US Hopes For World Cup Upset

Washington Post sportswriter Steven Goff says the biggest challenge facing the U.S. World Cup team is getting out of its difficult grouping to reach the Round of 16.  The so-called “group of death” includes European powers Germany and Portugal, plus Ghana, the best team in Africa.  But Goff says one could argue that this is the deepest U.S. team to ever compete in the World Cup.  Goff expects U.S. coach Juergen Klinsmann will have the U.S. primed to compete in the world’s marquee sporting event. (The interview was taped just before Klinsmann reduced the roster from 30 to its final 23 spots, so there was no mention of the surprise cut of Landon Donovan, the all-time leading U.S. scorer in World Cup play.)