Pots
Pot 1: South Africa (hosts), Argentina, Brazil, England, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain
Pot 2: Australia, Honduras, Japan, Korea DPR, Korea Republic, Mexico, New Zealand, United States
Pot 3: Algeria, Cameroon, Chile, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Paraguay, Uruguay
Pot 4: Denmark, France, Greece, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland

Laley23 wrote:They are right there with England and Spain as the World Cups biggest choke artists

I know you're kidding but they have laid a few eggs, especially in 1990 when they failed to win it at home and they've lost a couiple or so finals too. I think they are ready to get on another roll, especially with Lippi back as the coach.

I hope we get to play Mexico. I'd love to kick their ass in a rematch.

Sage wrote: I hope we get to play Mexico. I'd love to kick their ass in a rematch.

The US cannot play Mexico, they are in the same pot as us.
We play one team from each of the other three pots

Pots
Pot 1: South Africa (hosts), Argentina, Brazil, England, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain
Pot 2: Australia, Honduras, Japan, Korea DPR, Korea Republic, Mexico, New Zealand, United States
Pot 3: Algeria, Cameroon, Chile, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Paraguay, Uruguay
Pot 4: Denmark, France, Greece, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland

How do they pick the teams from the other pots that we play? FIFA corruption or an actual legit system?

iclfan2 wrote: How do they pick the teams from the other pots that we play? FIFA corruption or an actual legit system?

Its a "legit" system. They put the names in a bowl and Mr. Blatter (or someone else) will pick one out. They are forced to sort of rig the bowls because some teams cannot play another team in the group stage. IE, S. Africa is the host, but they can only be paired with Paraguay, Uruguay, or Chile. Not sure if there is another stipulation around this years draw. But that is one that I do know for sure.


Also, we can play Mexico but it wont be unless we both make it past the group stage. And while a match-up with them would be awesome, I personally would rather have Mexico get smoked in all 3 of their group stage matches!

I predict it will be very very very boring! Oh wow.. 1 goal in 95 minutes. Damn thats exciting. Oh our team did not win. lets start a riot.. LOL.

Nah bro, soccer is tight. It's a lot like baseball. You just have to appreciate it for what it is. There is a reason the entire world is obsessed with it...and it's not cuz it's boring.

I don't argue that the world - the USA loves soccer. But it will never be popular here. I have watched a good bit of soccer, especially when the Crew are on.. But lets be honest. It's not a hit in the US.

The US will dominate the World Cup like I dominate Fifa..count on it.

Yes. Maybe on your PS3 on FIFA 2010 lol.

WeAreNC wrote: I don't argue that the world - the USA loves soccer. But it will never be popular here. I have watched a good bit of soccer, especially when the Crew are on.. But lets be honest. It's not a hit in the US.

Our country is extremely new and soccer has been played here for a very short period of time. Over the last 10 years soccer has grown tremendously. Every USA qualifying match was on TV this year (minus the jackass Mexicans and their Government). All the WC games next summer and the WC before that were on TV. Euro 2008 was on every game on ABC/ESPN. Our league (MLS) is expanding. La Liga and the EPL is on ESPN every week/weekend. The ratings for the games being shown has grown. FOX (FX, FSN, and FSC) just had a bidding war for the UEFA Champions League with ESPN as well as bidding wars for La Liga and EPL. That is pretty odd, that networks would have to outbid each other for a sport that no one cares about or watches on TV.

Despite what people keep saying, soccer is growing at a pretty fast pace. Our national team and league wont be very good for awhile, but we havent had a league for very long to have players available for our MNT. Its only been around since what...1993? Thats only 15 years.

Look at England. They have had a league since 1888. La Liga in Spain for 100+ years. Same for all those countries in Europe. That is a huge difference in being able to have players play here in your country and actually PLAY.

Look I was not trying to piss on your parade. I watch soccer too. But it will NEVER be popular here.. Even a so called sport like Nascar where cars go in the same boring circle for 3 hours is more popular than soccer.

WeAreNC wrote: Look I was not trying to piss on your parade. I watch soccer too. But it will NEVER be popular here.. Even a so called sport like Nascar where cars go in the same boring circle for 3 hours is more popular than soccer.

I know you werent. Simply pointing out why I think youre wrong.

I hate soccer but I love watching the United States play as I believe the United States of America is the greatest country to have ever graced this Earth and you can take that to the bank.

Back when I was in grade school we were told bck then that soccer would be the biggest sport in the USA by the time we were in high school.

I laughed then and laugh now at anyone who really thinks it will be the biggest sport over here.

newarkcatholicfan wrote: Back when I was in grade school we were told bck then that soccer would be the biggest sport in the USA by the time we were in high school.

I laughed then and laugh now at anyone who really thinks it will be the biggest sport over here.

No one thinks it will be the biggest. I simply think it is growing and will be big(ger) than it is currently.

I think it can supplant hockey, tennis and golf for starters. Hell, with the way the MLB is run, it may pass MLB in the next few years

Soccer in this country can make it into the top 5 followed sports.
1. Nascar
2. Football
3. Basketball
4. Baseball
5. Soccer (Over hockey, tennis, and golf among others)

My bad I was not saying you nor anyone else said that.
I was saying what we were told as kids in grade school.
Sorry if it sounded like I was directing that in your direction.

WeAreNC wrote: Yes. Maybe on your PS3 on FIFA 2010 lol.

I don't get it.

Sage wrote: Nah bro, soccer is tight. It's a lot like baseball. You just have to appreciate it for what it is. There is a reason the entire world is obsessed with it...and it's not cuz it's boring.

I agree with sage on soccer. Wrestling is another sport where it helps if you understand it and appreciate the subtle thing.

USA all the way. If you don't think they will win you are un-american.

Soccer is a sport in which everyone should grow to appreciate and respect. Any of the teams who qualified whether in a strong region or not as the ability to go and win the World Cup as soccer is one of the few sports in which you can dominate another team in every facet of the game besides the score board. The US can win the World Cup although i realize the odds are not in their favor and as for the pools...bullshit! just like the draw is going to be.

If you don't know much on the World Cup draw this might help.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/4708457/ce/us/us-nervously-awaits-friday-world-cup-draw?cc=5901&ver=us

I'm really looking forward to the draw tomorrow. I also agree the USA will get put into a difficult group with like...Spain, Ghana, and Slovenia. I also think the dark horse in the group stage will the Ivory Coast. They are very impressive and have a style that's fun to watch.

Also...I truly don't care how many people do/don't like soccer. I absolutely love the sport and I'll continue to play and coach for as long as I can which is all that matters to me-

Actually The Premiere League Games are getting higher ratings then Baseball did last season. They are also beating hockey games already. I heard that on Colin Cowherd, he also said that the mid day games are beating almost anything else ESPN has had on in the middle of the day before and for this reason he believes soccer will continue to catch on here.