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Before I start this article, I want to make sure that everyone knows that I'm proud to be an American. I still love this team with all my heart, and despite the disappointing exit yesterday, Donovan's stoppage time goal against Algeria is still undoubtedly one of the top 10 sports moments I have ever had the pleasure of watching live. But yesterdays game told me two things about the US team: 1. We aren't that great of a team, and 2. We are a long way away from being a serious contender in the World Cup.

The lead up to the tournament was all about how well this group set up for the US. England was not playing nearly as well as they usually do, and Slovenia and Algeria were seen as after thoughts and the teams they beat to get here, Russia and Egypt, were talked about more then they would. In the next round, they took on Ghana, who was perceived as one of the weaker 2nd round opponents, and with all due respect to Uruguay, who is playing fantastic soccer right now, they are about as great of a quarterfinals draw as the USA can ever expect in the World Cup. The USA played 4 games, with one 30 minute overtime period. Adding in stoppage time, the USA play around 410 minutes, give or take. Of that time, the USA had the lead in their games for....2 minutes. That's right, they were trailing or tied for 408 minutes. That just won't cut it.

So what is the problem for the USA. Well its a number of things. For me, the top problem is the forward position, and there are several problems here. The US have not gotten a World Cup goal from the forward position since the 2002 World Cup. Jozy Altidore was thought to be the break out star, but his top highlight of the tournament was his header assist to Mike Bradley for the tying goal against Slovenia. Altidore sadly showed his age in simple mistakes like overpowering his wide open goal against Algeria, and some poor touches in the 2nd half against Ghana. I would have liked to have seen Coach Bradley take Altidore out sooner yesterday, going with Gomez in the 70th minute or so. But I'm not worried about Altidore. He's 20, and with 4 more years of international experience, he should be a stud in 2014. The other forward spot has the biggest question mark, and I gotta blame Coach Bradley for this. Robbie Findley didn't do anything against England and Slovenia, and was suspended for Algeria. Inexplicably, Bradley put Findley back into the starting line up, and once again, didn't do anything except for botch a golden opportunity late in the 1st half, kicking it right at the keeper in a 1 on 1 situation. For a guy who is paid to score goals, he HAS to do better then that. Benny Feilhaber was a great sub, and Hercules Gomez and Edson Buddle both play well in their limited minutes. But Bradley kept going with Findley, and we paid for it.

I think more then anything, the USA showed their inexperience and lack of composure that you have to have in the World Cup. Ghana made us pay yesterday for a careless error by Ricardo Clark. Ghana played it through, caught Tim Howard cheating a bit, and put it away easily in the corner. Later in the half, on virtually the exact same play, Findley had an open shot on goal, took one quick dribble and rushed a horrible effort that ran right into the keeper. This was seen virtually the whole game. Another incident occurred in the 2nd half where Michael Bradley was clear onto the goal in the box, and yet didn't even take one dribble before rocketing it right into the hands of the keeper. Its like the whole team expected Ghana to be much quicker then they were, and they rushed through everything. This is something that can only be worked on through tough international play. Guys like Dempsey and Donovan showed their composure, and all we can do is hope that some of the USA's young guns get similar experience, and will be able to play better in 2014.

All the credit in the world needs to go to Ghana. Sure I'm as pissed as anyone that they were flopping and wasting time in the overtime period, but the fact of the matter is that 90% of teams are doing the exact same thing in that position. Its a sad and unsportsmanlike part of the game, but again, its part of the game. But before that, they did what no one could before. They made us pay for our mistakes. I'm not certain that Ghana outplayed the US throughout the game, but what I can certainly say is that when it mattered, Ghana always had an answer for the US. Their defense was phenomenal, always getting ball first on nearly every slide tackle deep into their third of the field. And while it might have been a lucky bounce to the Ghana player on the game winner, make no mistake, the finish was world class. To be able to control it on the bounce, and strike it perfectly over Howard, is video that the forwards for USA could certainly learn from.

While the USA got some solid results thanks to some late game heroics, the truth of the game was always overshadowed by the fact that we didn't lose. Against England, their goalkeeper's mistake overshadowed what was a dominate effort by England. Against Slovenia, an incredible 2nd half surge overshadowed what was one of the worst halves of soccer I have ever seen by the US, or anyone for that matter. Against Algeria, the thrilling stoppage time goal overshadowed what was a bad game by the US with missed chance after missed chance. Against Ghana, there was no hiding the fact that plain and simply, we weren't the better team on the field.

I still love the US team, and I hope alot of the veterans come back for 2014, because I honestly feel that we could have a very special combination of savvy veterans and up and coming forwards and midfielders who will hopefully get the international experience they need. I know that personally, I'll be paying much more attention to these players who America, and me, fell in love with over the past few weeks. Congrats on some great moments USA, and get at them again in 2014. Thanks for the memories guys. And thank you for reading.

