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 ...
Do you have jackets?
Maybe Arena could head up the USSF, but we've got to get Klinsi in here. Besides, eight years is enough.
Turn it around on them -- nothing pisses them (and the rest of the soccer-loving world) off more than expressing complete disinterest in their "sport."
Absolutely no killer instinct, no swagger at all. That's US soccer in a nutshell.
>>Well, maybe this will put a bullet in the notion that the US can beat anyone outside of CONCACAF with a team loaded with 140 lb ballerinas.
LOL.
When Donovan came home with his tail between his legs to go play for the LA Galaxy, I knew he would never be able to take on the star defenders in the WC. His "big fish in a small pond" mentality is not going to push his game to the next level.
Bruce is a wonderful person though. I just don't think he can take us to the next level.
That's why if indeed Freddie Adu is all that, he needs to get his butt to Europe and see how he ranks with the best Euro players, he will never develop in the MLS into the kind of player the US needs.
Well put and worth a repeat. That sums it up. And, who is responsible for that?
Hell he's sitting his A** on the bench for DC United...i just would be happy to see him play. I was joking during the game (and especially if Arena stays) that he would be better served playing for his home country of Ghana.
Who is saying that? Wynalda wasn't too friendly about Arena's calls. I bet Lalas is defending Arena.
If it's OBrien or Musburger I put ZERO value on their analysis.
As it was almost 8p.m. in the UK when he called, I wondered if his timing was deliberate.
LOL!!
Sorry to see the U.S. eliminated today, but they really did not seem to be playing to win. Let's hope they do better in 2010.
My hopes must now rest on England and Brazil.
Yeah... I still don't like Ghana now. Especially since I think the refs may have been trying to get a african team in, regardless of whether they deserved it or not. Granted it was cool they displayed the Israeli flag. But I still want them to see them beaten. Petty, yes. Oh well. I agree with you about France though. :) I would love to see them get destroyed by Togo.
Absolutely agree. Starting off in a rough and tumble division like England's League One or League Championship (or whatever they call it now) where the other players are really hungry would be best IMO. But it has to be someplace where he will get playing time. Sitting on the bench and kicking balls around the training pitch aren't going to be very helpful.
Here in NYC, I just walked by the Ghanian consulate (on 47th between Madison and 5th) on my way to work, and there was a small group of 5-6 outside on the sidewalk whooping it up politely, waving their flag.
I congratulated them on their victory, and they all gushed their happiness to me. You never saw a giddier bunch of people in your life, huge grins ear-to-ear. Nice folks.
Of course, blase NYers just walked right by them, most of them probably oblivious as to what those people were celebrating. I myself wasn't so choked up about us losing anyway.
ESPNNEWS Crew.
Tommy Smith and the other guy who I didn't know.
This was step backwards. Its not just the results, but the way we played. Arena has to take the blame for that. There have been much bigger letdowns in World Cup and US sports history, but this is one just just the same.
A laid-back coach and a biased ref. - U.S. had no chance today.
BTW- I have nothing against the Ghanans. The fans looked like a happy, nice bunch. Much better than most Europeans. I just don't like the game they played; affected by the ref as it was.
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