But then France was drawn into that same group, along with Uruguay. How do you say “lucked out” in French? If any of the three officials on the field in the last qualifying match had been competent or even perceptive regarding Thierry Henry’s blatant two-touch handball, then France might not be in the World Cup, and Ireland might be. This theme is not going away.

Within a few minutes, the United States wound up with even more good fortune than France. Algeria just did slip into the World Cup final tournament, getting by Egypt. And while Slovenia did escape huge and rich Russia, Slovenia is the smallest nation in this World Cup, if that means anything. Historically, the United States has trouble with sturdy, disciplined European sides. But this is a good draw for the United States.

Not only is it a good draw, but it is logistical heaven for the Yanks, who had planned to be based in the Johannesburg-Pretoria area. The team does not have to travel far around that large country for matches against England in Rustenberg on June 12, Slovenia in Johannesburg on June 18 and Algeria in Tshwane/Pretoria on June 23.

“We can prepare properly,” said Sunil Gulati, the president of the United States Soccer Federation, who admitted he was quite all right when the England-U.S.A., Beckham-Donovan matchup popped up in the draw.

The United States has reason to think about a “result”  a tie or victory  in its opening match. England is one of those nations  Italy is another  that seem to lug a disproportionate amount of angst into group play of the World Cup.

England sometimes develops the urge to make an egregious foul in plain view of the ref. And look at how the United States tied Italy in 2006 in Germany and almost did the same thing in 1990  in Italy.

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Any way they look at it, the Americans cannot feel fate or nefarious plots by FIFA are against them, which has seemed to be the case in some previous World Cup draws. They have a chance to play more than three games in South Africa six months from now. But they do not have the offensive star power to think that way.