04/23/24
December 06, 2013
U.S. in World Cup's Group G (as in Grim): The draw for the 2014 World Cup was telecast live at 11 a.m. Eastern, and the United States has ended up in Group G alongside Germany, Ghana and Portugal, an extremely tough draw for the Americans.
The U.S. gets Germany, Ghana and Portugal. That's about as grim as it could get.
2018!
posted by rcade at 12:21 PM on December 06, 2013
USA in Group G with Germany, Ghana and Portugal. Group G runner up plays Group H winner (Belgium/Russia ?) in the first knockout round. Mexico got a decent draw with Brazil, Croatia and Cameroon.
USA will have over 9,000 miles of travel during the group stage, plus however much to and from their staging location.
Draw was a farce with how poorly balanced the groups are arranged. FIFA need to return to seeding all 32 teams.
I do love that Spain play Netherlands in their first game, though.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:22 PM on December 06, 2013
Ross Gellar on his Casio, for those that don't get the reference.
Some very nice opening matches (Germany/Portugal, England/Italy, Spain/Netherlands), but Group G (Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA) is going to be a blood bath. Two of those teams won't make it to the next round, but one of Bosnia, Iran, or Nigeria will.
posted by grum@work at 12:24 PM on December 06, 2013
This would be a good time for the U.S. to get dramatically better overnight.
posted by rcade at 12:29 PM on December 06, 2013
How's that Thailand game look now, you crazy Dutch bastards?
Swiss played the system and won.
It's a shame Ghana-USA isn't the third game, because then Ghana would have a chance to knock the US out three competitions in a row. At which point I think they get to keep them.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 12:50 PM on December 06, 2013
"We said anywhere but Manaus and we got Manaus." -- Jurgen Klinsmann
posted by rcade at 12:52 PM on December 06, 2013
Sure the US and England look to go out in the first round, but take some comfort in the fact France got an easy draw thanks entirely to FIFA changing their own rules at the last second to aid France. No less fair than an NBA game where Tim Donaghy's mom's life hangs in the balance.
USA will have over 9,000 miles of travel
One thing I've learned in the run up to this World Cup: Brazil is freaking huge.
At which point I think they get to keep them.
Poaching lines from Football Weekly is MY JOB!
posted by yerfatma at 12:59 PM on December 06, 2013
but take some comfort in the fact France got an easy draw thanks entirely to FIFA changing their own rules at the last second to aid France.
I haven't been keeping up with the FIFA fun, so if you could give me a quick explanation I would so appreciate it.
posted by grum@work at 01:26 PM on December 06, 2013
The Brazilian female cohost has a dress that's practically painted on. God bless you, Spanish language television
posted by BornIcon at 01:57 PM on December 06, 2013
if you could give me a quick explanation I would so appreciate it
As best I recall, because the pot that France wound up in is larger than the other pots, FIFA had said for the 2014 draw whichever team finished last in that pot would be the team moved into an unfavorable spot in one of the other pots. Once France finished last, FIFA back-tracked and decided the team to move pots would be chosen at random. The rumor is Michel Platini rigged the change.
posted by yerfatma at 02:01 PM on December 06, 2013
Group A with Brazil, Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon is the one I'd consider group-of-death material, even more so than Group G. Interesting that the hosts get a toughie.
posted by etagloh at 03:39 PM on December 06, 2013
Why though? Cameroon never seems to play up to their reputation and Samuel Eto'o is 4 years older. Mexico certainly could be a tough competitor but they've spent the better part of a year looking like the Keystone Kops.
posted by yerfatma at 05:47 PM on December 06, 2013
No love for Group B? Netherlands, Chile, Spain and poor old us?
Even if we fluke a second place, we'll end up with Brazil in the round of 16.
posted by owlhouse at 08:18 PM on December 06, 2013
The Brazilian female cohost has a dress that's practically painted on. God bless you, Spanish language television.
