A WAKING GIANT - US Soccer Comes of Age

DER SPIEGEL ^ | June 11, 2006 | Andreas Tzortzis

[Jameison]

"Australia are likely to clean up in that group but no matter how well they do they will have to face a South American side in a play-off, as the two regions share a spot"

Like Uruguay?
2 South American nations have won the World Cup.
Countries like Venezuela haven't really done much in world soccer have they?

[FostersExport]

Three South American have one it, the third being Uruguay themselves. That was a long time ago of course.

The point is that Australia’s qualification will come down to a two-leg match against a side that can at least play, even if they might not be potential winners. Anything can happen in just two games.

This is completely different from the USA who would really struggle NOT to qualify.

[Rummyfan]

I agree. I gave up on the NBA a long time ago. Behemoths who can't make a free throw. The college game however.....

[mc5cents]

The only thing wrong with soccer is that the field needs to be longer and wider.

LOL. Yea and those nets need to be a lot bigger too. And what's with the time keeping? I know they have a clock running up 90 mins. but then it gets to 90 mins and they just keep playing? No one seems to know how much longer they have to play? I mean is it the referee who has a bet on the game who decides how much more time is left?

[Jameison]

"This is completely different from the USA who would really struggle NOT to qualify"


In World Cup qualifying and the World Cup matches, every country plays very hard.
Just yesterday, Trinidad and Tobago played Sweden to a goalless draw.
Again, Australia potentially playing countries like Uruguay and Venezuela to qualify isn't exactly climbing Mount Everest either.
As far as I know, the South American countries Australia has to play are the ones that failed to qualify direct to the World Cup.

[Loyal Buckeye]

Thank you. ;-)

[OB1kNOb]

GOALLLLLLLLLL!!!

[humblegunner]

Who added the following keywords to this thread

Probably someone who dislikes third-world kickball.

Just a hunch.

[Edit35]

So how did the U.S. end up doing in this year's WOrld Cup?

The teams decided instead to play "Pong" (the 1970s black and white version) for the championship since it so closely resembeled playing soccer.

[Rightwing Canuck]

You were saying? :)

LOL, touche.

Needless to say, the US didn't perform like the 5th best team in the world today.

[Sybeck1]

Soccer is what all of the illegal aliens are playing in the park on Sunday mornings.

[FostersExport]

You know, I was going to say before yesterday’s games that the US being in a very tough Group and Australia being in an easier one (Brazil are there, yes, but the other two are definitely beatable) could affect the odds, but then decided against it because after the Group the going gets tougher anyway.

However, then I thought although I really doubt they’ll win the whole contest, at 150-1 Australia aren’t that crazy an each way bet to get to the final. I wouldn’t take it but I could understand someone might. With the USA’s group and the likely meeting of Brazil even if they did qualify (unlikely now) I wouldn’t touch ‘em with a barge pole.

[guitar4jesus]