David West is right. We Americans are not afficianados of kickball/football. It's largely played in the US by sons of 1960s Flower Power women who think American football is too violent. The US does well in world football largely due to the size of its population. World football barely supports a league in America; in Washington DC, most of the crowd at a football match is Hispanic, many of whom are here illegally.

By the way, I enjoyed playing both world and American football growing up. World football lost me, however, when the World Cup was decided by a penalty kick off a few years back. Very impure. Now that the National Hockey League has adopted the same penalty shot concept, I will drop that sport as well.

Notice how I not once made any comment about how great *I* think the US team is....my beef was that we don't "get" football (which I interpret as "appreciate").

Not all Americans who appreciate football think that the US team is #1. I much prefer watching a Champions League game than I do an MLS game. I have no prediction of who will win the World Cup -- it will be whoever plays the best...regardless of what FIFA or CONCACAF ratings say.

But I do love me a good football match...

It will be Brazil, Argentina or England. Although, of course, ze Germanz, could always win a penalty shoot out!

Like other posters, I think you may find accomodation difficult at this stage, although as the draw for where each country is playing has not yet been made (somehere around the 14th of this month)
you may still be in with a chance.

Unlike David, I think the US has come on greatly in footballing terms. The team is very fit, and play to their strengths - I think they may make the last 16 or even the quarter finals in Germany.

England win - I think he has been watching Spurs too much, and it has addled his brain!

But this week, because of an Aerican-Croat businessman, and the saga of a cheery cockney barrow boy, I hate football.

some of us wonder why soccer is the game played by more people than any other game. It is because it is so boring to WATCH it!

similarly , it is watched by more people than any other sport - an audiance for the world cup final will probably be over a billion. I suppose it is what you are brought up with. I find American football immensely boring - moments of interest mixed with hours of boredom.

I do know why so many people play soccer - because any physical type can play it. There have been great players who were 5 foot, great players who have been over 6'5.

Willit. I would point oput that the mighty spurs thrashed Sunderland yesterday. Thrashed 'em 3-2 so we did.

As to the pantomime on the south coast - it gets better. Wupert wants Hoddle back.

In any case we have Pompey on Monday next and will beat them like a ginger step-child.

I think that in general people like the sports they were brought up with. I can't abide any Americans "sports" because I have never played them or followed them since childhood.

The draw is at approximately 3PM EST on 120905. There is still a fairly good selection on hotels.de but I wouldn't wait until Friday since you know where and when your game is.

Perhaps us ignorant American buffoons would find the World Cup a lot more interesting if they were to play the games on the Autobahn. :-)

I'm going to try this again!

As I recall...the US finished well above the Brits in the last World Cup...so what does that say about the relative strentgh of the two countries.

And as I recall...the US is currently ranked 8th in the world...not bad for a country whose citizens consider soccer a sissy sport!

While the Brits do indeed have the best professional football in the world in the EPL...that is primarily because the EPL has so many non Brit players.

Now as to where the Brits and the US finish in this coiming cup depends upon the draw.

And quite frankly I see limited success for the Brits as long as Sven is the coach.

I do like Michael Owen...he is a great player on the pitch and a gentleman off of it!

And David..as to beer..are you speaking of Ale or Lager...I'm sure you know there is a difference.

And if you're talking either...the Czechs are the best at one and the Scots the other..so where exactly does that put the Brits...btw..you need to come to Texas and have some Shinerbock..it will open your eyes to great beer!

It's worse than I thought - it's like overhearing your dog discussing quantum mechanics with a mule.

I explained why the USA has this ludicrously high ranking. It's because the formula favours them. It's not a reflection of the real world, in which they would be lucky to be top 30.

Incidentally the quickest way to turn off non-English supporters is to refer to England as "the brits". They get extremely miffed about it. So miffed that in fact the Scottish FA are refusing to provide any players to the one-off UK team in the 2012 Olympics.

As for the draw - don't get me started. Because of the ranking (see above) the USA are going to be seeded, whereas Holland probably won't. Are you really telling me that Demarcus ("Demarcus" FFS!) Landon (ditto) et al are better than robben, Van Nistlehorse, Kuyt, Davids etc? England will also be seeded, but there is at least some reality in this.

There are no English Players in the epl? All the England team except for Beckham (and there's a subject you REALLY don't want to get me started on!) are playing domestically. Are there any yanks in the EPL? No. The only ones who have got anywhere are a couple of goalies, and the mere thought of Kasey ("Kasey" FFS!) Keller brings me out in spots.

