Question about the US National team

[AmericanJames]

Does anybody know why we are playing less games in the run up to the World Cup this time around than we did in 06?
In 06 we played 10 games between January and the Czech game, this year we are only playing 6. Also do you think this will help or hurt our chances?

[HatterDon]

we played a lot of matches to acclimatize ourselves to Europe -- i.e. to learn how to play on that continent without both hands gripping our throats. There isn't really any country in Africa much like South Africa, and we have learned that we can win there. Ask Italy. Ask Spain.

[Tom]

Does anybody know why we are playing less games in the run up to the World Cup this time around than we did in 06?
In 06 we played 10 games between January and the Czech game, this year we are only playing 6. Also do you think this will help or hurt our chances?

I can tell you one thing, we have played better quality teams this time around. Great 3-1 win over Australia today. Should have been 4-1. Findley got around Mark and missed a wide open goal. Great warm up game before playing England next Saturday. Buddle scored 2 goals with Gomez getting the other.

[HatterDon]

Does anybody know why we are playing less games in the run up to the World Cup this time around than we did in 06?
In 06 we played 10 games between January and the Czech game, this year we are only playing 6. Also do you think this will help or hurt our chances?

I can tell you one thing, we have played better quality teams this time around. Great 3-1 win over Australia today. Should have been 4-1. Findley got around Mark and missed a wide open goal. Great warm up game before playing England next Saturday. Buddle scored 2 goals with Gomez getting the other.

Or even 5-1. I didn't see any offsides in Dempsey's cannonball header.

Fair doo's, though. Fantastic Tim Cahill-like goal by Tim Cahill. What a player that little guy is.