Well, we're screwed. This does, however, stay consistent with my prediction that we will bow out of 2006 terribly and then play in the final in South Africa in 2010.
I see it this way:
1) The United States has NEVER played well when the World Cup is in Europe. In Italia 90, they went 0-3, just like in Fr*** 98 when they finished 32nd out of 32 teams.
2) This team is mostly MLS stars. The team that got to the QFs in 2002 were mostly players who played for European clubs. Much like Mexico, because the majority of players see action in a weak domestic league (C'mon, MLS isn't the EPL), they'll be overplayed and beat physically by European teams who have strong domestic leagues (Italy) or have players in strong leagues (Czech Republic).
3) By 2010, Freddy Adu will have matured and gained the experience to be at the same level as Landon Donovan and Demarcus Beasley, if not better. A Ronaldo-type player is what we need to rally around, like Argentina and Maradona.
I REALLY, REALLY don't why I examined a soccer touerney this far, but I did. So there.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...351692&cc=5901