Official website: http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/
As most of you know, USA qualified for the World Cup and will play their first game against the second-ranked Czech Republic on June 12 in Gelsenkirchen. After facing the Czechs, the U.S. plays Italy in Kaiserslautern on June 17 and concludes group play against Ghana in Nuremberg on June 22.
I'm not optimistic the US will get out of the group stage this time - and day by day it seems it could be 1998 deja vu. In contarst I think Australia will have a large chance to surprise everyone, with Hiddink as their coach and all first XI choices that play at a higher level (Premiership, Bundesliga, Durch league, and Serie A) than many of the US team's 1st XI.
"As most of you know,...."
That's a stretch...