Why USWNT should keep a close eye on World Cup Group C

The players aren't supposed to do it. Indeed, it's pretty much the cardinal sin of a World Cup participant to look ahead into the bracket of the knockout round and speculate on opponents down the road.

But the same rules don't apply to fans, writers, commentators or even the casually interested. Which means that while Alex Morgan, Sophia Smith, Lindsay Horan and company need to do the right thing and remain intently focused on the immediate matter of the United States' Group E clash with the Netherlands on Wednesday (coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET, with kickoff at 9 p.m. on FOX and the FOX Sports app), the rest of us can have a little fun and glance forward.

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Doing so would appear to bring rather good news, at least at first look. 

If the USA finishes at the top of its group, smooth sailing seems to appear on the horizon, and, no, we're not talking about the fact the Americans have to cross the Tasman Sea and journey from New Zealand to Australia for the round of 16, then back again.

First, the USWNT's opening game of the second round would bring a clash against the runner-up from Group G, currently predicted to be world No. 16 Italy. The highest-regarded team in that group is Sweden, the Olympic finalist, which struggled before squeezing by South Africa thanks to a late winner over the weekend.

Against either Italy or Sweden, or even more so if South Africa or Argentina rebounded to clinch the second spot from Group G, the USA would be overwhelmingly expected to advance.

It is at the quarterfinal point where the Americans figure to have caught a break. The bracket points the eyes toward a possible matchup with the winner of Group A, which is by far the