Americans-- Who Are You Supporting?

After failing to handle the powerhouse that is Trinidad and Tobago, we're left without a dog in this race.

My grandparents are from Sicily, so I typically root for Italy alongside the U.S., but Italy also failed to make the cut this time around. I also cheer on the English team each time, and will do so this year, but I need a My Team.

I knew I could choose Brazil, Germany, Belgium, powerhouses all of them, but feared I might get spoiled supporting a team that may actually win the whole thing. I wanted a team that would have about the same chance as the U.S. team, and after minimal thought, and for some fairly arbitrary reasons, my appreciation of Senegalese film being chief among them, I chose Senegal as my team for '18.

The first Senegalese match, against Poland, was really exciting, and I feel I have definitely chosen the appropriate replacement for the U.S. team. Even the way Senegal scored their goals was reminiscent of American games in that I never felt quite sure they'd entirely earned a given goal, but it counted and it was thrilling. What more can I ask for, right?

Here's hoping they advance to the round of 16, though it appears if they do advance there's a good chance England will be their first opponent. WTH life, why you hate?