Connelly: Are you ready for some fùtbol?

I’m not writing this to tell you to watch the 2014 World Cup.

I’m not that guy and I really don’t care if you watch it. Just like I don’t care if you watch hockey. I happen to enjoy both, what most would consider non-mainstream American sports.

But I’m also not offended if you don’t. That’s what’s great about sports — there’s something for everyone.

So now that that’s out of the way, I will tell you that I’m going to be glued to what I feel is the most entertaining international sporting event.

It’s like the Olympics in the fact that it only takes place every four years. However, it’s unlike the Olympics in the fact that the United States are not the favorites.

In what many believe to be the Group of Death, which features Germany, Portugal and Ghana, the U.S. men’s national team will have to overcome two major obstacles if they hope to advance to the knockout stage of the tournament.

Life without Landon

Landon Donovan is a household name, even in a house without a soccer ball. He’s the most accomplished player in the country’s history and thrives in the biggest of moments, as exhibited by his 57 career national team goals.

However coach Jurgen Klinsmann decided to keep Donovan off the 23-man roster headed to Brazil. The fallout has the potential to be felt on and off the pitch.

While roster decisions shouldn’t be made on past accomplishments, and Donovan is older by soccer standards (32), his omission leaves the U.S. without much experience. Donovan has appeared in 12 World Cup matches, while the rest of the roster has a combined 25.

It’s hard to imagine a case couldn’t be made to bring Donovan to Brazil as a late-game substitution, when the Yanks need a goal, but Klinsmann had other ideas.

The other thing a Donovan-less team will be lacking is name recognition. While the German-born Klinsmann can’t care about that when making his decisions, it won’t help his case if the U.S. return home after an early exit.

In Howard’s Hands

If the Americans (Ranked no. 13 by FIFA) are to challenge the group’s top teams, American-born goalkeeper Tim Howard is going to have to be the team’s top player.

The Germans (ranked No. 2) have an artful offensive attack and will be able to weave through a youthful U.S. defense. It’s going to be up to Howard to stand strong in net and keep the score low.

The Portuguese (ranked No. 4) have the reigning Ballon d’Or winner — or if your French is rusty, the Golden Ball — awarded to the world’s top player: Christiano Ronaldo. Coming off a Champions League title with his club team Real Madrid a few weeks ago, Ronaldo is nursing a leg injury that kept him out of Portugal’s warm up match before heading to Brazil.

He’s still the best player in the world and should be expected to play that way.

Then there’s Ghana (ranked no. 37). Pesky Ghana has been a thorn in the Americans’ side and has eliminated the U.S. from the last two World Cups.

Don’t expect them to be intimidated by the mighty Americans.

If I haven’t lost you by now, that probably means you’re going to be watching as the United States kicks off the World Cup against Ghana on Monday. If not, I’m sure you can find something else to do.

Kevin Connelly is a sportswriter for The Vindicator. Write him at kconnelly@vindy.com and follow him on Twitter, @Connelly_Vindy.