Mayhem has broken out in Group E. Each now team has the ability to decide it’s own fate going into the final set of games. The toughest challenge is for the US who are four goals from
guaranteeing themselves a place in the knockout round.
Well it’s proven that anybody can play with anybody in this group. Group E is now officially the 'Group of Death'. S&M decided that by turning over for Argentina yesterday but today’s Ghana win and US tie now put the entire group within 3 points. Italy should take a weakened Czech squad to the cleaners (even though they only have to play for a tie) on Saturday, paving the way for Ghana and USA to decide who goes through. The beauty here is that both games are being played at the same time so don’t expect any team in the group to let up.
Here are the scenarios to Guarantee Group play:
- Ghana (magic number: 2)
Need to win by 2 goals to guarantee group play. A tie could see them through with an Italy win.
- Italy (magic number: 0)
Need to tie to guarantee group play. A loss could eliminate them if the US win and make up the goal difference, or Ghana tie and make up goal difference.
- Czech Republic (magic number: 1)
Need to win to guarantee group play. A tie could see them through if Ghana doesn’t win and the US fail to make up the goal difference.
- United States (magic number: 4)
Need to win by 4 goals to guarantee group play. A Czech republic tie could send them home on goal difference.
Again, a US win may be enough to get them into the next round as an Italian win is a likely result facing a deflated and demoralized Czech squad. Confidence is there for Italy who defeated Ghana by two. Ghana, today, blasted the Czechs by two goals making it a 4 goal relatable comparison in favor of the Azzurri.
No matter how you look at the numbers game, you are missing the most important thing that will generate a reversal of fortunes: the ejected people.
US and Italy went all out and in the end they got the result that both wanted, but paid dearly for the next game.
US losing some key people vs a very healthy Ghana is a sure no win for them. It will be as bloody as Italy's game.
Italy is on the same boat, except the Czechs will decide it depending on how their morale is to play to win.
My bet is on Ghana and Italy/Czechs. US will be going home, but they better play like they did to at least show that they can play with the best at the same intensity and passion.
4 goals away or not, unless Arena gets a clue it won't happen. The players came out to play this time and for the most part they did... until exhaustion over took them. Eddie pope and playing 9 mento 10 isn't the ref it was Arena. Pope did the same thing today he has done all season at Real Salt lake, he has made critical mistakes that have given up goals, I have season tickets so I see all the games. I was actualy happy he was ging to be away at the world cup, RSL has done much better with Torres at the center. Anyone watching the game could see pope was getting beaten time and time again, when you are late to the play you get yellow cards for bad tackles.... It was gonna happen. Yes the ref pulled the cards out awfully fast, but he did it both ways. I get tired of American comentators and the " lets bleme someone else attitude", it just makes the US look like sore losers. Take a hint from the Brits... If the player is playing like ####... say so. As I see it if Arena makes the sub for pope we are still 10v10, and if you have subs and need fresh legs get them into the game. These games are do or die, you can't hope that another team playes well enough to get you into the second round, you have got to get the results yourself. The way this cup has been ANY of the groups could be a group of death for the US. As one of the TV pundits said" Players win games, Coaches lose games and Ref's ruin games" Come on Bruce don't lose us anymore.
Honestly Pope not playing the next game might be a blessing, his age is starting to show and he seems too slow to play at this level. Plus Asamoah Gyan won't be playing for Ghana. I think the US has a good chance of beating Ghana, and without Koller the Czech's were not the same team so Italy should be the favorite going into that match.
The US really only lost one key player and that was Mastroeni. Pope's suspension is a blessing in disguise, he’s been horrendous so far. Italy only lost De Rossi and they were playing a 4-3-3. They could start Gattuso, Del Peiro, Camoranesi... that damage was minimal. They are one man down with pleny of bench to replace him with.
The Czechs however have none of their starting strikers (Baros & Koller) and their third in line, Lokvenc is suspended for the next game. Now they are stuck with two struggling Bundesliga strikers who have a total of 8 goals over 50 caps. That's a strike force that averages 0.16 goals per game.
In the other match, Ghana is down two players just like the US and are better defending in the middle of the park which won’t help much against the US attacking from the wings.
Considering how Ghana played vs Czech Rep this time around, its going to get as physical as Italy was. The count was 20 fouls commited by the US vs Italy.
