I'll Say It: The United States Choked

Sometimes, blogging and talking about sports for a living leads you to have to say things that are unpleasant.

I've had to salute the 15-1 Minnesota Vikings as being the best NFL team I have ever seen, and probably the best team ever to not win the Super Bowl.

How many times have we had to tip our cap at the Yankees? Or the Red Wings? It happens in sports.

And sometimes, you have to say negative things about a team you cheer for.

Sunday, the U.S. Women's National Team fell in penalty kicks to Japan in the Women's World Cup final. The game was a riveting display of skill and creativity on the biggest stage the sport has to offer. In many ways, it was a lesson to the men on how the game should be played when so much is on the line, instead of the ultra-conservative dive-fests we get in the men's World Cup.

It was a great game, but it didn't turn out the USA's way, as Japan rallied from 1-0 and 2-1 down to force penalty kicks, and then beat the U.S. team 3-1 in PKs.

In soccer, you don't see games of this magnitude happen this way very often. Sure, they go penalty kicks, but it's quite rare for a team to blow two leads in a match. It was peculiar to see that same script play out in the quarterfinal match between the United States and Brazil, where the Americans won. This time, they didn't close the deal.

Watching the match, it wasn't like the U.S. team just stopped playing when they had the lead, but they also made too many mistakes on their half of the field. A badly-hit clearing attempt led to Japan's first goal, and the extra-time equalizer was scored on a horribly-defended set piece.

The performance by the U.S. team in the penalty kick shootout was atrocious. Poorly-struck balls followed a bad-luck shot that ended up being a great kick save by the Japanese keeper, one she would be severely challenged to repeat at any point in time.

Why am I bringing all of this up? Well, watching the ESPN postgame coverage led my wife and I to the same conclusion.

ESPN was tap-dancing around reality.

The Americans choked, and no one wanted to say it.

Why did no one want to say it? Because women were involved? Because the U.S. team had to pull off an incredible win over Brazil just to get here? Because we were all -- justifiably -- really happy for Japan, a nation that has suffered greatly because of natural disasters this year?

No matter the motivation, no one would say it ... at least not on TV.

Among others, Bomani Jones and CBS' Mike Freeman tweeted such sentiments, but they still appeared to be in the minority.

The reality is that the "choking" statement is harsh, but it's true. The U.S. team didn't play well with a lead, like they felt too much pressure to hold the lead. Had they capitalized on a multitude of first-half chances, maybe they wouldn't have felt that pressure.

If that 1998 Vikings team choked against Atlanta (they did), if the Houston Oilers choked against the Bills back in the day (yes), then it's fair to say the U.S. team choked Sunday.

It doesn't mean we didn't have a great team with some great players and some faces -- namely Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach, and Hope Solo -- that will potentially become household names thanks to the notoriety they gained in this tournament. It doesn't mean a silver medal isn't a great achievement.

It just means it could -- and should -- have been better.

You're not wrong if you feel that way. You're wrong if you feel that way and are afraid to express it.

Barclays Premier League Returns

After an entertaining season elongated by the World Cup, the Barclays Premier League is back and ready to go.

Last year, we saw Chelsea romp to the title, using a controversial win at Manchester United late in the season to propel them to the crown. Now, the Red Devils are back, in search of their 19th Premiership crown. Chelsea, usual suspects Arsenal and Liverpool, and hopeful contenders Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur all want their way in the crown.

We correctly predicted Didier Drogba and Chelsea winning the title last year, and it seems just as likely that they won't repeat this year. The Blues lost a few key role players, including Joe Cole, who scored the only legitimate goal during their win at Man U (sorry, I'm still bitter), and Michael Ballack, a longtime star for Chelsea.

Manchester United returns with another loaded team. While they will be missing star defender Rio Ferdinand for some time, there's no reason to think they can't contend. Chelsea could be a bit off in their motivation as they chase a Champions League crown, leaving Manchester United as the top contender in the Premier League.

Admittedly, Man U doesn't field the strongest team on paper. However, they do have some nice pieces, and you know they are still trying to make a splash with a big-name transfer. Wesley Sneijder -- a Dutch star -- has been rumored to have drawn the Devils' interest. It's a huge key for United to score more. The Devils conceded just 28 goals last season, leading the Premiership. They can't just lean on Wayne Rooney to score all their goals, but it seems they're going to do just that unless a young player steps into a prominent role.

Even with aging Edwin Van Der Sar in goal, expect Manchester United to play strong, tough defense, and they'll be in every match as long as they can do that.

