For weeks I have been hearing about how this is the group of life. It is apparently the easiest of groups that the US has ever pulled. Everyone is expecting England to push forward. Everyone is expecting the US to push forward. No one is expecting much from the other two teams. We will see; we will see. I am also looking forward to seeing how many curse words the refs will collect after hours and hours of memorizing the art of English swearing and gesturing. Good luck Rooney. Good luck.
England
My thoughts 4 years ago were seriously, England is cool. They speak the same language. They have knights, Shakespeare, Chaucer, Stonehenge... England can be my adopted team. David Beckham is the greatest soccer player ever...right? Four years later and naivete gone, I am ready to root England on. I have heard England call themselves the team the entire world is rooting against, and with shirts printed with "I support ABE (anybody but England)," I suppose I can see why they feel so persecuted. No one likes England. I like Rooney. I even like Steven Gerrard, Wait, I love Rooney. He has that nasty, gritty, workhorse persona. Don't get in his way, and you won't look like a fool. In return, he won't either, as long as he doesn't lose his temper.
Players to Watch:
Wayne Rooney
Steven Gerrard
Frank Lampard
(No surprises here)
USA
I want to like you. I want to feel some sort of unfailing love for my country and team. I want to paint my face and look ridiculous all in the name of supporting my team. Alas, USA has no team. USA isn't paying attention. I find it frustrating that everyone can get behind the Olympics, a world arena, but can never get behind the sport of soccer. I don't understand this. It is always American football players that get nasty about soccer too, as if they are competition. I think it is just sad that while the rest of the world is united with the others within their country, during the rejoicing of winning and the pain of losing, Americans have nothing but arguments to divide us. Hugging strangers, jumping in giant squares or plazas as soon as a goal is successful, dancing about like fools together without ever knowing each other is such a beautiful idea for a country. I see hordes of people across foreign nations uniting as one. Never have I felt Americans united with one common goal. We are all strangers, and therefore I have difficulty getting behind this team, when I should be their staunchest supporter.
Players to Watch:
Clint Dempsey
Landon Donovan
Algeria
Home to French great Zinedane Zidane, I know nothing about you at all.
Slovenia
I know nothing about you either.
Postgame
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