The U.S. Men’s Soccer team is coming to the 2014 World Cup ready to play. In spite of what many are calling a “group of death” in their group drawing on Friday, Team U.S.A. says they are up to the challenge. They drew Ghana, Portugal, and Germany in Group G. Group G has the highest FIFA ranking among all the World Cup group, leading many to say it is the most difficult.
U.S. Men’s National Coach Jurgen Klinsmann was immediately interviewed after the groupings were announced by ESPN’s Jeremy Schapp. Klinsmann was on the 1990 German team that won the World Cup Championship and also was on the 1998 team that defeated the U.S. 2-0.
“It couldn’t get any more difficult or any bigger,” Klinsmann said at the draw in Costa do Sauipe, Brazil. “It’s a real challenge. And we’ll take it. We’ll take it on, and hopefully we’re going to surprise some people there.”
Clint Dempsey, a midfielder/forward for the Americans, was interviewed about the draw as well . Dempsey was asked what he thought about drawing Ghana for the first game of group play. Ghana has ousted the U.S. team in each of the last two World Cups.
“It’s one of those situations where you feel hard done by because the last two times we played them, they’re the team that beat us and kind of crushed our dreams of trying to continue in the World Cup,” said Dempsey. “I think we’re due a little bit of luck and I think we’re due a win against them.”
Tim Howard, the star goalie for the U.S. team, took over the @espn twitter feed on Friday during the drawings. Check out the hashtag #TimmyTakeover to see all of his tweets. Here are a few of the highlights.
We’ve got a tough group. But I expected it to be tough. #TimmyTakeover
— ESPN (@espn) December 6, 2013
It’s going to be absolutely epic when Jurgen is on our sideline while we play Germany. I can’t wait. #TimmyTakeover
— ESPN (@espn) December 6, 2013
A message to Ghana, Germany, and Portugal: I always like to save. #TimmyTakeover https://t.co/TdEpeBqJ6M
— ESPN (@espn) December 6, 2013
One of the biggest concerns for Team USA is facing Portugal in the second game, which features soccer super star Christiano Ronaldo. For U.S. right back Brad Evans , who plays in midfield at the club level for the Seattle Sounders, the prospect of facing arguably the world’s best player will no doubt be daunting.
“Obviously, you jump into a position and you want to play against the best,” he told reporters. “And obviously, if I happen to be there, it will be a great challenge [to play against Ronaldo], a great opportunity — stick to your guns and do the best you can.”
With all the talk and reactions around the world, the Americans are just ready to hit the field next Summer to prove that U.S. Men’s Soccer is ready to advance past the first elimination round.
“I think the team’s mentality is that we can go and play with anybody,” American defender Matt Besler said. “Now we’re going to have to prove it.”
