So I'm on the cellphone this time with an ex-international manager who shall remain nameless. He tells me the US can't cut it and this group decided itself long ago: Germany (surprise, surprise) and Yugoslavia - no contest. What a load of poppycock. If anybody knows what poppycock looks like, feel free to enlighten me. But this definitely felt and smelt like poppycock. The trouble was, I'm paying for the cell call so I don't really feel like dragging on a conversation with someone who will not be converted at the end of it all. So I says, "Yeah, well, just read this week's column to find out how I feel." Strong words indeed. I didn't get where I am today mincing my words. Incredibly, he says, "OK, I'll do that and if I don't like what you say, you're going to hear from me." "Fine," says I, only hoping for an e-mail after more than 10 articles.
The undeniable truth is that every Group will be difficult. No matter how superior your ranking is, how much history and tradition is on your side, how much more experienced your team is, the game lasts 90 minutes and it is during this time and only during this time that the triumphant result must be achieved. It makes no difference how much more superior your players are supposed to be, unexpected and "funny" results can and will happen. Think about it. Why else bother to play the game? This Group is "set up" for funny results.
Iran did not win any of its last six qualifying matches and most are predicting a continuation of this trend during round one games in France. Obviously, any victory for them could be deemed a "funny" result. But then, the USA versus Iran is surely a "funny" game to begin with. Whether we like it or not, millions of normally rational thinking people will view this "game" as a dilatation of a tragic war and somehow apportion deeper meaning to the result. Let us just hope for soccer to come out the winner of this contest within a contest.