Like it was stated, US might lose ONE person, but it seems that the changes done did help a bit. But we will see how they pan out.
Italy is definitely better standing to win vs Czechs.
izunaandy--Great job clearing things up for aabud and his "you are missing the most important thing" intro. Obviously he was the one missing a few things and you did well to explain them to him. Seems to me that he may just be another person who doesn't like the U.S. and wants to see us continue to fail.
Anything can happen. I'm sure you were as proud of our national team as I was. We may not be an "elite" international soccer power but they played well against a prestigious "futbol" nation and and have much to feel great about.
Actually, Italy playing for a tie would be a dangerous thing to do unless they are scoreboard watching.
Do you expect them to trust Ghana not to beat USA? The cost of such a risk is possibly losing the group title which means a meeting with Brazil to open the knockout round. That would be stupid.
I don't know how you figure your magic numbers, but I would say Italy's is 1 which is what they need to guarantee their spot in the 16.
Also, imagine Italy dogging it all game then suddenly CR pops in a goal. Meanwhile Ghana upsets the USA and they are scratching their heads wondering why they tried for a 0-0 draw while sitting at home after a 1-0 loss. Italy will play to win, score early and do just that.
The assessment of the people being removed is one thing, another how the teams to win will act upon the field. Ghana is coming to this tourney as the best african team and just by looking at how they played vs the Italian and Czechs its clear the US won't have it easy playing them, regardless of the outcome.
Ghana will change strats to counter the US team, but trust me, we are gonna see a repeat of Italy's game and more US players getting the yellow/red as Ghana.
I'm not one to see the US fail, but I don't like to see them slacking and doing nothing on the field. They didn't come for a picnic, they came to play soccer and advance to the next phase and beyond.
Remarks made by any player or coach is simply a waste of breath. You show what you got on the field and the rest doesn't require anything other than Lady Luck sitting on your goal post for 90min if at all that long :)
Dont wanna dash your hopes, guys but, the US really needed that win against Italy. Both Italy and Czech republic advance with a tie(assuming that Ghana doesnt win) and, if you dont think they know that and are planning for it, you guys are a lil naive. Ghana is to organized to be blown out which makes a 4 goal difference very hard.
Good luck to you all but, its gonna be really hard.
Hey i think U.S can do it look at the #### line up that bruce had first of all! Are star players are not giving it there all they need to let go of Convey! They need to have Dempsey and Bocanegra both starting they just need to give it there all because ive seen them play before many times they can do better than what they played and thats what they need to do!
not neccearrly, my paper had a scenario where the us advances with win by 4 over ghana and a 0-0 draw or 1-1 draw.
I think the most important thing for the us, is they won't have the uragauy ref in there next match, who will more than likely be kicked out of the world cup if fifa is smart, and the fact this guy actually has a history with the us, i mean the call and mensattio and pope were both bull bleep, with mensattio either a yellow or a warning, and poep who had one yellow, another warning.
I think in the end though even if the us does end up #2, they will get there brains beat in by brazil in the next rd so it won't really matter, and yeah ghana may have gotten 2 goals, but remember those were there first 2 ever in world cup play, and i think us ghana, will be simailar to the brazil socceroo game, australia get there first 3 goals, but remember who they are
aabud--glad to see you're not another that just wants to see the U.S. fall flat on their faces. I hope you can respect and understand if some of us feel a little "paranoid" considering the anti-american sentiment that is common in many areas.
I agree that Ghana is a quality team but then again most any team in the World Cup has good players. The U.S. will have to bring their best if they expect to win. Even if they do they still might lose. It certainly won't be a cakewalk by any stretch of the imagination. I like their chances to be competetive though.
And I agree. it worries me some that the U.S. fouls so much. Some can be attributed to aggressive play and some can be attributed for compensating for being beat. Seeing how so many yellows and reds are being called hopefully they can make the necessary adjustments.
I like soccer. I watch a lot of soccer. Sometimes I play soccer and it's a sad site.
I pretty much exclusively support Liverpool after being deserted by the MLS (see: San Jose Clash… I mean Earthquakes… I mean Houston 1836? errr… Dynamo, whatever). I’ve been following the game since 1995, and in-depth since about 2002. I’m currently a senior in college at Arizona and catch Sounders games over the summer in Seattle. So yup, that’s about it.