USA doesn't have much time to come down after their incredible golden goal of sorts against Algeria. They had 6 days between England and Slovenia, and 4 days off between Slovenia and Algeria. But now they have just two days between Algeria and Ghana. And the scary thing is, Ghana on paper is a better team then Algeria and Slovenia, AND they will have the home crowd on their side, as they are disappointingly Africa's last hope. Having said all that, the USA should win this, and here are a few reasons why.

Ghana hasn't really been that impressive. They started off with a surprise upset over Serbia, thanks to a late penalty kick. But after that, they limped across the finish line with a poor tie against Australia and a loss to Germany. Here's what bodes well for the US. Ghana has only scored two goals, and both of them were penalty kicks. The problem is the US has a flare for the dramatic, and that strategy is going to run out on them eventually.

This is also a Ghana team that is hurting from the fact that they are missing their star and would be captain Michael Essien. The USA have been fortunate so far to for the most part dodge the injury bug(knock on the biggest piece of wood you can find) with the exception of missing out on the services of forward Charlie Davies following his car accident.

One of my biggest questions is who will Coach Bradley put in the 2nd forward spot along side Jozy Altidore. In the first two games, he had Robbie Finley, who in my mind was extremely ineffective and to my knowledge had no real scoring threats. I love Hercules Gomez, but his power is being the spark at the end of the game as a sub. And the guy I've been pushing for the entire tournament, Edson Buddle, came in and had a few shots on goal and had a very solid game from what I could tell. So who does he go with? My guess is Finley sadly, but don't surprised to see Buddle get some serious playing time.

The last thing to look out for to me is the health of Gooch. He sat out the game against Algeria, which was likely just a precaution as Bradley guessed correctly that Algeria would pose few threats offensively. But as I said earlier, Ghana hasn't been lighting up the score board, so don't be surprised to see Gooch be taken out early or come in late as a sub, and keep him fresh for the next round if USA makes it, as both South Korea and Uruguay have shown they can score multiple goals a game.

So whats the result going to be. You would think USA should win 2-0, but USA has shown they aren't likely to follow the plan. My guess. USA gets a first half goal, then gives one up in the middle of the 2nd before notching the game winner around the 80th minute. USA wins and moves on to take on Uruguay in the Quarters. Thanks for reading.

Its impossible for me to even fathom how different my life would be without sports. Every generation has their "where were you moments". Most of the time, the average person only has one or two in their life. But for a true sports fan like myself, you have one almost every year. I thought I already had mine when the Saints won the super bowl in February but I cant honestly say that today's USA soccer match topped that for me. For anyone who doesn't think that the World Cup is undoubltably the greatest sporting event there is, they need just look at today. After Dempsey missed his shot off the post then blew the put back, I thought we were done. I was experiencing the worst part of sports. That gut wrenching feeling when the team you know and love is about to take their final bow against a team they have no business losing to. And in 10 seconds, literally, everything changes.

The World Cup is unlike any other event because it unites countries. If the Lakers hit a 3 to win game 7 of the NBA Finals, then Los Angeles and Lakers fans around the country are ecstatic. If USA scores a goal like that in the World Cup, everyone from the President to a farmer on Montana cannot help but jump out of their chair. There truly is nothing like it in sports. Not even the Olympics really come close. Although you are representing your country there, your country is still divided. A big swimming fan could care less if an American wins the archery gold medal. But in the World Cup, everyone is watching one team. 11 players. And all it takes is one moment.

Alot of people, my girlfriend included, find soccer boring. They say that any game that can play for 90 minutes and have no goals is boring. That may be true, but with nothing else do you find a bigger emotional roller coaster. Today was a perfect example. American fans were down and out before Donovan's unlikely goal. Now imagine this. How would you have felt if Algeria came right back down and score to tie it up. Imagine the heart ache and the gut wrenching feeling that would have been. Imagine it, because at the end of the world up, 31 countries will be feeling just like that.

Now that it is over, USA has to look ahead. They have the #1 seed for the first time since 1930, and it looks like they have a fantastic draw. If Germany knocks off Ghana, USA will have a date with Ghana or Serbia, two good teams but not great teams. IF they win, they play either Uruguay or South Korea, a game that again they should win. Now no offense to Uruguay who is a great team, but if you look at some of the potential quarterfinal matchups, you will realize how huge a chance this is for the US. Brazil will likely take on the Netherlands in the quarters. Argentina could play England. The quarters are where the titans collide, and with all due respect to Uruguay, this is without question the USA's best chance to break into the Semi finals.

