re: Why the hate on klinsmann?

I'd also like to say that people thinking we'll just bomb out of the world cup don't understand the all the lucky breaks that could benefit teams in the tournament. Spain was the class of the last tournament but won most of their games by one goal and even lost the first game (plus robben blew the finals). Italy didn't exactly look like a powerhouse in 06, even tying us, and somehow they ground out wins. I am in no way saying that we are Italy or spain, but think about how lucky we were in 2002. We advanced with only 4 points, and portugal had an awful own goal in our lone win in the group stage. As lucky as we were, we were a torsten frings handball away from tying and maybe beating Germany. And Germany played a very average South Korea to make the finals.

Sorry for the length, but you just can't assume a year before the world cup that we will absolutely flame out.