(Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
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Despite being in no real danger of missing the World Cup yet, the U.S. recent showings inspire a lack of confidence for solid participation in 2010 from Bradley's team.
Mexico (ranked 26th), their historical rival, and until recently, lord and master of everything CONCACAF, had to rely on a spectacular goal by Oscar Rojas to get past lowly Trinidad & Tobago (ranked 72nd) at the mythical Estadio Azteca, a place where they've only lost once in qualification matches since 1966.
The win put the struggling Tri up to fourth in the CONCACAF standings, and if proceedings were to end today, wouldn't even assure them a berth to the World Cup.
Costa Rica, the current qualifying leaders, have struggled outside of home. Honduras, in third, have done the same.
Now, the USA's woeful showing at the Confederations Cup might have FIFA rethinking their cushy deal with CONCACAF, which assures the zone three and a half spots at the World Cup.
Even if a downright miraculous combination of results sees the United States make the semifinals of the tournament, they'd no doubt meet their fate at the hands of Spain, the current European champs and ranked best in the world by FIFA.
Three losses? Three potential blowouts against world class teams?
No, thank you.
How about a one-way ticket back to the States, where the Americans would have a better shot of defending their Gold Cup crown this summer?
Or, to Mexico, in preparation for their duel at the Estadio Azteca August 12, where the Stars & Stripes have a legitimate shot at beating El Tri in front of 120,000 rabid fans, with smog-choked air at an elevation of more than 7,000 feet for the first time ever?
Even that little pocket of hell sounds better than more Confederations Cup games.
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