While Arsenal and Liverpool go through some transition, expect Tottenham and Manchester City to seriously contend for Champions League spots. The big challenge Tottenham faces is trying to guide a young team through the Champions League competition this fall while also fielding a contending Premier League squad. If they falter in this area -- and failing to move far in the Champions League with a favorable draw might be seen as a bigger disaster than failing to make it back next year -- it could be disastrous to their development.

City should be able to crack the Champions League lineup for 2011, should they form a strong team bond early in the season amid a rush of new faces. Ownership is serious about winning, and they'll spend what it takes to make that happen.

Liverpool is out of the Champions League for the first time in seven years, and the smart money is on Fernando Torres leading them back eventually, though it may not happen this year.

Other fearless predictions:

• Arsenal will find a way to get past the Cesc Fabregas drama and wiggle into Champions League contention, even if they don't qualify.
• Wigan and Sunderland will climb closer to the middle of the table, but won't finish higher then tenth.
• Newcomers West Bromwich Albion, Newcastle, and Blackpool will all struggle mightily, with all three being near the relegation line.
• Birmingham will surprise. Or maybe they won't. I guess it depends on your definition of "surprise".
• Aston Villa will have a lot of problems. They could finish much lower than expected.

Why not try a shot at the table?

1. Manchester United
2. Chelsea
3. Arsenal
4. Manchester City
5. Liverpool
6. Tottenham Hotspur
7. Everton
8. Birmingham City
9. Sunderland
10. West Ham United
11. Stoke City
12. Aston Villa
13. Wigan
14. Bolton
15. Fulham
16. Blackburn
17. Newcastle United
18. Wolverhampton
19. West Bromwich Albion
20. Blackpool

2010 FIFA World Cup Predictions

The team-by-team capsules are done, and now it's time for my picks for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

We'll list the picks by group, with links to each team preview. From there, it's on to the round of 16, as the top two teams from each group advance.

Group A
1. Mexico
2. France
3. South Africa
4. Uruguay

Group B
1. Argentina
2. Nigeria
3. Greece
4. South Korea

Group C
1. United States
2. England
3. Algeria
4. Slovenia

Group D
1. Germany
2. Ghana
3. Australia
4. Serbia

Group E
1. Holland
2. Cameroon
3. Denmark
4. Japan

Group F
1. Italy
2. Paraguay
3. Slovakia
4. New Zealand

Group G
1. Brazil
2. Portugal
3. Ivory Coast
4. North Korea

Group H
1. Spain
2. Honduras
3. Chile
4. Switzerland

Round of 16
All games listed in pairs to conform to actual bracket
Second round
Mexico over Nigeria
United States over Ghana

Holland over Paraguay
Brazil over Honduras

England over Germany
Argentina over France

Cameroon over Italy
Spain over Portugal

Quarterfinals
United States over Mexico
Brazil over Holland

England over Argentina
Spain over Cameroon

Semifinals
Brazil over United States
Spain over England

Third place
England over United States

Final
Brazil over Spain

2010 FIFA World Cup: United States

We preview the 2010 FIFA World Cup, set for June 11-July 11 in South Africa.

UNITED STATES
Appearance: Ninth overall, sixth consecutive
Last time there: 2006, exited in first round
Best performance: Semifinals (1930)

There are not many more storylines in this event as volatile.

The United States has been feast or famine in recent World Cups. In 1994, as the hosts, the Americans staged a nice run, beating Colombia and falling dramatically to eventual champion Brazil in the second round.

With higher expectations in 1998, the Americans flopped badly, finishing last among the 32 qualifiers and costing coach Steve Sampson his job.

After Bruce Arena came aboard, things started looking up again. At the 2002 World Cup, Team USA upset Portugal, managed to make the second round, then shocked the world with a 2-0 win over Mexico. Only a controversial uncalled handball in a 1-0 loss to Germany kept the United States from a potential semifinal spot.

In 2002, Arena's job went the same way of Sampson's. The Americans were not nearly good enough, falling out after going 0-2-1 in the group stage.

A great run through the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup instilled hope that the United States was on the road back under coach Bob Bradley. But recent matches have shown a vulnerable defense and questionable depth.

That defense's key is Oguchi Onyewu, a big man who is coming off a major knee injury and looked shaky in a pre-tournament friendly loss to the Czech Republic. Jonathan Spector and Jay DeMerit are quality defenders, and Carlos Bocanegra has value on the wings as both a defender and attacker.

Two players make the offense go as much as anyone on the team. Midfielder Landon Donovan has played well as of late, and is looking to shake off a pretty dreadful performance in 2006. Forward Jozy Altidore can score as good as anyone, with six in qualifiers, and he's a dangerous offensive player.

Midfielders Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey will contribute offensively if they're in good form during the tournament. If they're not in good form, the Americans are in trouble, because they won't generate enough possession or creativity in the midfield to get by anyone of significance.

