Posted on 06/21/2006 10:33:27 PM PDT by soccer_maniac
The U.S. national team goes into Thursday's Group E finale against Ghana (9:55 a.m. ET, ESPN) knowing that it must come up with a win to have any chance of moving to the Round of 16.
All four teams in Group E, including the USA, still have a chance to advance. The U.S. must beat a tough Ghana side to have any chance of moving to the knockout phase. Should Bruce Arena's team be able to secure three points against the Africans, whom they meet at 9:55 a.m. ET on ESPN, they will need Italy to beat the Czech Republic in a simultaneous match, which can be seen live on ESPN2. The U.S. is not mathematically eliminated with a Czech draw or win, but will need a big victory over Ghana to avoid being eliminated on goal difference.
(Excerpt) Read more at mlsnet.com ...
A great two week mini-season. Saturday its onto the playoffs. Team USA will be lucky to make to the Round Of 16. I don't see them making it to Berlin next month.
I excuse myself for the US game - I´m going to watch the Czechs against Italy with a few thousands on a large outdoor screen. After all, it´s summer!
The WC-tourists are lucky, we haven´t had really bad weather since the World Cup began. :-)
The one's in red get killed off every time.
Wahl: Everything on the Line
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/grant_wahl/06/21/us.ghana/index.html
Pretty much lays it all out
Gonna be a rough early call.
We can do this easily, we match up well.
Only tough part is cheering on the Italians...woof!
I also hope Team Germany wins. But my friend, aren't you being premature in your tagline? We're a long ways from the final game yet.
Easy Way: USA and Italy wins (ITA 7 pts, USA 4 pts)
Hard Way: USA wins, Czechs win, and the combined margin of USA and Czech victories is six or more goals (example: USA 2-0, CZE 4-0). (CZE 6 pts; USA 4 pts, one-goal advantage GD)
Harder Way: USA wins by two goals and scores three more goals than Italy, Czechs win by three goals (example: USA 3-1, CZE 3-0). (CZE 6 pts, USA 4 pts, equal GD, one-goal advantage GF)
Much Harder Way: USA wins by three goals, Czechs win by two goals. (CZE 6 pts; USA 4 pts, 0 GD, one-goal advantage GF)
Obscenely Difficult Way: USA wins by four and scores three (or more) more goals than the Czechs, Czechs draw (example: USA 4-0, CZE 1-1). (ITA 5 pts; USA 4 pts, +1 GD, one-goal advantage GF)
In-Their-Dreams Way: USA wins by five or more. (ITA or CZE wins; USA gets second with 4 pts, +2 GD)
You've-Gotta-Be-Kidding-Me Way: USA wins by two goals, Czechs win by three goals, USA wins drawing of lots. (CZE 6 pts; USA and ITA: 4 pts, -1 GD, equal GF, head-to-head match tied 1-1, equal GF+GA)
Bottom line: root for Italy to either win or lose big.
Ghana coach: "This is Ghana's time now"
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060620/1/7xyq.html
Go USA! I hope USA goes through and the cheating Italians are thrashed by the Czechs.
Italy: blue shirt, blue shorts, blue socks
USA: white shirt, navy blue shorts, white socks
Ghana: red shirt, red shorts, red socks
USA: white shirt, navy blue shorts, white socks
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060620/1/7x24.html
US will beat Gahna.
Italy will be Rice Checks.
USA will beat Spain in the shocker heard round the soccer world.
You heard it hear first.
It is about time the USA shines.
Buddhist monks in Thailand are too tired to receive early morning alms because they are staying up late to watch the World Cup, a Thai newspaper reported on Wednesday.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyid=2006-06-21T200830Z_01_BKK267959_RTRUKOC_0_US-THAILAND-MONKS.xml&src=rss&rpc=22
Hehe, do the math: ´54 x ´74 - 1990 = 2006 !!! :)
Plus, whenever Iran was qualified for the World Cup, Germany got the trophy. Maybe Ahmadinedjad wants to be our mascot? We can show him to visitors in a golden cage or so.
What a great idea, pal! You want the US team to reach the next round AND the "cheating Italians trashed by the Czechs"?? Impossible! Choose your side! Either your are for the US team, then you´ve to root for Italy OR you are for the Czechs.
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