The World Cup has started and some possible verdicts are already in the making. Unfortunately, the U.S. lost against the Czech Republic and that means that the game against my beloved Italy, this coming Saturday, is a "do-or-die" situation for the stars and stripes team.

I am cheering for the U.S. and I wish the best for my adopted nation. After all, I am an American citizen by naturalization, I live here, my wife is American  and I have always taken the side of the United States, no matter what. This time though, the team of my native country will be the opposition, the team to beat for any hope of advancing in the competition, which means that I won't be able to cheer for the old USA.

At the beginning of the competition and before the first game results, I was wishing for both Italy and the U.S. to advance to the next round of games, but in light of the recent results, it looks like that only one team, between Italy and the US, will have good chances to advance. A predicament that leaves me with no choice but to wish for an American defeat. I know that it will leave a bad taste in my mouth and sorrow for the excluded nation,  nevertheless, I can't even conceive an early departure for the AZZURRI at the World Cup and therefore Saturday it's a must win for Italy.

I hope you understand...