You lot are in a tough group. Italy and the Czechs are favored to go through, and Ghana could surprise everyone. If the US fails to progress past the group stage it could be a step backwards for the sport in the US.
I doubt that would hurt US Soccer at all! It is extremely popular in HS and college, and we are placing many players in the European leagues now too. But no one watches it on TV and if you go to an MLS game here in the States, the crowds are overwhelmingly Hispanic. Soccer will never break in because the Big Three of football-basketball-baseball don't leave any room. Hockey has been virtually frozen out (no pun intended!). Then add on golf and tennis. Soccer will continue to have a small hard-core following here but that's it.
Why do you say that? The US has a higher FIFA rating than Italy (#5 vs #13) and the Czechs have injured players (though they are rated #2). I'm guessing that we will come out #2 in this round and then get beat by #1 Brazil in the next round (unless they somehow come out of the first round as the runner up). I'm hoping that we come out #1 in this round and don't have to deal with Brazil for a while. It is a possibility due to the Czech injuries. If we don't have to face Brazil initially we have a strong shot for at least the semi-finals.
Agreed, we got a tough group. We feel somewhat aggrieved that Mexico (who we beat for the CONCACAF Cup) got a seeding ahead of us and seems to have gotten a quite easy group by comparison.
I don't think they will embarass themselves, they are a good team and therefore I don't think it will set back US soccer at all if we don't make it out of the Group.
I am hoping the Ghanaians run the Italians ragged and we get lucky against the Czechs.