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Italy will have an easy enough time in this group. Probably will get 9 points. USA will get second place- they are under-rated by most people. Ghana will get third, securing draws against USA and the Czechs, who will finish bottom, losing to Italy and USA.
Has this ever happened? Italy are always slow off the mark in the group stages (I believe the official commentatorspeak is that "Italy are notoriously slow starters"). No chance whatsoever of 9 points.Quote:
Originally Posted by dmandmythdledge
Terrible effort from the US today. Looked like they just got out of bed. No ball control whatsoever. Can't take anything away from the Czechs though. Looked good all over,especially midfield. All nice goals too.
The Czechs beat the US at their own game, i.e. counter-attacking football in the first half. The US is no good when they have most of the ball, build-up was too slow and predictable.
Where did you get that idea from??Quote:
Originally Posted by dmandmythdledge
The Czechs destroyed the US today and they look really good attacking. Rosicky will be a real star for them, imo. If Italy don't focus and get thei act together the Czechs will destroy them too.
It'll be interesting to see how Italy get on against Ghana tonight. I'd say 1-1.
Italy might lose a game but nobody will destroy them. :)
I thought that the Czechs had an aging team and would struggle to produce performances at the level they did before- I was wrong. Also, I expected USA to put up a better fight.Quote:
Originally Posted by superfrank
Excellent performance by Italy and Pirlo in particular. Pirlo has been getting bit of stick for his form with Milan since Christmas but he was top class last night. He was on the ball more than anyone. He's also not renowned for his tackling yet put in more tackles than anyone last night.
Zambrotta, Gattuso, Camoranesi, Del Piero and Inzaghi didn't start last night so they certainly have enough back up to go all the way this year. 19 games unbeaten and it'll probably take penalties to knock them out.
If Brazil win their group it will be crucial to win Group E and avoid them. It could come down to goal difference if Czechs and Italy draw.
btw - Nesta/Cannavaro: Best central defensive partnership of all time? Almost 200 caps between them and have been superb in probably ever one of those caps. :)
I thought it was a nailed-on penalty last night. Even if no contact was made the attacker was prevented from getting to the ball by a missed tackle. I'd loved to have been in the studio to take on Martin O'Neill. Also, a better ball striker than Essien would have enjoyed last night against Italy. But, despite some reviews I read this morning, I thought Italy were pretty good. When Gattuso returns they'll be harder to play against. Pirlo was great.
I'm going to the winner of this group vs the r'up in Brazil's group in Kaiserslautern on 27th. Mrs Stuttgart (of all people) picked up a pair of tickets. 2 days away from the kids & a World Cup match. Way hey!!
Motson drove me mad last night, as always. After Kuffour's botched back pass he asked "was that an example of Ghanain gullibility Mark?". No, you ****ing knob, it was a sh1t backpass!!
Houghton was just as bad with his bias against Italy. Totti is a bit of a **** but Hougthon was letting his dislike for him overshadow everything. I thought as soon as he went off the strikers were getting very few chances. His through balls are second to none. Considering it was his first competitive start in 3 months he can only get better.
I thought they were so solid at the back. Fabio Grosso was immense at left back. The Ghanain right winger just couldn't get past him or get a decent ball in by him. Italy were also so strong on the counter (as usual). Luca Toni has a great burst of pace and ball control for a big man.Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
My bet to win the WC the Czechs rampaged against the US. Boylesports look out. First games can be deceiving so I will hold off on getting carried away. I am here in the US for the next few weeks watching the games and abc went to a commercial break when the Czech Republic anthem was played! Lalas in the studio stated before the game that Keller is the best keeper in the world! The "aging" Czech team nonsense was brought up. Nedved although overshadowed by Rosinski had an excellent game. Italy looked good. always composed and looked to me to be playing in 2nd gear. Essien was excellent but Ghana like the Ivory coast look suspect at the back.
I think that the Czech Republic, Italy, Holland and Portugal have being the best teams so far.
Baros and Koller are definitely unavailable for the Ghana game on Saturday. Ghana looked like a pretty decent team against Italy so it'll be a tough game for the Czechs. 1 goal should be all that seperates them.
Zambrotta played against a local youth side in training yesterday and is fit to face the US on Saturday. Gatusso got back to training today well ahead of schedule and while he might not make the US game, he'll definitely be fit the face the Czechs.
If the Czech beat Ghana and Italy neat the US then this will be one of the best games of the tournament. Both teams going out to get the second round place against the probable runner-up to Brazil.Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
I don't think USA are doing anything more than riling Italy on more with their comments.
Arena: "Italy have three points and would gladly go home Saturday with four in the bank. They're not going to be opening themselves up too much Saturday."
Donovan: "I believe we can beat Italy. Not tie them or lose 1-0. Beat them. I really do."
Johnson: "It's do or die. We're going to do whatever we can, whatever it takes, whatever we have to when the referee is not looking. It's the biggest sporting event in the world. I don't want to go home early."
btw - even the best in the world have foreigners playing for them:
http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slu...ters&type=lgns
Likewise, I'm sure some of the Italian players' comments will fire up the US players:Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
Of three Italian players asked what they knew about the American team, only midfielder Andrea Pirlo was able to name a single member of the US squad.
'There is (Claudio) Reyna, who plays in Europe and then there is the other lad from PSV Eindhoven,' said Pirlo, referring to midfielder DaMarcus Beasley.
'I don't known much about the players who don't play in Europe but we will watch some videos,' added the Italy midfielder who scored the opening goal in Monday's 2-0 win over Ghana.
Striker Vincenzo Iaquinta, scorer of Italy's second against the Africans, knows even less about Bruce Arena's American side.
'I know very little about them, I know they have some players in Europe. "
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...371230&cc=5739
Ghana looked pretty impressive today, I also thought they were doing well
against Italy untill they scored.
The USA must be worried, they look 5 goals worse than Ghana!!
Mind you, its funny how a teams form can fluctuate, so maybe they will
make a similar transformation?
(It would need to be quite a transformation though).
Ghana were always attacking, even at the end when they were leading comfortably. It was very refreshing to see such high quality football from a so-called lesser footballing nation. Their fitness levels are superb. If they get through to the next round, they will have a good chance of beating an over-confident Brazil side.
well done Ghana. Awesome today and I'm glad my predictions of them doing well in this group didn't jinx em!!!