By IVES GALARCEP
With FIFA announcing the set-up of the World Cup draw pots on Tuesday, we now have a much better idea exactly what sort of draws the U.S. Men’s National Team could face on Friday.
There weren’t any real surprises among the pots, save for the creation of a Pot X, which will separate the seeded South American teams in order to ensure they aren’t drawn against the other South American teams in Pot 2 (and ensuring the lone European team in Pot 2 doesn’t get drawn into a group with two other European teams). We also learned that one of the nine unseeded European teams, all currently in Pot 4, will be moved over to Pot 2.
What you really care about, as an SBI reader, is just what does it all mean for the USMNT? The pots don’t paint a pretty picture for what the Americans will face. A brutal draw isn’t inevitable, but is very likely given how many tough teams are in the World Cup field.
My latest Goal.com column takes a closer look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios the USMNT will face in each of the three pots American opponents will be drawn from. I also point out opponents that could offer up the best storylines, as well as draws that might be better than you think.
Give the piece a read and let us know what you think of the possibilities. Which group do you consider worse, a Brazil-Netherlands-Italy trio, or a Germany-Ghana-Portugal trio? Still holding out hope that the Americans can get really lucky and pull a manageable draw?
Share your thoughts below.