One thing to like about this team is their ability to have offensive balance. They're not all about Altidore, Donovan, Dempsey, or Bradley. The negative is that even one of these guys not playing well can throw the whole team for a loop. Coach Bradley needs them all to help keep the heat off his relatively shaky backline. That defense will sink this team at some point, but Bradley hopes it's later rather than sooner.

Schedule
June 12 vs. England (Rustenburg)
June 18 vs. Slovenia (Johannesburg -- Ellis Park)
June 23 vs. Algeria (Pretoria)

2010 FIFA World Cup: Uruguay

We preview the 2010 FIFA World Cup, set for June 11-July 11 in South Africa.

URUGUAY
Appearance: Tenth
Last time there: 2002, exited in first round
Best performance: Two-time champion (1930, 1950)

For the once-powerful side from South America, things haven't been as good in recent years. They endured a 12-year drought after a second-round exit in 1990. They haven't made even the quarterfinals since 1966.

Now, they're better known for their oft-surly play than anything that would lead to contention at a high level of international soccer.

In the end, Uruguay is not a serious contender in this tournament, but they're likely to leave a mark on it one way or another.

Players like Sebastian Abreu and Diego Forlan will help them score, even if it isn't at a high level. Luis Suarez also figures into the mix up front, as he and Forlan combined for 12 goals during qualifying.

They have plenty of toughness. Diego Lugano and Diego Perez are difficult players to get around in the back, and when you do, they often find a way to still involve themselves physically. It's a classic case of players capable of crossing the line with rough play, but they can be extremely effective if they're able to control their emotions.

Look out for Nicolas Lodeiro in the midfield. He's a bit older, but can still be quite dangerous trying to set up the strikers up front.

After a revolving door of sorts in qualifying, it looks like Uruguay have settled on Fernando Muslera to start in goal. It appears they'll be quite shaky there, as it was a real problem during CONMEBOL qualifying.

Schedule
June 11 vs. France (Cape Town)
June 16 vs. South Africa (Pretoria)
June 22 vs. Mexico (Rustenburg)

2010 FIFA World Cup: Switzerland

We preview the 2010 FIFA World Cup, set for June 11-July 11 in South Africa.

SWITZERLAND
Appearance: Ninth overall, second consecutive
Last time there: 2006, lost in second round
Best performance: Quarterfinals (1934, 1938, 1954)

Neutrality jokes aside, Switzerland is an underdog for many reasons. They simply don't have the firepower to consistently compete with top-level opponents. They proved that in Euro 2008, and they won a weak qualifying group to get to South Africa.

In that group, they managed a draw with Israel and a home loss to Luxemburg before they started to put things together.

Because they don't often qualify for the World Cup (this will be their third trip since 1966), Switzerland is a relative unknown internationally.

If you're looking for someone to lead the charge in a surprise run, look no further than goalkeeper Diego Benaglio. He's a regular for the Swiss, and he gives them a good chance to stay in their matches.

Unfortunately, they're not as strong on defense as many others. Philippe Senderos and Stephane Grichting are not as good in central defense as Benaglio needs them to be.

It's too bad, really, because strikers Alex Frei and Blaise Nkufo are an intriguing duo, and midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta can dazzle in the open field.

While they can score, it doesn't seem likely that Switzerland will get the defensive help needed to avoid being dominated in possession. It promises to be a tough road for the Swiss.

Schedule
June 16 vs. Spain (Durban)
June 21 vs. Chile (Port Elizabeth)
June 25 vs. Honduras (Bloemfontein)

2010 FIFA World Cup: Spain

We preview the 2010 FIFA World Cup, set for June 11-July 11 in South Africa.

SPAIN
Appearance: 13th overall, ninth consecutive
Last time there: 2006, lost in second round
Best performance: Quarterfinals (1934, 1986, 1994, 2002)

There isn't much not to like here. Spain won Euro 2008. They have won 33 of their last 34 competitive -- i.e. Euro 2008 qualifying and tournament, 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, World Cup qualifying, etc. -- matches.

In the qualifying stage for South Africa, Spain went 10-0, outscoring opponents 28-5. Only in their final match (a 5-2 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina) did they allow more than one goal. Half of the matches were won by more than one goal.

In short, Spain trampled their qualifying group.

They are likely to trample their World Cup group, too. Fernando Torres, David Villa, and Juan Mata combine to form a lethal front line. The midfield features uber-talented players like Xavi, David Silva, Xabi Alonso, Cesc Fabregas, and Andres Iniesta. The Spaniards are so good in the middle that Fabregas sometimes will come off the bench, and he's one of the most talented midfielders in the world.

Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol key the defense, which often leaves little for goalkeeper Iker Casillas to deal with.

Spain excels because of their ability to push the pace, but that doesn't mean they aren't effective when teams try to slow them down. Unlike a lot of fast, creative sides, Spain can adapt their style if necessary. It's quite rare for them to look out of their element or unprepared for an opponent.

With little to challenge them in the group stage, look for Spain to hit the ground running when knockout play begins.

Schedule
June 16 vs. Switzerland (Durban)
June 21 vs. Honduras (Johannesburg -- Ellis Park)
June 25 vs. Chile (Pretoria)

2010 FIFA World Cup: South Korea

We preview the 2010 FIFA World Cup, set for June 11-July 11 in South Africa.

SOUTH KOREA
Appearance: Eighth overall, seventh consecutive
Last time there: 2006, exited in first round
Best performance: Semifinals (2002)

Despite a tough qualifying draw, South Korea comes into this tournament with the confidence that comes with knowing they are capable of advancing.

Their run to the semifinals in 2002 was certainly fueled by playing at home, but you don't just advance to the World Cup semifinals because you're in your home country. If so, that 1994 Team USA squad would have managed.

The eighth finals for this nation -- a record for Asian countries -- could prove quite fruitful, but only if South Korea finds a way to involve their formidable midfield consistently.

The midfield is where their best players roam. Manchester United's Park Ji-Sung can score, but his dazzling playmaking ability is what has made him famous. Ki Sung-Yeung was the 2009 Asian Young Player of the Year. If that's not enough, youngster Lee Chung-Yong is deadly off the wings, and his crosses will create problems for opponents.

The midfielders will set up striker Park Chu-Young, who is probably the most important offensive player for South Korea. He's a goal-scorer, and he's a real threat off set pieces.

Veteran goalkeeper Lee Woon-Jae is nicknamed "Spiderhands," and he brings plenty of experience to the defense, as this is his fourth World Cup.

The inability of South Korea to put away lesser opponents shouldn't be a huge detriment in group play, as they'll be underdogs, in all likelihood, in at least two of their three matches. If they can continue to play at top form against strong opposition, they'll do just fine and give themselves a chance to advance.

Schedule
June 12 vs. Greece (Port Elizabeth)
June 17 vs. Argentina (Johannesburg -- Soccer City)
June 22 vs. Nigeria (Durban)

2010 FIFA World Cup: South Africa

We preview the 2010 FIFA World Cup, set for June 11-July 11 in South Africa.

SOUTH AFRICA
Appearance: Third
Last time there: 2002, exited in first round
Best performance: Has never advanced past first round

Never has a host failed to qualify for the knockout phase at the World Cup. We've had a number of "fringe" soccer nations host the event recently, with the United States in its relative soccer infancy in 1994, and then Japan/South Korea in 2002 (Japan was especially considered an underdog). All the hosts have at least made the second round, however.

This is probably the best shot in a while at a host not advancing.

While South Africa has worked hard to build to this moment, the reality is that they have yet to show they're ready. They didn't have to qualify for the World Cup, but still played qualifying matches in an unsuccessful effort to make the 2010 African Nationas Cup.

Preparations have included some big-time friendly matches, many of which have turned out poorly for the hosts. Their qualifying draw was virtually disastrous, as they were met with Mexico, France, and a side from Uruguay that is likely to make life difficult for all their opponents.

If South Africa can show up in good form, they might have a shot at an upset.

Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira is in his fifth World Cup. He won the event with Brazil in 1994. There is no question he brings the hosts the kind of confidence they'll need to advance.

Bafana Bafana ("The Boys") have two players who stand out on their roster. Steven Pienaar is the midfield playmaking wizard on the team. He will be the main setup man for the offense, along with Aaron Mokoena, who can help get things going from his defensive position. The other main player to watch is Siphiwe Tshabalala, an offensive-minded midfielder who is emerging as a top threat for this side.

With the home support they will have, South Africa certainly has a chance to maintain the streak of hosts advancing to the knockout phase. It will take at least one upset -- if not two -- to make that happen, but it's far from impossible.

Schedule
June 11 vs. Mexico (Johannesburg -- Soccer City)
June 16 vs. Uruguay (Pretoria)
June 22 vs. France (Bloemfontein)

2010 FIFA World Cup: Slovenia

We preview the 2010 FIFA World Cup, set for June 11-July 11 in South Africa.

SLOVENIA
Appearance: Second
Last time there: 2002, exited in first round
Best performance: Has never advanced past first round

Don't take this entry lightly. Slovenia may be a small nation (smallest of the 32 nations in the finals), but they have players, and they could be a factor in this World Cup.

