Posted on 06/14/2006 5:46:34 AM PDT by soccer_maniac
The first cycle of group play in the FIFA World Cup comes to a close on Wednesday with all four Group H teams in action, Spain taking on Ukraine at 8:55 a.m. ET (ESPN2) and Saudi Arabia facing Tunisia three hours later (also on ESPN2). Then Cup hosts Germany start the second series of matches in the groups when they face neighbors Poland in Dortmund.
Spain finally get a chance to get the ball rolling in Leipzig, facing a Ukraine team looking for a result in its first-ever World Cup match. But just because the Eastern Europeans are new on the world stage doesn't mean they don't have the talent to make an impact. In fact, they were the first team apart from the hosts to secure passage to the World Cup, topping a difficult Group 2 that also included Denmark, European champions Greece and a Turkey team that finished third in the World Cup four years ago.
Ukraine also boasts one of the most deadly strikers in the world in Andrei Shevchenko, a new arrival to London's Chelsea FC after a stunning career at AC Milan. However, "Sheva," as he is known, has been battling a knee injury and it remains to be seen if he will be in the starting 11.
Shevchenko isn't the only lethal striker that will be on the field; Spain has several of their own, as well, including Real Madrid legend Raul. Arsenal striker Jose Antonio Reyes is also a danger and could start, especially since Spain coach Luis Aragones often lines his side up in a 4-3-3 formation. Spain is looking to break their World Cup curse in Germany, having never advanced to the final in the competition.
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I'll take that bet. USA has a slim chance, but it's far better than two-loss Poland.
They have no other choice but win. In qualifications this team was really offensively minded, scored 27 goal and now pathetic coach destroyed everything with his defensive tactics that practically was not used before the world cup (one game with Croatia just before WC).
lol
Arriba los Ticos! Pura Vida!!
Poland's big problem is Goal Differential.
Assuming Costa Rica beats Ecuador by 1, that means Poland must beat Costa Rica by two or more goals.
Then Germany would have to beat Ecuador by at least 3 goals for the Poles to get in.
For the US, they must beat Italy, then beat Ghana, then hope the Italians don't beat the Czechs.
For scenario for Poland seems a little more feasible than for the US.
That's my beef with Janas, he freaked out after the Colombia game. Sure it sucked to lose that game, but geez, who plays those games with any intensity anyway?
As we say, "You dance with the one that brung ya."
Costarica wont win, they will lose, Ecuador is a decent team.
Costa Rica hung two on the Germans, I wouldn't sell them short.
However, my fear is that it will be a tie, and then it will be all over.
Exactly, friendly game was not so important. Just before qualification campaign we lost against Denmark at home 4:0 if I recall correctly. We are playing at the world cup while Denmark is not. Janas is a coward, that is why he try to change something when is already too late. Today’s red card it is his fault.
Yeah, I definitely wouldn't sell Costa Rica short by any means. Remember, they did thump the USA 3-0 in qualifying (a result that admittedly doesn't look as impressive now after Monday's debacle) and they have someone in Wanchope who can be counted on to score goals.
Also remember that Ecuador's win over Poland may be something of a fluke. Ecuador is usually horrible away from the mountains at home.
As usual you are unable to draw right conclusion, better write nothing than BS.
Just read that the Saudi team boycotted the best player award because it was sponsored by an American brewery.
Silly people.
Just fundamentalists.
For scenario for Poland seems a little more feasible than for the US.
Depends on what you mean by "feasible". If you're talking in terms of "destiny in one's own hands", the US has a more feasible way of going through than Poland.
The US must beat two teams, regardless of what score they must beat them by, and in addition the result of two evenly matched teams (Italy-Czech) turns out to be a draw or win for the Czechs (which is highly likely). No talk of goal difference at all, plus the USA controls at least 2/3 of what they need to accomplish.
Contrast this to Poland, where they must win *and* win by 2 goals, and hope Germany wins *and* wins by 3 goals.
If the USA's first game was an anomaly and not the norm, I'd rather have the USA's scenario than Poland's.
Silly people :-)
It's all about the group you're in. Poland is still competing with Ecuador and Costa Rica, while we are competing with Italy and Ghana.
Don't forget the pain from the ref's penalty/red card.
Although Spain looked good, they weren't that impressive considering they were a man up most of the second half.
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