World Cup fever

The World Cup is my favorite sports event, hands-down. Every four years, no matter what else is going on in my life, I look forward to reading about it, talking about it and, when I’m not working at my office, watching it.

And so, it appears, do an increasing number of other Americans.

All 64 matches from South Africa will be shown on US televisions, but bars and restaurants across New York City and other areas are planning to screen the matches for patrons who prefer to catch the action with friends and other fans – even though kick-off times will be either 7:30 AM, 10 AM or 2:30 PM.

World Cup fever has gripped me so badly this year that I actually think the US team can go far in the tournament, perhaps all the way to the July 11 final! That sounds delusional when you consider how much more talented the teams from Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Italy and some other countries are.

I believe the Americans will hold their own this Saturday against England – major underachievers in World Cup history and among the most overrated teams in this tournament -- and advance past Slovenia and Algeria. After that, who knows?

I’ve been fortunate to attend a handful of World Cup matches in my lifetime, four of them at the Meadowlands in 1994 and one memorable US-Iran match in Lyon in 1998. This US team is much stronger than the 1994 edition which was eliminated by eventual champions Brazil 1-0 on July 4 and the 1998 team which lost all three of its matches in France.

I was impressed watching the US come from behind in the second half to beat Turkey in Philadelphia 10 days ago. I believe Bob Bradley, a New Jersey guy and former Princeton player and coach, has prepared the Americans for a good run in this tournament.

Enjoy the World Cup!