Qualifying wasn't a breeze, as Slovenia finished second to Slovakia in their group, and they had to hold off Czech Republic and Northern Ireland to get in a playoff with Russia for a bid. Slovenia won that to advance to South Africa.

There are some guys on this roster who could cause trouble. Captain Robert Koren is the main playmaker in the midfield, while they will rely on Milivoje Novakovic's scoring touch to lead the way offensively.

Look out for defender Marko Suler at both ends of the field, as he is a strong defender who brings some ability on set pieces to the table. He could be extremely valuable in low-scoring matches.

If teams are able to establish possession, goalkeeper Samir Handanovic could be quite busy in group play. England and the United States will try to play a fast pace against Slovenia, and it will be up to them to dictate the style of play and make it something more compatible with their talent.

Where Slovenia could surprise is with their depth. Players like Mirnes Sicic and Darjan Matic will likely come off the bench, but they're formidable talents who can help Slovenia win.

If Slovenia can overcome a generally poor record in international play, they might surprise England and/or Team USA. It's unquestionably an uphill battle, however.

Schedule
June 13 vs. Algeria (Polokwane)
June 18 vs. United States (Johannesburg -- Ellis Park)
June 23 vs. England (Port Elizabeth)

2010 FIFA World Cup: Slovakia

We preview the 2010 FIFA World Cup, set for June 11-July 11 in South Africa.

SLOVAKIA
Appearance: First (nation known as Czechoslovakia appeared last in 1990)
Last time there: First appearance
Best performance: First appearance

For the first-timers from Europe, this is going to be an interesting tournament. They earned their spot, beating out the Czech Republic and Slovenia in their qualifying group.

In the finals, they're paired up with defending champion Italy and intriguing Paraguay, along with heavy underdog New Zealand. Nothing here is terribly daunting, and it's a group that could produce surprises.

Slovakia was consistent in qualifying, taking care of business at home, stealing points on the road, and beating the teams they should beat. They'll be in high form at their first finals, thanks to coach Vladimir Weiss and captain Pavol Hamsik, who is a top midfielder. Expect Hamsik to handle the ball a lot.

Vladimir Weiss, Jr., the coach's son, joins Hamsik in the midfield. He's a bit younger and can give the team some spunk.

The scoring will come primarily from Stanislav Sestak. The forward led Slovakia in goals during qualifying. He's the main guy to stop as you try to defend this team.

There are concerns about their depth, which was never really tested in qualifying because the main-line guys played so well and avoided injuries. If this depth comes into play during group matches, Slovakia could be toast.

Some analysts seem concerned about Slovakia's performance in friendlies. Frankly, it isn't very good, with losses to nations like Cyprus on the list and the record well under .500. What isn't clear is what you can make of this.

We'll see in South Africa.

Schedule
June 15 vs. New Zealand (Rustenburg)
June 20 vs. Paraguay (Bloemfontein)
June 24 vs. Italy (Johannesburg -- Ellis Park)

2010 FIFA World Cup: Serbia

We preview the 2010 FIFA World Cup, set for June 11-July 11 in South Africa

SERBIA
Apperance: First (was Serbia-Montenegro in 2006)
Last time there: First appearance
Best performance: First appearance

Known as Serbia-Montenegro since their separation from Yugoslavia, this is Serbia's first dance as a single entity.

The Serbs qualified out of their UEFA group by besting France, among others, even though Serbia failed to beat France in either of their head-to-head meetings. They went 7-1 for 21 of their 22 points against the other four teams (Austria, Lithuania, Romania, and Faroe Islands), while France only mustered a 5-1-2 mark against those four teams for 17 points.

Serbia will be dangerous because of their back line. They are a good defensive club that has some creativity up front. Nemanja Vidic of Manchester United is the ringleader of the defense. Vidic is a very aggressive player who is capable of crossing the line if he's not careful (he was sent off during a 2006 World Cup match). Branislav Ivanovic is another tough defender for Serbia. Vidic and Ivanovic will gladly set aside their Premier League rivalry for the sake of country -- Ivanovic plays for Premier League and FA Cup champion Chelsea.

In the midfield, Serbia has talent and grit, too. Dejan Stankovic can play as an attacking or defending midfielder, and Milos Krasic is dangerous on offense.

This draw isn't awfully daunting. This isn't a "Group of Death" or anything, though Germany will be troublesome, and Ghana can really attack. Serbia will make things tough on opponents, and they have a decent chance of advancing.