Portuguese. God bless you, Portuguese language television. The last thing you want is a bunch of pissed off lusophones.
posted by Whizbang at 09:53 PM on December 06, 2013
The last thing you want is a bunch of pissed off lusophones.
At least they wouldn't respond with vuvuzelas (though I liked them).
I cannot see the USA getting into the knockout stage: at best, a win over Ghana and draws against Germany and Portugal -- only 5 points, and that might be overly confident.
posted by jjzucal at 11:34 PM on December 06, 2013
I'm looking at group D as the hardest. One of England, Italy or Uruguay is going home early. That sounds more ominous than "The US will go home early".
posted by Ricardo at 11:50 PM on December 06, 2013
Nothing sounds more ominous than "the U.S. will go home early."
I think the toughest group is Spain, Netherlands, Chile and pitiable Australia. The last two teams from the Final and Chile in a cup played in South America. The Socceroos will be lucky to score a goal.
posted by rcade at 12:37 PM on December 07, 2013
Nate Silver's Soccer Power Index has the U.S. chances only slightly below Portugal and apparently said somewhere that American fans are suffering from excessive fear of Ghana.
posted by rcade at 12:41 PM on December 07, 2013
I also believe the general US reaction has been massively overblown. Yes, it's a tough group, but it's a tough field. We are also a much improved team. I have seen way too much "Wait 'til 2018!"
posted by bender at 03:58 PM on December 07, 2013
I'm looking at group D as the hardest. One of England, Italy or Uruguay is going home early.
One of those teams is not like the other.
posted by etagloh at 07:48 PM on December 07, 2013
I think the toughest group is Spain, Netherlands, Chile and pitiable Australia. The last two teams from the Final and Chile in a cup played in South America. The Socceroos will be lucky to score a goal.
Last match v Netherlands in 2006, we won 2-1 in Holland (Super Guus!). In the 1974 finals we drew 0-0 with Chile in Berlin. I don't think we've ever played Spain in a competitive international.
But yes, I'm hoping for a good showing and some fight. Our squad is the worst we have ever sent to a World Cup, our good young players are still too young at the moment.
Maybe a point against Chile but that's probably it. But, no expectations = no pressure.
posted by owlhouse at 10:19 PM on December 07, 2013
Our squad is the worst we have ever sent to a World Cup, our good young players are still too young at the moment.
Not exactly what moving to the AFC was meant to bring. Looking now at the qualifiers, and Uzbekistan must still be feeling a bit sick.
posted by etagloh at 12:06 AM on December 08, 2013
Cristiano Ronaldo is a big task but if he can be contained Portugal is beatable. After all they only finished second in their qualifying group and beat Sweden on CR7 scoring all six. Not saying the US defenders can do it but if they do USMNT should make it out of the group.
Re: FIFA and its rules - FIFA never met a rule of their own they weren't happy to change or ignore as it suits the inner circle. Not only the France thing but also they've flat out ignored their rules on stadium readiness and construction standards for half of the Brazil venues.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:38 PM on December 08, 2013
One of those teams is not like the other.
And yet the percentages running in ESPN's crawl give England a better chance than Italy to get out of the group. I suppose Italy had some bad results over the last year or so, but England was worried about qualification at times too.
said somewhere that American fans are suffering from excessive fear of Ghana.
I don't really get that. Ignoring the fact Ghana has knocked the US out of the last two Cups, they did also win the U21 World Cup in 2009.
posted by yerfatma at 10:16 AM on December 09, 2013
Does U21 matter? I've never seen that it's a strong leading indicator of future success for a country.
Though Ghana has our number, we outrank them on the Soccer Power Index and in FIFA rankings. By those metrics at least we're a better squad.
posted by rcade at 10:44 AM on December 09, 2013
The Brazilian female cohost has a dress that's practically painted on. God bless you, Spanish language television.
The draw is beginning with interpretive dance to music that sounds like Ross Gellar on his Casio.