How the U.S can win the World Cup

Taken from MSN.com

Here's how the Americans can win the World Cup.

We're not saying the USA will win the World Cup, mind you, but this piece is intended to show you how the USA could potentially get into the finals and win the whole enchilada.
You only have to win seven games, after all.

First round

The USA is in one of two "groups of death," the charming nickname given to pairings in soccer tournaments that seem over-weighted with talent. In this year's World Cup, the USA has to play a game apiece against traditional European powers and three-time Cup winners Italy; the offensively-strong Czech Republic; and dark horses Ghana (think of it this way: It's the 2005-06 Jazz playing the Mavs, Suns and Heat). On paper, that's a pretty tall order. But it's no sweat for our "Miracle on Grass" boys of 2006.

The U.S. first go up against the Czechs, who led all of European qualifying in goal-scoring with the firepower of Milan Baros and Jan Koller up top and the rock-solid Petr Cech of Chelsea in the nets. But, hey, every game is different, and in this outing the U.S. jumps out to a big first-round win. The center back line of Eddie Pope and Oguchi Onyewu is outstanding with Pablo Mastroeni in front of them sweeping away the messes; and Landon Donovan and DaMarcus Beasley show the brilliance that led the team in 2002 to stymie one of the world's top netminders.

On the same day, Italy is shocked by the Michael Essien-led Ghana squad with an opening draw. Immediately, the knives are out in the Italian press and the pressure begins to mount on the Azzurri.


That result rattles the Italians, and when the U.S. squares off against them in Kaiserslautern against a strongly pro-USA crowd fed by the nearby Air Force base, the Italians make a critical early error that allows the U.S. to get on the board with a goal from John O'Brien.
Italy begins to melt down, and sees the fiery Francesco Totti sent off for his second straight World Cup after hacking down defender Chris Albright. Italy presses hard in the second half, but the U.S. is able to hold the line, and suddenly, after two games, the U.S. lead the group with six points. Italy enters into a classic cycle of self-destruction, but after all the favorites have one game left to play and just one point.

The U.S. only needs a point to win the group in their final game against Ghana, and they get it. The Czechs and Italy kick each other across the field for 90 minutes and, lo and behold, the U.S. and the Czech Republic go through to the next round. Italian journalists stream out of Germany proclaiming that "all anyone cares about is the European Cup" until they are reminded that AC Milan collapsed in 2005 and didn't make the 2006 finals.

Second round

Because the USA wins the group, they avoid having to face Brazil, and instead meet the shock runners-up of Group F — Australia. Yes, Australia.

The Aussies, led by seasoned coach Guus Hiddink, have managed to claw aside Croatia and Japan to snatch the second slot in their group. In truth, this scenario isn't so wild — Australia has a good team with a great deal of European-based talent and just because they haven't made the finals in 32 years doesn't mean they won't make the most of it now. Heck, these guys WANTED to play Brazil in the first round and actually applauded when they were drawn in the same group as the champs.

But the U.S. has an advantage — they get to play again in Kaiserslautern with a "home" crowd at their backs, and it carries the day for them.

The American midfield, steered by O'Brien and Claudio Reyna, defuses the Oz attack of Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka and makes Mark Schwarzer's life in the nets miserable with Eddie Lewis sending in ball after ball into the box. In the end, it's burly defender Oguchi Onyewu who wins the game, throwing his body into the pack on a Donovan-taken free-kick to nip a header that gives the USA a 1-0 win.

Quarterfinals

The U.S. gets to face the Ukraine, who knock off a weakened French side in the second round.

Ukraine presents a formidable challenge for the Americans — under the old Soviet system, the former U.S.S.R.'s great teams were largely stocked with players from the Ukraine and this team boasts real firepower in Andriy Schevchenko and Andriy Voronin. Ukraine also cruised through qualifying, losing only one match (to Turkey, which did not qualify). Their one weakness, if it can be called that? They're kind of dull to watch.

The game is a pitched battle, akin to the USA's quarterfinal performance against Germany in 2002 with one difference — this time, the shots go in for the Americans, and the USA guts out a 2-1 win in exhausting fashion. Can the Americans rebound to make it through the semifinals?

Semifinals

The toughest game the U.S. has ever played takes place July 4th in Dortmund, and pits the U.S. against Europe's toughest team — Holland. Yes, the Dutch have made it through and knocked out the hosts for good measure, which works in the Americans' favor.
German fans, upset over their team's ouster, show up in droves to cheer on the Yanks against the Dutch.

How do the Americans beat a team with Ruud van Nistelrooy, Arjen Robben, Edwin van der Sar and 20 other world-class top-caliber players? That's a darn good question.

Yep.

Let's just say they do.

Finals

America is riveted. People that couldn't tell a shin guard from a shoehorn are in the throes of World Cup fever.

David Letterman is broadcasting live from Germany, having made the snap decision to fly over there and "feel the excitement." (He'll use that phrase some hundred times over the course of two weeks.)

Morning TV shows are airing bits about soccer moms; how to be a soccer mom, how to date a soccer mom, how to avoid soccer moms altogether. Baseball is grumbling about how they can't get 12 inches in the paper because of this "World Cup thing." Editors across America are trying to figure what the heck a "throw-in" is (it's a stressful time in newsrooms across the land, folks).
And who do the Yanks get to play? Why, Brazil, of course — five-time winners who are trying to make it six behind the quartet of Kaka, Adriano, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.

The funny thing is, the U.S. actually plays fairly well against the Brazilians and has even beaten them before (OK, the U.S. is 1-11 against them, but have played well against them in recent years). Can you guess where this script is going?

Just as in 1998, goalkeeper Kasey Keller has the game of his life, stopping 35 shots and blanking Brazil's increasingly frustrated forwards. It's deadlocked until the 75th minute when American manager Bruce Arena takes a gamble and puts Ben Olsen on.

The U.S. wins a corner kick as the clock winds down. The Americans don't want to play overtime — they're running out of gas after having been run all over the field by a fast, fit Brazilian squad.

Lewis floats the ball into the box ... right to Olsen, who heads it past a stunned Dida. It's 1-0 U.S. with 7 minutes to go.

Wave after wave of Brazilian attacks come at the USA, which is compressed almost right back into its own penalty area. Four minutes of added time are given by the ref. The tension is excruciating as the U.S. is forced to concede corner after corner and make one valiant clearance after another.

And then ...

The whistle blows. The stadium explodes into applause and cheers.

Against all odds, the U.S. has won its first World Cup.

That's how the U.S. COULD win the World Cup. Hey, stranger things have happened. Just ask the 1969 New York Mets.


*****

Well... Ambitious americans? Hmm...