Schedule
June 13 vs. Ghana (Pretoria)
June 18 vs. Germany (Port Elizabeth)
June 23 vs. Australia (Nelspruit)

2010 FIFA World Cup: Portugal

We preview the 2010 FIFA World Cup, set for June 11-July 11 in South Africa.

PORTUGAL
Appearance: Fifth overall, third consecutive
Last time there: 2006, lost in semifinals
Best performance: Semi-finals (1966 and 2006)

The talent is mesmerizing. So why is everyone overlooking Portugal?

Look at this team, and you see great talents like Cristiano Ronaldo, Simao, Liedson, Deco, and Bruno Alves. But where are the results?

They've only advanced beyond the group stage in two World Cups. One of them was 44 years ago. They barely qualified for South Africa, stumbling through their UEFA group and needing a playoff win against Bosnia-Herzegovina just to make it.

Now that they're in South Africa, what should we expect out of Portugal? There is nothing easy about their draw, other than the match with North Korea, which should be a cakewalk. Ivory Coast and Brazil join Portugal in the group, and one of them won't move on.

For Portugal to avoid being "that guy," they're going to need three consistent performances. It's something they're capable of, but haven't always done.

They have a good goalkeeper in Eduardo. Ronaldo might be the best player in the world (Lionel Messi has a stake to this claim, too). Deco and Simao are elite players, and they get plenty of defense from Alves and Duda.

Problem: There is little depth, and there is little reason to think Portugal will perform at their peak as long as they're alive in the tournament.

Then again, we've seen it in other sports, most recently in the NHL. Sometimes, the talented team that barely qualifies for the tournament ends up being very dangerous when they get there. It's a short tournament, and anything can happen, including this very good and entertaining team getting hot at the right time.

Schedule
June 15 vs. Ivory Coast (Port Elizabeth)
June 21 vs. North Korea (Cape Town)
June 25 vs. Brazil (Durban)

2010 FIFA World Cup: Paraguay

We preview the 2010 FIFA World Cup, set for June 11-July 11 in South Africa

PARAGUAY
Appearance: Eighth overall, fourth consecutive
Last time there: 2006, exited in first round
Best performance: Second round (1986, 1998, 2002)

Defense. Defense. Defense.

Simply put, this is Paraguay's mission when they take the field.

In 18 CONMEBOL (South America) qualifying matches, Paraguay conceded merely 16 goals, ranking them second in the region in that category (only favored Brazil was better).

Because of their ability defensively, Paraguay has to be considered a dangerous side in this tournament. Given that talent, they have quite the favorable draw.

Coach Gerardo Martino knows how to coach this defensive style, and he also has plenty of ammunition to use to movivate his team.

After all, Paraguay is perfectly capable of being the top squad from South America in this tournament. They've beaten Brazil and Argentina, who get all the love from the media when talk turns to South American sides.

What worries people is their inconsistency. Yes, they have beaten the "big two" from their continent, but they've also lost matches they shouldn't have, including to Colombia at home when they could have clinched second place in their group.

Goalkeeper Justo Villar was injured early in the 2006 finals, failing to even complete one match there. Villar is a good set pieces threat, and he's also very solid in goal. Dario Veron, Julio Cesar Caceres, Paulo Da Silva, and Denis Caniza are the main cogs defensively, with Da Silva's name being familiar to European fans because of his play with Sunderland of the Barclays Premier League.

When Paraguay manages to create scoring chances, they need Nelson Valdez and Roque Santa Cruz to finish. Both play club ball in Europe, and both are capable offensive threats on a team that largely lacks them.

If Paraguay can figure out a way to draw with or edge out Italy, they could win the group. They're a heavy favorite to move on, as neither New Zealand nor Slovakia are regarded as threats to advance.

Schedule
June 14 vs. Italy (Cape Town)
June 20 vs. Slovakia (Bloemfontein)
June 24 vs. New Zealand (Polokwane)

U.S. Men's National Team World Cup Roster Announced

After a Tuesday night friendly loss to Czech Republic in Hartford, Conn., the United States moved to set their 23-man roster for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which begins June 11.

The Americans are placed in Group B for the tournament, and their first match is June 12 against group favorite England.

We'll have a preview of Team USA coming up before the tournament, but here is the roster, announced Wednesday on ESPN by head coach Bob Bradley.

Goalkeepers: Tim Howard, Marcus Hahnemann, Brad Guzan.

Defenders: Carlos Boncanegra, Jonathan Bornstein, Charles Cherundolo, Jay DeMerit, Clarence Goodson, Oguchi Oneywu, Jonathan Spector.

Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley, Michael Bradley, Ricardo Clark, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Maurice Edu, Benny Feilhaber, Stuart Holden, Jose Torres.

Forwards: Jozy Altidore, Edson Buddle, Robbie Findley, Herculez Gomez.

