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 ...
Yes, Donovan said he would like to play for United, but United should spend their time and money elsewhere.
It was disappointing, but as someone said before (if I could remember who it was I would give him credit) '98 was the disaster of disasters and we bounced back nicely from that.....
I agree with you. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot about keeping Arena though? We need Klinsmann!
Yeah, 98' was a total disaster. And there are too many other teams that are better than us that fared worse. Still, I am an American and expect better. Taking this worse than the last summer Olympics and our basketball team being run around.
Totally agree with you. The tie versus Italy with the pretty high viewership probably destroyed any chance of soccer really taking hold here. It was embarrassing to watch Italians writhing on the ground non stop. Add to that today's game and guys dropping over in the second half with hardly any contact!!!!!
Its set back soccer a long way IMHO
>>You never saw a giddier bunch of people in your life, huge grins ear-to-ear. Nice folks.
I'd guess that people from Ghana are overjoyed to be making it to the round of 16, and likely not sore winners.
In my experience the most likely people to be rubbing it in your face when the US loses are people from England. Dunno why but all the English guys here have this hatred of any team from the US and seem to really love seeing our teams lose. *shrug* Who knows why?
Well...at least USA didn't finish dead last this time. Who owns that distinction?
Ghana is not a bad team at all! Losing 2-1 to them is not a disgrace, especially when the PK was bogus.
Both Ghana goals were the result of horrible misplays on our side.
This was a tough group. OK, the FIFA ratings are full of holes, but how must the Czechs feel ranked 2nd in the world and finishing 3rd in the group?
Ghana was screwed by the referee today also -- the yellow on Essien was garbage, and now Ghana won't have their best player against Brazil. (I hate the yellow card accumulation for a suspension anyway -- a dubious card like that and you miss a game? Stupid ).
Clearly we were not treated well by the officials in this tournament, but the bottom line is we were definitely the fourth-best team in this tough group. I think all four teams are better than Mexico, for example.
At least the Canadians can be polite. They didn't even make the tournament. :)
My hats off to all the fine folks on this thread who add their opinions, analysis and insight to each match. Salute!
Bottom line, I think, is that in 3 games, the USA scored one goal. Just not good enough
Did you just see that interview with Reyna??? We're a small soccer country and our ranking was off???? WTF???
Balboa rightfully tearing into him.
Well, I disagree. We are past the time of "how well soccer does" according to how well the US does in the cup. In fact, ESPN's viewership of the US games are some of the highest they have ever had for any sport. Where there's ad money, there is promotion.
No, I am at work and cant see anything. