South Africa prepares to take center stage

Monday, 30 November 09, 12:39 PM · Comments (0)

In the U.S., a Thanksgiving feast enjoyed by many distracted the American soccer fan from the void of MLS. That, and the healthy portions of European action available throughout the multiple cable networks. This week, U.S. Soccer will learn who they will face in three World Cup group matches next summer in South Africa.

Cape Town will be the site of the historic occasion, marking the very first time the Cup will be held in the continent. And while that point will be trotted out time and time again in the run up to the festivities, the party will commence Friday.

For Bob Bradley, the long road of qualification has ended, only for the challenge facing him and his program looming imminently. Questions surrounding the health of Charlie Davies and Oguchi Onyewu have played out to the point where it looks unlikely that either will be available for South Africa.

Instead of focusing on who won't be there, this week will be about who the U.S. will play. That's the big question, with talk of Pots and Seeds reverberating throughout the soccer media, debates rage about who the U.S. will face.

Those three opponents will be a huge part in determining the fate of Bob Bradley's team in South Africa. After a rather uneven 2009, there's a sense of a predictably unpredictable side that has trouble with some of the world's worst sides, yet comes away victorious against the world's best. On any given day, the U.S. can beat just about anyone, but this year the side seemed overly-reliant on fortune.

Every middling nation wants a shot at the hosts, and given the tumultuous state of the national team in South Africa, there's good reason behind it. But when the tournament actually gets underway, will anyone really want to face them? A home crowd will be behind them, making it all the more difficult for an opposing side. Being grouped with a nation from Africa won't be much fun either.

The darlings of the Oceania conference, New Zealand, wouldn't be bad. Comprised heavily of A-League stars and MLS retreads, the All Whites aren't anyone to fear. Being grouped with either of the Koreas wouldn't be all that bad.

Worst case scenario would be two European powers and a strong African nation such as the Ivory Coast. Whatever the outcome, Bradley must have his players ready to go in June, both mentally and physically. If continual defensive lapses keep cropping up, like were on display in Europe in November, it's three and out for the U.S.

South Africa prepares to take center stage

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