U.S. Men's National Team (USMNT) manager Jurgen Klinsmann admitted the 2014 World Cup draw couldn't have gotten "any more difficult" for the United States. Klinsmann also addressed his feelings about facing his former team, Germany, and the USMNT's difficult travel schedule.
FIFA conducted the final draw on Friday, which resulted in the USA landing in Group G - arguably the tournament's "group of death." USA (14) will compete in the opening round in Brazil against Germany (2), Portugal (5) and Ghana (24).
"Obviously it's one of the most difficult groups in the whole draw, having Portugal with Cristiano Ronaldo and the Ghana, who has a history with the United States," Klinsmann told the Associated Press on Friday. "It couldn't get any more difficult or any bigger. But that's what a World Cup is about.
"It's a real challenge. And we'll take it. We'll take it on, and hopefully we're going to surprise some people there."
USA's draw has additional significance for Klinsmann: it's the first time the 49-year-old German will face his country's National Team, which he managed from 2004-06, in a World Cup.
"I kind of had in my stomach that we were going to get Germany," said Klinsmann. "... Obviously, there are a lot of emotions involved. It's normal. I'm German. It's going to be a special moment."
Klinsmann and his squad will also have their eye on Ghana, who defeated the US in the last two World Cups - 2-1 in the group stage of the 2006 World Cup and 2-1 in overtime during the round of 16 in 2010.
"After the two losses, it's about time to beat them, I guess," Klinsmann said.
Klinsmann also acknowledged his team's difficult travel schedule. Based in Sao Paulo, the USMNT will have to travel 1,436 miles to Natal, 1,832 miles to Manaus and 1,321 miles to Recife, according to the Associated Press.
"There will be some problems from the organizational side, traveling side. And we hit the worst of the worst," he said. "Every coach that I talked to, at least today, said everything but Manaus. No - we get Manaus."
USMNT Group Stage Schedule:
6/16/14: Ghana Vs. USA; Natal, 6:00 p.m.
6/22/14: USA Vs. Portugal; Manaus, 3:00 p.m.
6/26/14: USA Vs. Germany; Recife, 12:00 p.m.
View the complete 2014 World Cup draw HERE and schedule HERE.
