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 ...
They're from CNN.
No, I thought I heard CZR went down to 10 men. As for the penalty, I totally agree with you.
That penalty kick awarded Ghana is the worst call in this competition to date! Totally bogus!!!!!!!!
LOL
Can't have the result the world doesn't want to see now can we?
Unfreakin real.
Ahhh, we were talking past each other. :D
I hven't heard anything about the ITA-CZR game, but I recall another poster on this thread noting that they had a man sent off.
If Johnson doesn't start the second half Arena should be fired before the end of the game. This is getting ridiculous now.
Ref handed Ghana the opportunity.
Replay of the 'infraction' didn't show anything that warranted a goal shot penalty.
Team USA is being double-teamed by Ghana and Ref.
It's 1-0 Italia, with Jan Polak of the Czechs getting his 2nd yellow card right before half-time
We were totally robbed.
Replay clearly shows it was no penalty. For USA to do well in the World Cup we have to learn how to play a sport against wild savage animals. We need to send our team to the jungle and play against the gorillas, lions, bears, etc. And we also need to get the Mafia to be the refs. Whether it's Italy or Ghana the savage animals are on the loose.
It's always the same story. This happens too often for there to be coincidence.
We can still do it!
ON the bright side, that's one more goal we've scored against Ghana that CZR was unable to score.
I guess Dwayne Wade plays for Ghana.
Or the DNC. Or any other of the numerous entities in this country that want to see us fail..
I'm sure glad my former player is in (Ben Olsen) but don't like how he got in with an injury.
We are not out of this by any chance.
Stupid everyone. Annoying how the U.S. is really good and should have easily gotten out of this group. Beat Italy. Very possibly beat Ghana. But, no. That can't happen. So the refs call everything on us to make us fail. And don't call our opponent's fouls till they punch us. I hate conspiracy theories but I really do think they planned this. Make the U.S. fail.
The officiating has been pretty bad..
Certainly looks like the refs are against us and have picked Ghana to win this game. Nothing to do but suck it up and attack!
Best ref in the world, huh?
I still think we've got no choice but to go right at them. EJ and Convey need to get on the field. No more playing defensively. I'd rather win 5-4 than end us with a conservative 2-2.
Yep. And Arena should have bit the ref's head off for that BS call.
Sorry. Calmed down. But still... We're actually decent now and yet very well may get only 1 point. :(
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