I hope that I have turned any people who were on the fence about the world cup, but in all honesty, if that last goal didn't convert you, nothing will. Thanks for reading.

Well the USA got robbed on the last goal against Slovenia but the England Algeria game went about as perfect as we could have asked for. Right now, here are the current standings in Group C.

1. Slovenia: 4 points. +1 Goal differential. 3 Goals
2. USA: 2 points 0 Goal Differential. 3 Goals
3. England: 2 points. 0 Goal Differential. 1 Goal
4. Algeria: 1 point. 0 Goal Differntial. 0 Goals.

With the England tie, not only does USA now control their own destiny, not only do we now have a great shot at the 1 seed, but now we don't even have to win to get in the 2nd round. They can't lose, but if they tie Algeria, they can still get in if one of two things happens in the England Slovenia game. If Slovenia wins, they get the 1 seed, and we get the 2 seed. If England and Slovenia tie, and England gets less then two more goals then us, we advance. Ex. we tie 1-1 and they tie 0-0, 1-1, or 2-2, we advance based on scoring more goals. But USA is looking to win against Algeria, and here's what could happen if they win.

Again if USA wins they are in no matter what. If Slovenia beats England, they get the #1 seed regardless of what we do. However, if we win, and Slovenia and England ties or England wins, then its gets exciting...and confusing.

Scenario #1- USA wins by 1 goal and England and Slovenia tie: This gives USA and Slovenia 5 points, and eliminates England from the group. If England and Slovenia tie, and Slovenia scores more goals then us, they get the 1 seed and we get the 2. If we score more goals then them, we get the 1 they get the 2. So if we win 2-1 and they tie 1-1, we get the top seed. The goal differential is the key.

Scenario #2- USA wins by 1 goal and England Wins: Again, this comes down to goal differential here. However, USA has a great advantage here, as they have 2 more goals then England. So if USA and England both win by 1 goal, then England needs to have two more goals then USA to tie with them. Essentially, USA can win 1-0 and England can win 2-1, and we would still get the 1 seed. If England wins by 2 goals and we win by 1, they get the 1 seed and we get the 2. Essentially, we just have to match whatever England does. England has to outscore us to jump us. We have the advantage here.

Scenario #3- USA wins by multiple goals: If USA can win by multiple goals, it will make them veryyy hard to catch. Slovenia could still tie and advance, but they would get the 2 seed. If England wins, they would have to absolutely destroy Slovenia, having to beat them by 3-4 goals just to catch us. However, its important to note that even if we beat Algeria by 3 or 4 goals, Slovenia can still grab the 1 seed if they win.

Ok so I know that was alot to follow. I'll give you the cliff notes here. USA needs to win and have England win in a close, low scoring game. If that happens, USA gets the 1 seed, England gets the 2, and Slovenia is out. Slovenia has control over the #1 seed, but USA can control their destiny. A win, and they are in.

NOW, as if that weren't enough to keep track of, we MUST also watch Group D. After Germany's loss today, the group is up in the air. Serbia and Germany have 3 points, and Ghana is in the drivers seat, with 3 points and a match up with Australia, the weakest team in the group, tomorrow. Now if USA gets the 1 seed, there's a good chance we could play Germany in the 2nd round if Ghana can grab the one seed. I'll make it easy for everyone. The PERFECT scenario is Ghana ties Australia, Germany beats Ghana, then Serbia ties Australia. IF that happens, Germany gets the 1, and Ghana gets the 2.

In essence, things aren't much more cleared up now then they were 4 hours ago. But here's what we know now. USA controls their own destiny to win, and is 2nd in line for the top spot. All the questions will be answered next week. Hope you guys followed all that, and thanks for reading!

Ok we are officially through one third of the group stage in the World Cup. Today I'm going to break down my top 10 surprise results, both good and bad so far. Starting with 10 and going to the top, I will start with the pleasant surprises.

10. Germany dominates Australia- Alot of people thought that Germany was a weaker team this year, and one that if the USA could beat if they met in the 2nd round. That might still be the case, but I think few expected Germany to look like the best team in the world cup so far with a 4-0 destruction of Australia

9. United States ties England: This would be higher if alot of people, myself included, didn't expect it. I thought the US had a great shot at tying or beating England, who hasn't been playing well recently. If you look at my previous post, I break down how this result means that their upcoming match against Slovenia is the biggest in US soccer history.

8. South Africa ties Mexico- What a great way to start the world cup. The host team comes in as heavy underdogs against the favored Mexican team and almost pulls off a monumental upset. Despite just getting a tie, the South Africans still have a great shot at getting into the 2nd round starting today with Uruguay.

7. Italy looks sluggish in defense of title: Italy fell behind early against Paraguay, and needed a 2nd half goal to muster a point from the match. All eyes are on their leader in goal Buffon. If he is hurt for longer then the group stage, look for an early exit for the champs.

