On Saturday, in its final game of 2005, the USA faces Scotland, which hasn't qualified for a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup.
Scotland once prided itself on being a perennial World Cup qualifier – having reached five straight finals from 1974 to 1990. The Scots didn't reach the second round in any of those, but that they had their moments. They beat the Dutch in 1978 and tied Brazil in 1974.
Now it is the United States that is going to its fifth straight World Cup. Yes, one was as host, and the Europeans claim that the Americans come out of a weak region, although the Scots will remember losing to Costa Rica in their 1990 World Cup opener.
Saturday's friendly provides an important test for Coach Bruce Arena's team. Facing a European team on its soil has rarely gone well for the Americans. Under Arena, they've won at Poland, but they've lost at Holland, at Ireland, at Germany, at Italy and at Russia.
Under Coach Steve Sampson, when MLS was less than two months old, the USA downed the Scots, 2-1, in Connecticut and did so with style. Nine years later, Arena's team should be able to do the same, even if the game is in Glasgow.
— Mike Woitalla