I have the "over 12.5" for how many times "the group of death" is said today. Soccer cracks me up. These nations live and die by this stuff. It is about maybe 8th in popularity here and a very distant from the top ones. Its as if the US just throws a team together and still competes. What was it 2 world cups ago where Italy one yet in group play, the US tied them.
Yeah, a regular contender. Impressive how that nation of more than 300million ppl including lots of immigrants from soccer-fanatic countries like Mexico just throws together a team every 4 years and contends for the title vs nations like the Netherlands (country with ˜16mio. ppl).
1990: dead last in their group
1994: @US, homefield advantage, still only advanced to knockout stage after 3rd place finish in their group, eliminated in their 1st knockout match
1998: dead last in their group
2002: quarter finals
2006: dead last in their group (tied vs. Italy, yeah)
2010: round of last 16