6. France falters again: France had a great shot at shooting out to a big lead in this group if they could have beaten Uruguay. That chance doubled when Uruguay lost a man in the 75th minute, and yet the France attack could barely muster 1 or 2 good chances. It looks like France is indeed as bad as many thought they were.

5. Ghana rises above Serbia- Few gave Ghana a serious shot at getting out of the group after their captain Essien went down with a knee injury. But Ghana played a great game against Serbia, and benefited greatly from a mental error that lead to a penalty kick that they put away in world class form. Ghana is now in the drivers seat for the #2 spot in the group behind Germany.

4. Ivory Coast ties Portugal: This result was overlooked in my opinion, and it was a great result for the African power house, who has had nothing but bad luck in their two world cup appearances. Combine their back to back group of death draws, and the broken arm heard round the world, and the Ivory Coast has now put themselves in the unlikely situation to make the 2nd round if they can beat Portugal in the goal differential tie break. I for one will be pulling mightily for them.

3. Cameroon lays an egg against Japan: Many people, myself included, pegged Cameroon to be Africa's best shot at a good run, but they look lackluster, confused, and down right awful against a Japan team that they had no business losing to. And with the Netherlands still coming up, it looks like it might be a very disappointing 2010 world cup for this solid team.

2. New Zealand shocks Slovakia with no time left: This is what the world cup is all about. This is a clip we will see for years to come. A team that wasn't expected to even get a point somehow comes up with a goal in the very last minute of the game to pull out a tie. And the yellow card for the celebration is just classic. But thats what the world cup does to players and a whole country. For 2 hours, all their problems go away, and sports is all that is on their minds. Love it.

1. Spain chokes......again: Well you read it here first in my overall predictions. I wasn't extremely high on this Spain squad, as I had them out in the quarterfinals. And today it look justified as the most high scoring team in the cup got as many goals as I did while I did lying in bed: 0. Now Spain is far from out of this group, and in all likelihood, they will advance. But they HAVE to win both of the next two games by big margins, because if they grab the 2nd seed, they will have a date with Brazil in the 2nd round in the next installment of Clash of the Titans.

Well there's my list. What do you guys think? Did I miss any big results? Lemme know. Thanks for reading.

I'll make it easy: Its the biggest game in USA history. Now I know what many of you are thinking. Wasn't USA England the biggest game in US history? No. It was the most hyped up game ever. But anyone in the know knew that the results from the Slovenia and Algeria game are more important then the England result. Here is why the USA Slovenia game is so huge. I'm going to do something that is frowned upon in sports but is something that almost everyone does cause its human nature. I'm going to look ahead.

Ok so the tie with England virtually set up a shootout for the top spot in the group again assuming that USA and England hold serve against Slovenia and Algeria. And there's nothing I saw in either of the groups first two games that makes me think this won't happen. In group play tiebreakers, the top breaker is the goal differential in the group. So essentially, whoever can beat Slovenia and Algeria by more would claim the 1 seed, again assuming they hold serve.

Now here is why getting the #1 seed in the group is so important. If USA gets the 2nd seed, then they will likely take on Germany, a team that just made a solid Australia team look like a high school junior varsity team. Whats worse, if they get past the Germans, they would likely have Argentina waiting for them. Now if USA can pull off the #1 seed, they would likely take on Ghana, a team that played well in their first win, but is still no where near the team they could be without injured and star and would be captain Michael Essien. Heres the best part though. In the next round, they would likely take on South Korea or the winner of Group A. At this point, USA is better then every team in Group A. This means that for the first time in US history, USA could be the best team in their quarter of the 2nd round. If they can snag the #1 seed, it would be the best chance the USA would have had and maybe will ever have to make the semi finals.

Again, this is mostly speculation. But at this point, USA has the comfortable feeling of being able to control their own destiny. USA, its time to become the great team you always could be. Take care of business, and put yourself in a position to make history. It all starts with Slovenia.

Yesterday I narrowed the World Cup down to just 4 teams. England vs Brazil and Argentina vs Cameroon. Lets break it down.

England vs Brazil: I don't think this matchup will be very close. England is here for the most part due to a soft schedule to this point. Brazil is world class and should get a relatively easy Semi Finals win 3-1.

Argentina vs Cameroon: This matchup could be very exciting. Argentina has the talent to get to this round and further, but we will have to see if Diego Mardona can handle all of the talent on the team. I think Argentina wins a thriller here 3-2.

3rd place game: England vs Cameroon: Always a tough game for some teams to get up for ,I think that Cameroon can pull one more upset here against what will ultimately be a very disappointed and deflated England squad. Cameroon takes it in PK's 2-1.

