The World Cup draw has finally been completed and the United States finds itself in a group with Germany, Ghana and Portugal. The early reaction is that it's the Group of Death and reviewing the other groups pretty much confirms it. Group B isn't exactly a cakewalk, with Spain, Netherlands, Chile, and Australia, while Group D is also tough with Uruguay, England, Italy and Costa Rica. Had the United States been drawn into any of these groups, we'd surely be calling that one the Group of Death.
Here's the full breakdown:
Group A
1. Brazil
2. Croatia
3. Mexico
4. Cameroon
Group B
1. Spain
2. Netherlands
3. Chile
4. Australia
Group C
1. Colombia
2. Greece
3. Cote d'Ivoire
4. Japan
Group D
1. Uruguay
2. Costa Rica
3. England
4. Italy
Group E
1. Switzerland
2. Ecuador
3. France
4. Honduras
Group F
1. Argentina
2. Bosnia-Hertzegovina
3. Iran
4. Nigeria
Group G
1. Germany
2. Portugal
3. Ghana
4. United States
Group H
1. Belgium
2. Algeria
3. Russia
4. South Korea
Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl noted that the U.S. has the longest travel possible for any team in the World Cup at 8,866 miles. It's certainly not an ideal situation for the Americans.
That being said, if Jurgen can get us out of the group stage, it wouldn't be the biggest surprise in World Cup history. Ghana and Portugal are beatable and a draw with Germany should be enough to get us through.
My picks for each group:
Group A: Brazil, Croatia
Group B: Spain, Netherlands
Group C: Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire
Group D: Uruguay, Italy
Group E: France, Ecuador
Group F: Argentina, Bosnia-Hertzegovina
Group G: Germany, United States
Group H: Belgium, Russia
Now we just have to wait seven months to see what happens.