USA in World Cup Semis? It Can Happen!

US celebrates win over Algeria as they watch
a replay of Donovan's game winning goal.

Just like we all remember watching that disallowed goal against Slovenia, we all will also remember Landon Donovan putting the ball squarely in the left hand side of the net against Algeria in stoppage time. But there is a huge light at the end of that tunnel.

It's the semi-finals at the World Cup, and maybe even more.

I realize that there's the other qualifying matches today, but look at the quarter in the round of 16 in which the US has luckily made its residence. Here's the four teams and their FIFA ranking before the tournament:

1. Paraguay (winner of Group A, FIFA rank: 16)
2. South Korea (2nd in Group B, FIFA rank: 47)
3. USA (winner Group C, FIFA rank: 14)
4. Ghana (2nd in Group D, FIFA rank: 32)

Notice something? The USA is the highest ranked team in this section. I know rankings isn't a definite science, but the path clear to the semis couldn't be much easier for the United States. Paraguay will play South Korea and the US plays Ghana beginning the round of 16 and the knockout phase. If the US beats Ghana (and they are fully capable of doing that), next would be the Paraguay-South Korea winner.

I'll take a red one, please.

The Ghana match won't be that easy. Ghana represents Africa's best chance to have a nation on its continent to advance. The stadium in Rustenburg will be substantially in Ghana's favor. You know what that means? Vuvuzelas all around. Plus, Ghana did knock the US out of 2006 World Cup after beating them in the group stage. A revenge factor for the US might exist, but they must contain that emotion for 90+ minutes.

A couple of keys for tomorrow's game. USA's coach Bob Bradley must find that right combination on the back line. Ghana is as quick as any team at the World Cup. Also, This Ghana team may not be highly regarded, but they have an under-21 championship under their belt. They have played as a team on the international stage and won. Sure they're young, but experienced, too.

Once in the semis, the road develops into something a bit tougher. In the quarter that plays the US quarter winner are a couple of world powers in soccer. Not an easy quarter especially with the inclusion of the either Brazil or Portugal.

1. Netherlands (winner of Group E, FIFA rank: 4)
2. Slovakia (2nd in Group F, FIFA rank: 34)
3. Group G winner (winner of Brazil, FIFA rank: 1 and Portugal, FIFA rank: 3)
4. 2nd place in Group H (Switzerland - 24, Chile - 18, Spain - 2)

Again, we've seen so far in this World Cup that rankings don't mean squat. Ask France (9th) and Italy (5th). The teams that were in the final in 2006 have already been sent packing...to country's that are not happy with their performances. There's also a realistic possibility that Spain (2nd) doesn't advance if they lose to Chile today. Paraguay won group F (the same group that housed Italy) with a ranking of 31st. From today's matches, the highest ranked team most likely to advance is Switzerland at 24th.

There may be some across the globe that think I'm blowing smoke. Maybe.

But where there's smoke, there's fire.