Bradley: U.S. Focus is Still the Gold Cup

• Los Angeles Times, Thursday, February 15, 2007 3:25 PM

They're already calling it the "group of death": Wednesday's 2007 Copa America draw saw the U.S. placed with Argentina, Colombia and Paraguay in Group C, which on paper anyway, looks to be the strongest of the three.

U.S. coach Bob Bradley knows it will be tough: "I think we all felt that Argentina was one of the strongest teams in the World Cup," he told the L.A. Times. "It puts our ability to handle the ball under pressure under a microscope because Argentina is not only a team that is very good with the ball but they're a team that understands how to put pressure on the opponent."

Tough draw notwithstanding, Bradley says his focus is more on this summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup, which the U.S. is hosting just prior the Copa America. "Obviously, it's our confederation championship, but the main reason that I think it's extra important is that winning the Gold Cup will earn us three games - three very, very good games - in South Africa in 2009," he said, referring to the 2009 Confederations Cup.

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