So in short: The Americans are grossly over ranked because of a flaw in the ranking system. That means that they get a favourable draw in the WC itself. They get knocked out by the first half decent team they meet, but they think they've done well. Their players are playing top-flight football anywhere of note, and the MSL is a joke. Other than that, they're jolly good.

For what it's worth, I'm quite glad that America is insular in sport. Because with their commercial clout they would change anything they got involved in, and not for the better I suspect.

I share the reservations about Sven - he looks like Monty Burns and is too cautious (but he is a hell of a bird bandit!).

The Scots are best at beer? Have you been on the purple tin? Name one decent Scottish beer. Go on, name just one. (I'll give you a clue - Scottish beer is pish)

Quote "As I recall...the US finished well above the Brits in the last World Cup...so what does that say about the relative strentgh of the two countries."

In actual fact, both USA & England (NOT Brits, EVER!) exited at the same point in the competition (1/4 finals), with USA having won 2, lost 2 & drawn 1,(total points if in a league situation = 7) and England having won 2, lost 1 and drawn 2 (total points = 8) Nuff said!
And, no, I'm not getting into who's better, as the qualifying groups are totally different, and anyway, my lot (Scotland) have only just rediscovered what it means to win a game, and haven't qualified for years. Have to agree with David, though, on the very silly "ranking" system.

ttt

and England went out to a fluke goal from Ronaldino, playing fro Brazil - the Eventual Winners.

I believe Mcbride, the Foolem striker, is American.

And Sven , despite thr press reports, has an excellent record in gamers that actually count - losing only to the World Champions, the European Champions, and errrrrrr Norn Iron. (Penalties don't count)

As this is now welll away from any meaningful travel, I should stop here, except for a quote from the BBC:
"The two clubs need to discus potential compensation, but Mr Lowe is unavailable on monday as he is duck hunting"

Well if you do not want to be called Brits then what do you prefer?

Now to the important items.

1. The US did indeed make it to the final 8 in the last World Cup and the Brits did not! And there was indeed a good possibility that the refs missed a hand ball in the box against Germany.

2. The US IS ranked # 8 in the world and will be seeded in the World Cup...sorry but thats just the way it is.

3. The EPL is indeed the best club soccer in the world and yes Owen, Terry and Lampard are magnificent players but the EPL is great because so many foreigners are on the teams.

4. Casey Keller is indeed a fine keeper...last time I looked he was ranked #1 in the Bundesliga.

Now for a fine Scottish beer...I'd suggest Tenants Lager and you might find Belhaven Ale to be outstanding as well. I cannot discount Samuel Smiths Oatmeal Stout and other fine brews that they produce. But to say that in the US we know nothing of beer is just not true.

BTW...the best beer I drank in England was Stella Artois and thats Belgian.

And one more point...yes there are Yankks in the EPL..do you not follow the EPL?


Brian McBride Striker Fulham

Carlos Bocanegra Full back Fulham

Claudio Reyna Midfield Man City

Brad Friedel Keeper Blackburn

We are brits - but we are also english, scottish etc. That's also the teams - there is no British football side - and apart from the olympics in 2012 there never will be.

The USA isn't going to be seeded for the WC - that's my mistake. Even FIFA couldn't do that with a straight face. So it's the "group of death" for you I'm afraid.

I have direct experience of Mr Keller's goalkeeping abilities - as I said the mere mention of his name brings me out in spots. Thankfully we now have Paul Robinson and all is right with the world.

Brian McBride couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo.

Tenant's lager? You were doing so well too.....

Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted - An excellent Scottish beer, and with a name that perfectly reflects my attitude to football at the moment.

USA 1 England 2 in the summer.

David:

Anyone who thinks Scotch beers are good clearly lacks taste or has struck bloody lucky. And if that person thinks Tennants (which is probably the beer you're both squabbling about. Tenants are a variety of landlord) is distinguishable from coyote piss, they're pretty well certain to have been born with a tastbud deficiency.

But there ARE decent Scotch beers: Bellhaven, McEwans 80/- and a reasonable smattering of indie ales. You're certainly lot more likely to meet mass-produced junk in Scotland than in a civilised country. But it's not all they make.

You're also out of order on American beer. I was simply gobsmacked during a three-week drive down the West Coast this summer by the near-ubiquity of decent beer. Las Vegas apart, every single place we ate supper had a drinkable - often surprisingly local - beer, almost always on draught.

Admittedly it wasn't always kept brilliantly, waitstaff often got confused and everyone else seemed to be drinking the coloured fizzy water they pass off as beer. Just like most London boozers, in other words. But decent beer was there if you looked. Which isn't always the case here.