Soccer Fifa World Cup

If you're a fan of the U.S. men's national soccer team, there's probably no way to sugarcoat Thursday's disheartening 3-0 loss to world power Brazil in the 2009 Confederations Cup. The loss essentially eliminates the U.S. before its final group stage game Sunday against Egypt.

Right from the opening whistle the U.S. looked a step short and like they were lacking energy against the Kaka-led Brazilian assault. Inside of eight minutes Brazil was ahead -- yet another early goal allowed by the U.S. This time it came on a header by Felipe Melo on a perfectly curled free kick Maicon set up after a foul by DaMarcus Beasley.

Their women's national team has been a power for years, but men's soccer in North Korea, to the extent it exists at all, has barely registered. In fact, the reclusive country didn't even bother to enter the World Cup in 1998 or 2002.

But Wednesday, after surviving a Saudi Arabian onslaught and five tense minutes of added time in Riyadh, the global pariah will be participating in the world's biggest party. The 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia lifted the North Koreans to second place in Asia's Group B and to the World Cup finals for the first time since 1966.

If the opening match of the 2009 Confederations Cup is any indication, hosts South Africa best hope it's only indeed a dress rehearsal for next year's World Cup.

Sunday, in the opening match of the competition from Johannesburg, the hosts played out to a limp 0-0 draw against Asian champion Iraq. Perhaps the only noteworthy occurrence to come out of the game was an utterly bizarre block of a sure goal from Kagiso Dikgacoi by his own teammate inside the final 10 minutes.

Ah, the Confederations Cup. Can't you just smell the excitement?

Since it's inception in 1992 as the King Fahd Cup, it's been a bit of a curiosity. Is it a full-fledged International tournament? Is it simply a dry run for the World Cup? Is it something the nations and players participating even care about?

The answer is probably a little bit of each and we'll find out a little more when the tournament kicks off Sunday in South Africa when the hosts play Iraq in Johannesburg.

As an admitted fan of the U.S. national team, over the years I've had my ups and downs with our rivals from the south, Mexico. Growing up I used to loathe El Tri, as they continually whipped on the U.S, sometimes in front of what seemed like 100,000 fans at the Rose Bowl on American soil.

Lately, I've taken delight reminding Mexican fans whenever I can about "Dos a cero" in reference to the U.S.'s historic World Cup knockout of El Tri in 2002 ... and then just about every successive match between the two squads.

Today, though, I take some sympathy for my Mexican friends as their road to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa looks grim ... real grim.

The Netherlands, Japan, Australia and South Korea became the first nations to qualify for next year's World Cup, joining host South Africa in the 32-nation field.

England, meanwhile, put itself in good position to advance, winning 4-0 at Kazakhstan on goals by Wayne Rooney, Gareth Barry, Emile Heskey and Frank Lampard to improve to 6-0 in Europe Group Six. David Beckham entered in the 75th minute for his 111th international appearance, 14 shy of goalkeeper Peter Shilton's English record.

Thankfully, there was no hesitation from Carlos Bocanegra tonight.

Just 72 hours after he appeared hypnotized while Costa Rica's Pablo Herrera tore through the American penalty area to score the third goal in a humiliating World Cup qualifying defeat in San Jose, Bocanegra's assertiveness and courage resulted in a go-ahead goal that lifted the U.S. national team to a critical 2-1 win over Honduras before 55,647 at Chicago's Solder Field.

England routed Kazakhstan 4-0 to maintain its perfect record in World Cup qualifiers, moving closer to a spot in the South Africa tournament in 2010. The Netherlands, meanwhile, clinched a berth with a 2-1 victory over Iceland in Reykjavik.

Wayne Rooney scored in the 73rd minute for his sixth goal in World Cup qualifiers Saturday as England made it six wins in six games in Europe's Group Six.

Japan has become the first country to qualify for soccer's 2010 World Cup by beating Uzbekistan 1-0 in a qualifier.

Japan advanced with two games to spare and will be appearing in its fourth straight World Cup. Host South Africa is automatically in the field, and Australia can qualify with a win or draw at Qatar on Saturday.

A participant in FanHouse's live chat during last night's World Cup qualifying debacle in Costa Rica referenced Project 2010, the initiative launched in the late 1990s by the U.S. Soccer Federation and well-traveled Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz intending to create a developmental blueprint that would put this country in position to compete for the 2010 World Cup.

It's not looking good.

Perhaps Costa Rica did the U.S. national team a small favor last night, of the "We must burn this village in order to save it" variety. The side was exposed for what it is, and it's better we know sooner than later. Bob Bradley has some quality players at his disposal, but not enough. More importantly, this is a team that almost to a man continues to demonstrate the inability to maintain composure when removed from its comfort zone. This does not win you World Cups.