At first glance, it appears the inclusion of Findley over Brian Ching is the only major surprise. The front-line players are all there, including Oneywu, who was injured a few months ago and is obviously still recovering. He looked a tad rusty against the Czechs, and I would expect we'll see him in the friendly Sunday against Turkey that will mark the Americans' final match before leaving for South Africa.

Donovan didn't play Tuesday, but I'd expect we'll see him Sunday. While the Czech result was disappointing, we played a lot of the fringe roster candidates, and it's clear Bradley (Bob, that is, not son Michael, a midfielder on the team) wanted to get one last look at some guys before making a final decision.

Talented Charlie Davies was already ruled out for the team, still recovering from injuries suffered in a car accident last year.

The Americans will play Australia in a tune-up match June 5 in South Africa before the tournament opens the following weekend.

2010 FIFA World Cup: North Korea

We preview the 2010 FIFA World Cup, set for June 11-July 11 in South Africa.

NORTH KOREA
Appearance: Second
Last time there: 1966, lost in quarterfinals
Best performance: Quarterfinals (1966)

The enthusiasm is high for this North Korea team. Coach Kim Jong-Hun is probably one of the nation's most popular people, as he led them to their first World cup since 1966. That 44-year drought is the longest among the nations in this year's finals who have been there before.

This team, however, will be hard-pressed to duplicate anything remotely resembling the success of the 1966 team that fell to Portugal in the quarterfinals.

For starters, North Korea were drawn into an impossible group. Many have labeled Group G the "Group of Death" this year, even though there are only three strong teams. Brazil, Portugal, and Ivory Coast are all heavy favorites against North Korea, who would probably do well to score a goal and pull a point out of their three matches.

Their defensive style might keep scores down, but it doesn't lead to a lot of chances the other way, either. The lack of talent will be exposed in each match.

To stay in games, they need goalkeeper Ri Myong-Guk to be at his best. At only 23 years old, he's got a bright future, but getting this team past the preliminary round would rank as one of the greatest achievements imaginable. Jon Tae-Se and Hong Yong-Jo will lead the attack.

Expect North Korea to play a 5-3-2 formation, try to pack in tightly around Myong-Guk, and see what happens. It's not likely to be pretty, as such a formation and the talent gap leave North Korea vulnerable to anyone who can control possession and create in the midfield.

Schedule
June 15 vs. Brazil (Johannesburg -- Ellis Park)
June 21 vs. Portugal (Cape Town)
June 25 vs. Ivory Coast (Nelspruit)

2010 FIFA World Cup: Nigeria

We preview the 2010 FIFA World Cup, set for June 11-July 11 in South Africa.

NIGERIA
Appearance: Fourth
Last time there: 2002, exited in first round
Best performance: Lost in second round (1994 and 1998)

Fact: Nigeria, at over 100 million people, is the most populated nation in Africa.

You'd think they'd be a little better at soccer, but they have never really done much with that mass of potential athletes they have available.

After missing out in 2006, Nigeria qualified for this year's tournament amid plenty of adversity. A Tunisian loss to Mozambique clinched the Nigerians' trip to South Africa, but they weren't done dealing with controversy.

Coach Shaibu Amodu was fired after a third-place finish in the 2010 African Nations Cup. Swede Lars Lagerback was brought in with just a couple months to go until the finals, with hopes of stabilizing things and providing Nigeria with a chance to advance out of a top-heavy Group B.

On the field, there is talent, but Nigeria is not the stereotypical African nation. They don't mind playing a fast pace, but their game is more of a slowdown style. They don't take a lot of chances, and they lack the creativity teams like Cameroon and Ghana have. This isn't a bad thing, because if Obafemi Martins and Yakubu Aiyegbeni are at their best, this will be a tough team to beat, even if they're not scoring a ton of goals.

In the midfield, veteran Peter Odemwingie is a top-notch player capable of making huge plays, and he is a real leader on this team.

Schedule
June 12 vs. Argentina (Johannesburg -- Ellis Park)
June 17 vs. Greece (Bloemfontein)
June 22 vs. South Korea (Durban)

2010 FIFA World Cup: New Zealand

We preview the 2010 FIFA World Cup, set for June 11-July 11 in South Africa.

NEW ZEALAND
Appearance: Second overall
Last time there: 1982, exited in first round
Best performance: Has never advanced past first round

No one benefited more from the World Cup qualifying draw than New Zealand. Instead of being in the same region as neighboring Australia, New Zealand drew into a group with Fiji, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu, with the winner moving into a playoff with the team out of an Asian region.

