All Else Confusion

The World Cup begins today!

I grew up playing soccer, but that wasn't what made me a World Cup fan. I became a fan when I lived in Holland during the 1998 World Cup in France. The Oranje made it to the quarterfinals, and I've never seen such excitment overtake an entire country. It was like New England when the Red Sox make it to the World Series, only for the whole country. Oranje fans are some of the craziest out there. And, they're very easy to spot!

Of course, I'll be rooting for the USA in the next month. They're in the "Group of Death" for the first round, a group that includes the Czech Republic, Italy, and Ghana. Just making out of that group will be a success for American Soccer. Still, the US team has developed since 2002 and certainly since their last place finish in 1998. And they still have a chance to win. At lease their coach believes they do.

Which is why, after admitting that if the Czechs and the Italians play their best possible games, "chances are they'll beat us," Arena then declares, "But I'm here to tell you they are not going to play their best possible game against us. So we have a chance."

So, I'll be watching:

WORLD CUP - GROUP E FIXTURES
• 12 June: USA v Czech Republic
• 17 June: Italy v USA
• 22 June: Ghana v Italy

And, I just might sneek a peak at Oranje.