2006 SOCCER WORLD CUP - Day 9 Thread - USA v Italy, Czech v Ghana

MLSnet.com ^ | 6-17-06 | MLSnet.com

[soccer_maniac]

The U.S. national team faces a must-win situation Saturday against Italy (2:30 p.m. ET, ABC). The U.S. lineup could see some changes, including adding Eddie Johnson. Czech Republic and Ghana play earlier in the day (11:30 a.m., ABC), while Portugal advanced by beating Iran 2-0.

[soccer_maniac]

If the subject isn't of interest, please stay away. This is a World Cup discussion thread, not a "which sport is better" discussion thread.

[dfwgator]

No trip to Germany for you, Ahmadenejad.

[soccer_maniac]

World Cup Ping!

[soccer_maniac]

[Lukasz]

A real connoisseur would like to see the final no matter who is playing :)

[dogbyte12]

I am thinking we want a Ghana win, and a US win. All 3 teams will be on 3 points then. With the future in our hands. A ghana draw, and a US win would accomplish the same. We will technically be alive with a draw in our game, but we really need 2 wins because of goal differential. I want Czechs to lose points, because it gives them incentive to beat Italy on the 22nd.

[Allegra]

Nail-biting time coming up!

[Michael81Dus]

And I am really really happy about that! :-)

And soon:
GO TEAM USA!!! GO!!!

[Jameison]

"No trip to Germany for you, Ahmadenejad."

Yep.
Iran's out.
Wasn't impressed by Portugal though.
They are going to get clobbered but good in the next round though.
Don't see them surviving against Argentina or Holland.
Argentina is looking very dangerous right now.
Serbia is no slouch, and look what Argentina did to them.

[dfwgator]

Hopefully a lot of servicemen from Ramstein AFB will be there to root our boys on. It will be a tough task, we'll see what they're made of today. Go USA!!!

[Michael81Dus]

I want Ghana and the US in the 1/8 finals. But it ain´t gonna happen. The Czechs and the Azurros will make it through. Italy is a top favorite for the Cup, so it´ll be pretty hard for the US team.

K-Town (Kaiserslautern) is located near lots of US bases, and the stadium is expected to be full of "Amis". Maybe the "12th man" will help your boys. I hope so.

[dfwgator]

But hopefully Portugal can find a way to beat Mexico by a few goals, then if Angola beats Iran, Mexico goes home.

[romanesq]

And no soup for you Iran. I admire the Iranian players. I'm not unhappy to know that their results will make a certain someone in Tehran very unhappy.

I guess we won't be hearing about how a halo surrounded the Iranian team and how Allah has designated them for victory.

I hate when that happens. :)

[Michael81Dus]

I remember very well the 4:0 loss against Italy for the German team a few weeks ago. It´ll be really tough. Still, TV said that the majority in the stadiums should be Americans. If your bases are good for anything, than it should be filling the stadium when the US team plays. ;-)

[Michael81Dus]

Several players are Christians in the Iranian team, surprisingly.

[Michael81Dus]

Wishful thinking? ;-) Why not?

[romanesq]

When would the servicemen have gotten these tix? Most have been sold a long time ago?

It's up to Sam's Army.

[dfwgator]

I think deep down the rulers in Iran are relieved. I don't think they really care about soccer, but it is a concession on their part, since the country has long been passionate about it. I'm sure they would ban it as a "decadent, Western game" if they could.

Plus an Iranian win would put people in the streets and could trigger off demonstrations against the regime. I think Ahmanenejad is privately breathing a sigh of relief.

[romanesq]

Yes, I wouldn't doubt it. I saw an Iranian player bless himself after the match against Mexico.

Most people in Iran are not mullah supporters. They are the first victims of a totalitarian government.

[Jameison]

"I am thinking we want a Ghana win, and a US win. All 3 teams will be on 3 points then. With the future in our hands. A ghana draw, and a US win would accomplish the same. We will technically be alive with a draw in our game, but we really need 2 wins because of goal differential. I want Czechs to lose points, because it gives them incentive to beat Italy on the 22nd."

Pretty much sums it up.
Is that going to happen though? Not looking too likely at the moment. Italy are very hard to beat, and the Czechs looked very good against the US. Ghana will have to put in a herculean effort if they are to beat them.
But hey, we live in hope.