Jurgen Klinsmann believes the United States got into the toughest group in the World Cup next summer but believes that his squad has a chance to make the knockout rounds.
The Americans wound up in a group with Ghana, Portugal and Germany and are currently seen as the underdogs to get out of the group. However, Klinsmann is confident that his group will have a solid showing at the tournament.
"When you look closer, four teams that in the last World Cup all got out of their group," he said, according to Newsday. "We know that we're going to be tested at the highest level every minute of every game, but you don't go to the World Cup expecting any easy games."
"We're not underdogs," he added. "If you want to get into the top 10 or top 12 in the world, you have to start beating them."
There are a number of storylines heading into this tournament for the U.S. but none more fascinating that Klinsmann facing off against Germany. Klinsmann won the World Cup as a player with West Germany in 1990 and also led the Germans to the semifinals as a coach when the nation hosted the World Cup in 2006.
"I had a feeling it was going to happen, I saw it coming," added Klinsmann, according to Sports Illustrated. "That's one of those crazy stories football writes. I had a feeling in my stomach we'd get Germany - it's one of the most difficult groups in the whole draw."
The U.S. will face Ghana, the team that has knocked the country out of the last two World Cups. Ghana defeated the U.S. 2-1 in the final group game back in 2006 and took down the Americans 2-1 in the round of 16 of the 2010 World Cup.
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