The Championship: Brazil vs Argentina: I got an all South American affair here, and as with all of their other games, I think Brazil takes this one. They are just a level above everyone else in the tournament. Spain could be the only team that could give them a serious threat. Brazil hoists the cup for the 3rd time in 5 cups, with a 3-1 win.

Well those are my thoughts! We get it all started tomorrow, and I am giddy with excitement. Thanks for reading guys and GO USAAAAAA!!!

PS and Cameroon, Ghana, France, and Netherlands!

Well over the past week I've narrowed the World Cup from 32 teams down to 16. Today, I will be naming my final 4. Lets get started!

2nd Round

France vs Nigeria: I realllly wanna pull the trigger on an upset here, because France has looked awful recently, but the French have a habit of stepping up their game come tournament time. France takes it 2-1 here.

England vs Ghana: This would have been a fantastic matchup were Michael Essien still playing, but his injury really hurts their chances. England should get the win here, if they can play their game. Another 2-1 win here.

Netherlands vs Paraguay: The Dutch are the far superior team here, and they shouldn't have much trouble easing into a win here. They will light up the score board in a 3-1 victory.

Brazil vs Chile: Another open and shut win here the Brazilians are the class of the tournament. Easy victory for them I'll say 2-0 as the word out of Brazil is that for once their defense is as good as their offense. That is just scary.

Germany vs USA: Upset alert! Call me optimistic or a homer or whatever you want, but I got the US in this one. If these players are still half as bitter as I am about the 2002 loss where the US was a missed hand ball away from a shot at the semi finals. I like their chances here I think a 2-1 victory in penalty kicks.

South Africa vs Argentina: The dream ends here for the world cup host. Argentina is a leg above everyone else they have faced so far. The home crowd will keep it closer then it should be, but Argentina tacks on a late goal to make a good looking 3-1 final score.

Italy vs Cameroon: Going with another upset here. I'm very high on the Cameroon squad, and the Italians are flirting with the fine line between experienced and old. I think Cameroon kills Italy with their speed, and notches a 2-1 upset here.

Spain vs Portugal: This is a sick 2nd round matchup. This could be a semi final in most years, and this one will be great. If this were 4 years ago, I would take Portugal in a heart beat. But this year, I got Spain in a 3-2 classic that could go to PK's.

So now lets take a look at my quarter finals.

France vs England: A matchup of two clubs that are usually world class but have been playing anything but that recently. I like England in this one. Wayne Rooney will carry his team if he has to. This could be a great game, or a very ugly one. I see it coming down to penalty kicks, with Rooney notching the game winner. 2-1

Netherlands vs Brazil: This could very well be the game of the tournament. Two of the top 5 teams in the world meet up here, and I think it could be an absolute shoot out. I have the Brazil team wining 3-2, but this could be the biggest test for the Brazilian squad.

USA vs Argentina: The US squad has never made it past the quarterfinals, and I don't think that will change this year. Their saving grace could be the suspect coaching of Diego Mardona, but I'm not sure that will be enough. If Gooch has the speed to stay with Messi, we have a shot. But I'm not counting on it. I've got Argentina here in a close one 1-0.

Cameroon vs Spain: Am I insane? Perhaps. Is this my wallet talking and not me? Perhaps. But I'm not one to pick chalk city in any event, and this is no different. I have to have a cinderella, and I'm going with Cameroon on this one. They have a great offense, and they will have the crazy home crown on their side. Combine that with the tendency of Spain to choke on the bit stage, and I got my upset here. Cameroon takes it in PK's 3-2.

Ok we have my Final 4 here. We have England taking on Brazil and Argentina taking on Cameroon. What are your thoughts? Am I crazy to pick Cameroon. Perhaps. Thanks for reading.

Today we cover the last of the groups: Group H. This group has arguably the favorites in Spain, but Chile, Honduras, and Switzerland will have something to say about that!

Spain: As I said before, they are arguably the favorites of the tournament, but the question is which Spanish team will show up. Will it be the team that finally tapped into its endless potential on route to winning Euro 2008? Or will it once again be a Spain team that dominates group play only to have a disappointing let down in the next round. I will say this. If you love goal scoring, watch Spain. Torres and Villa were born to score goals, and they will certainly be doing plenty of that in a group that is solid but not great.

Chile: Chile takes on Honduras in the first game of this group, and if one of them can pull out a result in that game, then that might be all they need to advance to the 2nd round. My buddy Rene likes Chile here, and so I will too. They have posted solid results, winning several friendlies and playing Mexico tough in a 1-0 loss, and they are ranked 18th in the world. Look for Chile to be the distant 2nd.

