead of Mexico. "I don't think so."

The US team has been well-respected for a while, now--definitely not underdogs. You want underdogs? Look at Australia's team.

 

[Asmo]

England hasn´t beaten Sweden since 1968 . My money is on 1-1, the usual result - a draw.
Sweden and England should advance without much trouble.

Asmo

 

[loki44]

You want underdogs? Look at Australia's team.

Yeah them.....but see also Trinidad & Tobago, Costa Rica, Angola, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Togo and Tunisia. None of them will pass the first round. Disagree? Put your money where your mouth is. BTW - I'll be pulling for Iran of that bunch since that's my wife's home-country.

 

[johnsemlak]

You want underdogs? Look at Australia's team.

I think Australia is a tricky team to rate, because they have played so few competitive matches with other WC teams. There've been some friendlies, notably the famous 3-1 victory at England a couple of years ago, but it's hard to judge their significance. Apparently Australia were one of the teams Errickson wanted to avoid.