Did anyone expect Team USA to go this far in South Africa World Cup 2010? Is it realistic to expect them to play in the semi-final?

I think most US soccer fans certainly expected the team to advance out of the group stage. The US has had some good showings lately (including a trip to the finals of the Confed Cup last year) and most rankings (including FIFA’s which had England as #8, The US as #14, Slovenia as #25 and Algeria as #30) had the US as the second ranked team in the group. Still, while the US was probably expected to advance, I think the play of the US has been stronger than many anticipated (you could argue that they should have finished with 2 wins in the group and they certainly looked better than their last two opponents.

The team has shown that they can play with most of the teams and they have a reasonable chance at the round of 8. I think the semis are a stretch, but definitely not out of the realm of possibility. Here’s hoping they can pull it off.

I fully expected them to come through the group, even as the results didn't go there way! As they managed to avoid coming second in the group they have a much easier route to the semi-finals - had they come second, they would have had to face Germany and then probably Argentina, Spain and ultimately Brazil. Having said that, once you get to the knock-out stage there is no easy game - Ghana are no pushovers and the US team will have to play really well to go through!

The one thing that the USA have, that no other team has really displayed as much is heart and determination - not once during the tournament have they given up, even when the soccer gods seemed to be against them (two dissalowed goals). It's this determination and ability to never give up depsite the odds that gives them a chance of progressing far - Semi Finals? Maybe not, there are some tough challenges ahead, but if they continue to play with the same courage and same never say die attitude then they have a chance.

I thought Team USA had a good chance to make it to the top 16. I wrote on article on Team USA. There is a link to it on my home page for anyone that wants to read it.

I do believe Team USA will defeat Ghana, who they face in the next round. They will make it to the top eight, where they will lose, most likely to Germany. I hope they win it all, however.

That would be great!

No. It was not expected. Miraculously USA team is in the top position of the group and qualify to play in the Semi-final.

Wait for another miraculous.

I expected it, yes. And I think its perfectly realistic to expect them in the semi's.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.