Honduras: Honduras is the weakest team in this group, barely qualifying thanks to the USA. Honduras has played poorly in recent friends, not even being able to beat Azerbaijan in a friendly. Safe to say, they are the weakest team in the group.

Switzerland: The Swiss are the first sacrificial lamb of sorts for the squad from Spain, but if they can play solid football there and come out with some confidence, they might give Chile a run for their money. But my money is on Chile coming out of this bracket, where they will gladly be welcomed by Brazil.

My Predictions: 1. Spain 2. Chile

Well that completes my breakdown of the group stage. Here are the 16 teams I have advancing and their potential matchups.

France vs Nigeria
England vs Ghana

Netherlands vs Paraguay
Brazil vs Chile


Germany vs USA
South Africa vs Argentina

Italy vs Cameroon
Spain vs Portugal

That is my final 16. Be sure to tune in tomorrow as I will narrow the field from 16 all the way down to 4. Thanks for reading.

Today we break down the infamous group of death. This group has 2 world class teams in Brazil and Portugal, one very good team that could be down a star in Ivory Coast, and then arguably the worst team in the tournament, North Korea. We could see some fire works in this group.

Brazil: The #1 team in the world, and winner of two of the last four world cups, Brazil is, with all due respect to the circus, the greatest show on earth. For years and years and many more to come, Brazil has put the best talent out there every year, and this is no exception. This year, players like Kaka, Maicon, Luis Fabiano, the list goes on. The one person not on that list which surprised many is Ronaldinho, who went from the golden boy in last year's world cup, to a bench warmer this year. In regards to this group, Brazil doesn't have a cake walk, but they should get out of this group.

Portugal: Portugal is a very interesting squad. 8 years ago, when they were one of the big favorites, they bombed and didn't get out of the group stage. In the last world cup, they made it to the semi finals. This time around, they are the #3 team in the world, but they could be in some trouble here. Cristiano Ronaldo is the class of the team, but he might be a bit tired of carrying this team. They have good players, but Ronaldo is a class above the rest.

Ivory Coast: You really have to feel for the Ivory Coast. This is their 2nd world cup ever, and in both of them, they have landed in the group of death. Last world cup, they had to take on Argentina and Netherlands, and this year, they have 2 of the top 3 teams in the world. Oh, and if they can advance to the 2nd round, they likely will play Spain, the #2 team in the world. On top of all that, they likely lost their star player and world class forward Didier Drogba, who broke his arm on an absolutely terrible challenge by a Japanese defender in their recently friendly. But watch out. There are rumors that after surgery, he could make a Willis Reed like return to the pitch, and if does, he could provide enough adrenaline to the squad to topple Portugal.

North Korea: Congrats to them for making it this far, but if they can even muster up a point in this group, it would be a shock.

My Predictions: 1. Brazil 2. Portugal

I had the Ivory Coast coming out of this group b4 Drogba's injury. Too bad really. Tomorrow, I will breakdown the last group of play, and the next day, I will start breaking down the next part of the tournament.

Today we take a look at the defending Champions from Italy. They drew about as good of a draw as anyone in the cup, as they will be taking on New Zealand, Paraguay, and Slovakia. Paraguay is traditional a fairly good team, so they could provide the Italians with a sweat.

Italy: This great draw should be taking with a grain of salt. The Italian national team has not been playing extremely well recently, including a 1-1 tie with Switzerland yesterday, and a 2-1 loss to Mexico recently as well. As with the champion squad, they will come and go as goalkeeper Gigi Buffon will take them. Italy didn't blow anyone away with their scoring when they took the world cup, but Buffon was an absolute beast in the nets. He will have to do the same to lead them to victory again.

New Zealand: Their qualification was quite unlikely, as they have only made the world cup once before, which was 28 years ago. The All Whites have shown flashes of brilliance, actually knocking off their fellow group members Italy last year, but for the most part, New Zealand will just be happy to be here. But everyone loves an underdog, and this might be a good one to get behind.

Paraguay: Paraguay made it past the first round in 98 and 02 before getting knocked out early in last year's cup, and in several groups, they might not have a shot this year. But with New Zealand and Slovakia in their group, Paraguay shouldn't have much trouble getting out of this group if they play an aggressive style. And hey considering how poor the Italians have been playing, anything is possible.

Slovakia: Slovakia also had an unlikely run into the cup, as they knocked off solid teams in Poland and more of note the Czech Republic to make it to the big stage. Again, another team that we shouldn't expect much from, but shall be seen.

My prediction: 1. Italy 2. Paraguay

Its safe to say that a potential cinderella could make it out of this group. I'm not sure that any team outside of Italy could beat the Dutch or Cameroon in the next round, but in the world cup, most anything is possible. Be sure to tune in tomorrow, as I break down the infamous "Group of Death". Thanks for reading.