New Zealand and Bahrain ended up paired off for a finals berth, and New Zealand forced a road draw before winning the return match 1-0 to advance.

It's just a wonderful thing for the Kiwis and their soccer program. This isn't, however, going to end well.

There is some talent to work with for coach Ricki Herbert. Forward Shane Smeltz can score, captain Ryan Nelson and Ben Sigmund work hard on defense, and veteran Simon Elliott is an okay midfielder. Herbert benefits from the fact that his team is probably the biggest underdog in the tournament, even moreso than first-time entrant Slovakia, who is also in Group F. The Kiwis will be underdogs, playing with no expectations, and they'll be well-acclimated to the climate, given New Zealand's location in the Southern Hemisphere.

The problem is that there just isn't any top-notch skill available, and there is virtually no depth. Even given a somewhat favorable draw outside of group favorite Italy, New Zealand figures to be a quick and painless exit from the finals.

Schedule
June 15 vs. Slovakia (Rustenburg)
June 20 vs. Italy (Nelspruit)
June 24 vs. Paraguay (Polokwane)

2010 FIFA World Cup: Mexico

We preview the 2010 FIFA World Cup, set for June 11-July 11 in South Africa.

MEXICO
Appearance: 14th overall, fifth consecutive
Last time there: 2006, lost in second round
Best performance: Quarterfinals (1970 and 1986)

For Los Tricolores, the World Cup has always ended in disappointing fashion. The only two quarterfinal qualifications came when they hosted the event. Despite a perpetually talented squad, they haven't made it past the second round since 1986.

Mexico is determined to rewrite their World Cup history this year, and the CONCACAF runner-up might have a good shot.

Javier Aguirre took over as head coach during qualifying, after Sven-Goran Eriksson lost six of the 13 games he coached Mexico in. Aguirre immediately righted a sinking qualifying ship, leading the team to a rather easy time through the rest of qualifying.

He has a very good team to bring with him to South Africa. Veteran forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco is a leader, even though -- at 36 -- he isn't the player he used to be. Aguirre is smart enough to lean on Blanco's experience, and there's no doubt the man can still put the ball in the net.

Ricardo Osono is a strong defender who rarely panics in any situation. Carlos Vela and Giovani dos Santos are more-than-capable offensive players. Midfielder Andres Guardado lacks size, but he is a strong-willed playmaker who can make the middle go for Mexico.

Los Tricolores couldn't have asked for a worse draw. Put in Group A means they have to deal with host South Africa, and they get that match for the tournament opener. It's a deadly setup, as Soccer City is going to be rocking in anticipation of the first World Cup match ever in Africa.

Should Mexico get three points out of that match, they're virtually a lock to advance. Uruguay could be some trouble, but Mexico is good enough to beat them and France to go through as Group A winner.

Schedule
June 11 vs. South Africa (Johannesburg -- Soccer City)
June 17 vs. France (Polokwane)
June 22 vs. Uruguay (Rustenburg)

2010 FIFA World Cup: Japan

We preview the 2010 FIFA World Cup, set for June 11-July 11 in South Africa.

JAPAN
Appearance: Fourth overall, fourth consecutive
Last time there: 2006, exited in first round
Best performance: Second round (2002)

For a country that didn't make a World Cup until 1998, the Japanese sure have built a nice program.

In that short time, they have blossomed into one of the top teams in Asia, and they proved it again by being the first nation to qualify for the World Cup this time around.

Of course, it's Asia, so it's not like Japan has to go through Croatia or Sweden to qualify. They get to play Bahrain and Australia, which is hardly a Murderers' Row of soccer teams.

2006 was considered a step back. As co-host in 2002, Japan kept alive the streak of host nations advancing past the first round. They were expected to match or exceed that four years ago, but failed. Now, they are trying to figure out how to get back.

It starts with 2009 Asia Player of the Year Yasuhito Endo, who can play as an attacking midfielder, but is also effective as a defender. Endo is the leader, and his playmaking touch is the key to this team's success. He has to set up Shinji Okazaki, the top striker on the squad.

There is a bit of a gap between the veteran players and the young core in Japan. This year should help bridge that gap, as there is a good chunk of young talent ready to emerge beyond 2010. Asking them to play well in the World Cup this time around is probably asking too much, especially when none of Japan's better young players have been able to hold a gig with a top club team yet.

If Japan is to surprise, they did get a favorable draw to make it happen. Cameroon and Denmark are not unbeatable, even though the Japanese will likely be underdogs in both matches. A finish second to Holland in Group E is not out of the question, but it is also not expected.

Schedule
June 14 vs. Cameroon (Bloemfontein)
June 19 vs. Holland (Durban)
June 24 vs. Denmark (Rustenburg)