Last spring, U.S. men’s national team boss Bob Bradley was scheduling a simulated “group of death” for his squad. This year, Bradley doesn’t have to worry about that. FIFA’s already done it for him.
Today’s Confederations Cup draw put Italy, Brazil and Egypt in Group B with the U.S.A. Group A? Spain, Iraq, New Zealand and host South Africa. Man, the EURO 2008 champs got off easy. You would think an 8-team tournament would be a little more balanced, but there’s no doubt that Group B is the group of death next summer.
Still, this is a good thing for the U.S. team, because the more experience those players get against tough competition, the better prepared they will be for 2010 — not to mention the stretch run of the final round of CONCACAF qualifying, which was also announced today. (Full schedule here. USA v. Mexico on Feb. 11, kids.)
In the meantime, lets hope Bradley gives Jozy Altidore and Kenny Cooper more playing time together. That duo could be pretty dangerous up front.
3 responses so far ↓
1 Jeff // Nov 23, 2008 at 12:37 pm
It’s not like anyone cares that much about Confed Cup anyway, coming as it does one year before the World Cup. I like the draw – games against Brazil and Italy will be good for us. And we’ve played Italy well before, to boot.
2 a different Dave // Nov 25, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Good practice? Sure.
But it won’t prevent us from getting screwed again in the 2010 World Cup group draw: we will be unseeded and get screwed by being placed in a group of death, and those whining, diving crybabies the Mexicans will be seeded and will be put into an easier group, just like last time. Wait and see.
3 Dave // Nov 26, 2008 at 1:44 am
You really are Debbie Downer tonight, Dave.
Wouldn’t the WC draw depend somewhat on where Mexico finishes in the Hex? They *are* struggling a bit under Sven right now. (As opposed to Faria Alam, who seemed quite happy there. ZING!)