We are halfway through the group predictions, and so far I'm very high on the African nations in the tournament. This trend will continue here where we have the Netherlands, Cameroon, Denmark, and Japan. This group is of particular interest to me as I have money on Cameroon and Netherlands. If Netherlands I win 30 bucks, but if my long shot Cameroon wins I win aroudn 330 bucks. So one time Cameroon!

Netherlands: The Dutch had a very down decade in the 2000's, not qualifying for the 2002 World Cup, along with a 2nd round exit in the 2006 World Cup. But they are back and better then ever, as they are back in the top 5 in the world. The Dutch are the class of this group, and despite an older group of defenders(two are 35 years old) they should have little trouble getting out of this group.

Denmark: This is the darkhorse of sorts in this group. Several experts are high on this team, thinking they are the favorites to take the 2nd spot in the group. Denmark has a few young forwards who could light up the scoreboard, but their inexperience could hurt them. It also doesn't help that their first game is against the powerhouse dutch.

Cameroon: Cameroon stormed onto the soccer scene winning the 2000 Olympics, but the rest of the decade was disappointing, including missing out on the world cup in 2006. Cameroon is led by star forward Samuel Eto'o, who will have to do alot of the work on his own. Cameroon could shoot out to a great start against Japan, the weakest team in the group.

Japan: Japan shocked alot of people by making it to the 2nd round in the 2002 world cup, where they were the host. However, their hasn't been much going for them since. in 2006, they were beat down badly by Brazil and Australia. They might be able to get a couple of points here, but I would be surprise if they got an outright win.

My Predictions: 1. Netherlands 2. Cameroon

Yes. Another African Nation. I have faith! Lol. Tune in tomorrow for my breakdown of Group F, which includes Italy, the defending champs. Thanks for reading.

Ok time for Group D. It must be noted that if USA makes it out of the group stage their opponents will come from this group. So USA fans should keep a very close eye on these results. I think that overall, this might be one of the weaker groups. Germany is the class of this group, and they aren't as good as they have been in years past.

Germany: Germany has been a world cup monster, making it to the semi finals and finals the last two years. However, this years team could struggle. They shouldn't have any trouble getting out of this group, but don't be surprised to see them lose in the 2nd round if they face USA or England.

Ghana: Ghana play a bit of a cinderella last year when they beat the Czech Republic and USA to advance to the 2nd round. Ghana might be Africa's best hope to make a run, since the Ivory Coast is in the group of death. I think Ghana has a great group draw, and will make it to the 2nd round, meaning that I think at least 3 African nations will make it past the group stage.

Australia: Australia is coming off a surprise round of 16 run in the last world cup, but I'm not sure they will be able to get past Ghana and Germany. Australia is known for their tough defense, so they might be able to steal a result and sneak into the next round, but I don't see it.

Serbia: Serbia will look to improve on their last World Cup effort, which included a 6-0 thumping at the hands of Argentina. This is a tough team, but I think they are the 4th best of the group.

My Predictions: 1. Germany 2. Ghana

As I said b4, USA fans must keep an eye on this group. IF Germany slips up, it might be better for USA to aim for 2nd place to get a good draw in the round of 16. Could be very interesting. Thanks for reading, and tune in tomorrow for Group E coverage.

Ok its time for the group I've been waiting to breakdown, Group C. This group of course has the Americans, along with England, Slovenia, and Algeria. Lets start with the good ole US of A.

USA: Ok lets break down the 3 main aspects of the game: Defenders, Midfielders, and Forwards. The USA defense is solid, but injuries could play a factor. I'm happy to finally see Tin Howard in net in a world cup, as Kasey Keller's time ran about one world cup too long for my liking. The defense is led by veterans, but the biggest question and concern is the injured knee of star defender Oguchi Onyewu. Against the Czech Republic just last week, Gouch got up about as high as I do in trying to defender a corner kick. If he can't use his height and athleticism to its fullest capability, the USA could be in big trouble. The USA will live and die by their midfield. Led by stars Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey, the USA needs these stars to be just that. Stars. Also keep an eye on Demarcus Beasley, who has fallen by the waste side after a strong 2002 world cup. Lastly, the Forwards for USA might be the biggest concern. Jozy Altidore is a star in the making, but we will have to see how the 20 year old responds to the biggest stage in the world. Also, there is concern over who the 2nd forward will be. My money is on Edson Buddle, who has been ripping up MLS this year.

Now onto their games. I'm actually happy that the US is starting off with England. Here's why. No matter who you are, the first half of your first world cup game is full of nerves. I would much rather have the US fight off nerves against a team that they are supposed to lose to, because they will have less pressure. If USA came out in their first game and fell behind to either Slovenia or Algeria, then the panic button would be hit far too early. Also, remember in the 2002 world cup when USA went up against heavy favorites Portugal and shot out with 3 first half goals! Now I'm not saying that will happen here, but you get the point. My prediction: the USA tie England 1-1, then get a combination of a tie and win against Algeria and Slovenia, leaving them with 5 points, which will be good enough to move on.

