A game strikingly similar to Argentina and Ivory Coast. Ghana caused the Italian defense problems when they ran at them. Essien was immense. But the Ghanaians made two mistakes and they paid heavily for them.
The defense went to sleep when the corner was played short to Pirlo and from there Gilardino deflected Pirlo's shot into the net. The second goal was a disaster for Sammy Kuffour. He made a dreadful pass back that came up short.
Ghana pushed to the end but for no reward.
Man of the match - Michael Essien. Essien showed what he can do when he is given some freedom.
I think you are slightly wrong Mr McMahon. YOu being Scotish it's understandable picking Essien for Man of the Match, but I think the fans at the Fifa site got it right. Andrea Pirlo was the Man of the Match, not only because he scored a goal that Was NOT Defflected, and because of the assist he gave in the second goal, but for all the work and the quality he brought in the game. Pirlo is not a physical player at all just simply Brilliant technically and tactically, he wins the ball (like today) only with anticipation and he is the best passer in the world. Essien is very good, but football is first a Mental & techincal game than physical. As for Ghana, they are pretty strong, definetly not like Ivory Coast though, and Italy are not at all like Argentina. The Ghaninan players couldn't even get past Zacardo who is deffinetly the weakest deffender on the Italian side, while Nesta was simply "sensational" like Fernando Fiore was saying on Univision. Nonetheless, Ghana are a very good team, especially physically, and could cause dammage to the Czech and definetly try to get a win against the US.
I don't see where he draws comparison between CIV and Ghana, nor Italy and Argentina. He's comparing the way each game was played. I'd have to agree there. Man of the match is a tough pick for this and I think it could go to either guy.
Now about Italy, I found their offensive play to be really exciting at times, and from what I saw, more exciting than the Dutch (due to work obligations I could only watch the first 45... grrrr). If Luca Toni's fireball off the crossbar went in, say hello to a goal of the tournament contender. 28 years old and suddenly he is a world-class goal threat... really inspiring stuff. At the back, Cannavaro and Nesta were warriors. I hope Totti makes it back and these guys keep putting up an entertaining and comparitively un-Italian show.
Bobby is absolutely sensational with his analysis. Scoring and assisting a goal makes a difference. But, Come-on guys, let's be realistic here; Pirlo was non-existence compared to Michael in terms of imposing, composing, and taking absolute control of the midfield. I also concur with Bobby that the game has some sort of similarity compared to that of the Ivory Coast. The Ivorians and the Ghanaians may be down; but 66.3% of the required points are still there to be grabbed.
I agree with Essien being the MotM, and I fail to see why being Scottish would make Bobby pick him. Essien plays in England, so why the link to Scotland? Just interested :)
Pirlo also had a great game.
Personally, If the USA get a point out of this division, I'd be happy. Ghana surprised me, and I was glad to see them continue to come forward.
The US needs to look at the Ghana, Ivory Coast and even Angola game tapes. Even though they may be newcomers, they played with heart, passion and determination. They are not afraid to run after the ball, tackle and get dirt on their jerseys. Ghana made Italy sweat in spite of the score. The loss was unfortunate just like Ivory Coast.
Ibroxloyal - Apparently watching around three Serie A games each weekend for at least the last decade and being able to rememeber many Italian performances since the mid-sixties makes me blind to performances by Italian players.
If you think the USA is down and out, please think again very hard. They lacked assertion and aggressiveness. They lacked cohesion and they lacked leadership, both on and off the field. When they went down a goal in five minutes is when I would have scrapped the 4-5-1 formation and switched back to 3-5-2. I would have urged the Eddie Lewis and his counterpart on the right to move forward.
Get ready for some fireworks vs. Italy. Italy did not control Ghana either. Two mistakes and two goals. Czechs controlled the US though. Ghana will beat the USA and the Czechs. Mark my words. The US will beat Italy. You will see the tenacity of the US team this weekend. The US team needed to be trampled on in order for them to wake up from the mirage FIFA ranking. They have received the wake-up call loud and clear.
Appiah and Essien controlled the midfield like no other combination that I have seen so far even though the result does not show the work rate and effort. Has anyone seen or appreicated how Appiah tracked back after coming all the way to receive the ball deep in his own half? Has anyone seen how Ghana brought up the ball and sliced up the Italian midfield and how they ran back and covered when they lost the ball? For me, Ghana's midfield played the most complete game of any midfield so far in the tournament. More to come from Ghana. They have done themselves and Africa proud. They will get 6 points.
BTW, Mr. McMahon is the next best thing to sliced bread in the US as far as soccer is concerned. He is an expert in my opinion with astute, objective and frank observations regarding the game. FoxSports better be thanking its lucky star(s). He does not fill air time with non-sense, impartial or rehash the same issue like Mr. Wynalda.
Sure we were all disappointed about the US game. The bashing needs to stop and we have to get behind them if we want soccer to get on the map in the big time sports world in the US. Their success is crucial to the sport more than it is to a lot of nations representing their countries because we need more soccer fields at the parks, we need more coaching clinics and we need more players from all walks of life. If they do not do well, all the funding and short-term interest in the sport will go back to pre-1990 level - and no one who loves the game as much will ever want that to happen.
Go on boys - whup some you know what this weekend. USA 1 Italy 0.
I am the soccer analyst for the Fox Soccer Report and appear twice a week - every Monday and Friday at 10:00 EST. I have also been a regular contributor to the Fox Soccer Channel website since the summer of 2004. Over the last twenty years I have contributed to various radio and television programs throughout North America as well writing about the game for newspapers, magazines and websites.
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