Trying to take the whole month of June off

I'm gearing up for the World Cup again. The draw was held today, and the US got summarily screwed. Thirty two teams are put into 8 groups, and play round robin style. The top two teams from each group advanced to the knockout stage. The US got a reasonably favorable draw in Korea/Japan 2002, ultimately advancing to the final eight before losing to eventual runners up Germany, but that wasn't the case this year.

Our seeded team (and we were unlucky to not be seeded in favor of Mexico, but that's another story for another time - one I won't write) is Italy. The Italians are always tough, if dour, uninspired and boring. The other European team we'll face is the Czech Republic. I'm more worried about them than the Italians. They're technically sound, but they possess an attacking flair that is hard to come by in a European squad. They're our opening opponents, and will be very tough. Our final matchup is against Ghana, probably the best African side that qualified.

It's a sign of how far the US has come as a soccer nation when we get to be in the Group of Death.