England: England had high hopes coming into this world cup, but things have not been good in recent months, starting with the injury to David Beckham. Now England won't miss much of his production, but its to measure what his experience means to the team. But Wayne Rooney is as good as they come, and England shouldn't have much trouble getting out of this group. Even further, if they can dodge Germany in the next round, they should have an easy road to the quarterfinals.

Slovenia: One could make the argument that the outcome of the Slovenia-Algeria game could be more important then the England USA game. If one of these teams can score a victory, and USA loses to England, then the USA will be in a must win against Slovenia in the next game. It must be said that neither team is a slouch. Slovenia is 25 and Algeria is 30.

Algeria: I think Algeria is the dark horse here, and once again, its due to the home field advantage. South Africa will be a frenzy anytime an African nation takes the field and this will be no exception. This country is also hungry after missing out on the world cup dating back to 1990. They could prove to be spoilers for the US.

My Prediction: 1. England 2. USA

What do you guys think? Will USA make it to the 2nd round? Let me know what you think. Thanks for reading.

Today, we have Group B, which consists of Argentina, Greece, Nigeria, and South Korea. Argentina figures to breeze through here with the 1 spot, but who will rise up and get 2nd?

Argentina: Two words for you. Lionel Messi. If you don't know who this guy is, you will know him very shortly. He has separated himself as pound for pound the best soccer player in the world. If you want proof, this might do it for you. However, he has yet to duplicate his great club success on the international level, due to what many think is the Coach Mardona not using him to his best abilities. Well he will have 3 warm up games to figure it out, as Argentina stands to breeze through this group.

Greece: The question bout the rest of the group is who will be able to bring back recent surprise successes they had. In 2004, Greece shocked everyone by winning Euro 2004. However, Greece has not been much of a factor since, and I don't think that will change here. The key game is the opener against South Korea.

Nigeria: Nigeria also shocked the world when they took Silver at the 2008 Summer Olympic games, and I think they will once again pull a bit of a shocker and advance to the 2nd round. As I have said and will say many times, when its tight, go with the home field. And Nigeria will be on its home continent. Also, of the 3 other teams, they have had the most recent success.

South Korea: After the 20002 World Cup, soccer continued to grow in South Korea, and this is quite a talented team. I would say it that they are likely the favorites to come out of here with the 2 seed. But I'm just not sure they will be able to adjust to the new environment. Keep an eye out on the South Korea Greece game to kick off group B. The loser will likely be out.

My Prediction: 1. Argentina 2. Nigeria

Be sure to check out the blog tomorrow as I will be giving an extensiveeeeeee breakdown of the United States team and what it will take for them to have an extended stay in South Africa. Thanks for reading.

So the World Cup is but a mere 10 days away, and in that time I am goign to break down every team in the tournament by group, and today I'm starting with Group A: France, Uruguay, Mexico, and the Host South Africa. I think that this is the most even group in the tournament, as I think the difference between the "best" team France, and the "worst" team South Africa is smaller then in any other group.

France: France has had a steady fall from grace since their unlikely trip to the Finals in the last world cup. They struggled mightily through qualifying, due in most part to what many believe is suspect coaching at best. And they only advanced by beating Ireland due to one of the most controversial plays in recent memory. However, France has a knack to turn it on come World Cup time, and given that it might just take 1 victory to ensure advancement in what I see being a very tight group, I think they will make it into the 2nd round.

Uruguay: Uruguay hasn't really been a force in soccer since the 1960's, and I'm not sure that much will change this year. They do have two solid scorers in Diego Martin Forlon and Sebastian Abreu, but I think Uruguay will ultimately end up last in this group.

Mexico: Mexico has quietly been one of the most consistent teams in the World Cup, making it past the group stage in the last 4 world cups. However, the team is slowly getting older, and they might get passed up this year. Mexico is the safe #2 team in the group, but I'm gonna go with an upset.

South Africa: Any sports fan knows how big home field advantage is. In Soccer, it might be bigger then any other sport. The Host Country has made the 2nd round in every world cup since the beginning. Even average teams such as South Korea/Japan in 2002 and USA in 1994 have made it past the 2nd round. I'm going wit ha gut feeling here, and say that the South Africa fans are going to will their team to an upset over Uruguay, and make it to Round 2.

Predictions: 1.France 2. South Africa

Stay tuned tomorrow where I will break down Group B. Think I'm way off base on any of these teams? Feel free to comment. Thanks for reading.