World Cup Draw: USMNT gets England

Well, that couldn't have gone much better. Yes, after weeks of countless scenario permutations and doomsday predictions, USMNT fans are pretty happy today after the draw gave them a very manageable group. While England, Algeria, and Slovenia each will certainly provide different tests, Bob Bradley and his staff will be glad that France, Portugal, Ghana, and the Ivory Coast were not pulled for Group C. The favorable draw, coupled with the promising recoveries of several injured players, has allowed some optimism to creep in to a frequently pessimistic USMNT fanbase.

There are plenty of notable features of the eight groups. In Group A, France has found themselves very fortunate once more, as they were drawn into South Africa's group. Those looking for justice to be served after the Thierry Henry fiasco will be disappointed that Les Bleus did not find themselves in the Group of Death. Instead, they will face off against the hosts, Mexico, and a Uruguay side that is probably the weakest out of South America. USMNT fans, meanwhile, will be annoyed to see that Mexico has drawn another favorable group after drawing Portugal, Iran, and Angola in 2006.

Brazil will have their work cut out for them if they'd like to win their record sixth World Cup title. Dunga and company will be in this tournament's Group of Death, joined by Portugal and a very dangerous Ivory Coast team (with North Korea rounding out the four, and likely doing little else). In 18 World Cup appearances, Brazil has only failed to advance from the group stage twice, in 1930 and 1966 (they also were eliminated in the first round of the 1934 World Cup, which did not feature group play), so it would be quite a rare occurrence if A Seleção cannot secure a top two finish in Group G.

And of course, there is a big matchup to kick off Group C. The USMNT will face off against England in the group's marquee matchup on June 12. The match will take place in Rustenberg, which fans will fondly remember as the venue for the USMNT's improbable 3-0 victory over Egypt in last summer's Confederations Cup. The game could also see LA Galaxy teammates (and lightning rods of mid-season MLS controversy) Landon Donovan and David Beckham square off on the outside midfield. American fans will relish the opportunity to knock England down a peg, and we will undoubtedly see our fair share of Revolutionary War allusions in the coming months. While the USMNT will be the underdog in this game, they are definitely capable of pulling off at least a draw, and even a win. For better or for worse, Bob Bradley's squad has shown a tendency to play to the level of their opponent, so expect the Yanks to give Fabio Capello's side a run for their money in the opener.

USSD will delve deeper into group analysis in the coming days/weeks/months, but that's it for now. Tonight, I'll take my first crack at a full prediction of the 2010 World Cup. Though we've still got six months until June, it's never to soon to start playing the prediction game, as anticipation continues to build ahead of South Africa.