2006 WORLD CUP -- Day 3 Thread -- USA Ready For Opener

MLSnet.com ^ | 6-12-06 | MLSnet.com

[soccer_maniac]

The wait finally comes to an end Monday for 11 of the 15 MLS players at the 2006 World Cup as the U.S. national team opens Group E play against Czech Republic in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. The Los Angeles Galaxy's Landon Donovan will lead the U.S. team into action starting at 11:55 a.m. ET on ESPN2.

In other action, Australia meets Japan in Kaiserslautern at 8:55 a.m. (ESPN2) for a Group F match. Italy and Ghana clash in the third match of the day, a Group E affair in Hanover at 2:55 p.m. (ESPN2).

[stillonaroll]

Second in the group is likely to play Brazil in the 2nd round.

Hey, don't sell the Aussies short in Group F. Gosh, if Japan and Croatia beat Brazil...uh, nevermind.

[chimera]

Geez, we sucked, a shutout with three goals against. Sure stunk up the place on that one...

[dfwgator]

How is Totti looking, I heard they took him out? That would be huge if he's hurt.

[dfwgator]

I've got a feeling that the Aussies just might shock the world against Brazil.

[Rightwing Canuck]

How is Totti looking, I heard they took him out? That would be huge if he's hurt.

He got a knock and was subbed out, but it didn't look serious. The coach isn't taking any chances with him. He was going to be subbed out at some point anyway.

[Imnotalib]

This is just great, we're ranked 5th in the world and lose to Czech 3-0 and it looks like not-exactly-a-world-power Ghana will go down 1-0 to Italy. We're on the wrong end of the worst flogging in WC2006 to date.

Bring back Cobi Jones - I saw the Galaxy play Beasley's team in LA, and Cobi took DeMarcus to school - shut him down completely.

[darkangel82]

Empty net GOOOOOAAAALLL for Italy, this ices it, 2-0.

[burzum]

Bad goalkeeper!

As they say on Univision (the best network covering the World Cup IMHO): ¡GOL!

[dfwgator]

And the hole for the US just got much deeper.

[Rightwing Canuck]

Horrible play by Koufre, he'll remember that for a long time

[burzum]

Maybe I shouldn't be so angry with the goalkeeper. The other player touched the ball again to allow the Italian player to be onside. That was the fatal move.

[billbears]

Would be interesting to see Rooney in before the second round. They do need something to gel the team back into shape. Not saying they looked bad on their last outing but they weren't up to snuff. Maybe it was just that substitution mess mid-game but I'd like to see Rooney back in ASAP

[dfwgator]

So now even if the US wins their final two matches, they would still be out, if Italy beats the Czechs, and the Czechs beat Ghana, due to GD.

[burzum]

And even then, we'd almost certainly face Brazil. It's getting ugly early.

[dfwgator]

Yep, looks like wait until 2010.

[burzum]

I meant if we were somehow lucky and qualified for the next round.

[dfwgator]

I just think the US isn't destined to do well in Europe. Seeing as how the next WC is in Africa, that might help things a bit.

[burzum]

Yeah, I hope so. I guess it's time for me to pick my #2 team to root for (after the US). I'll probably pick England. While their fans are absolutely insane, they still play very sportsmanlike. Certainly not Brazil. While their team is justifiably awesome, I can't support the Brazilian anti-American sentiment.

[dfwgator]

Well my other team are the Poles, but they looked as bad as the US in their first game, plus they have to play Germany.

So it's now up to the Aussies. Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi!!!

[You Dirty Rats]

Bruce Arena ripped several of his players by name.

I don't see the point of kicking the players while they are down. Nothing Arena can say would feel worse than what the Czechs did to them.

Let's look at the bright side -- if we just score one goal in the last two games we'll have done better than France did in 2002.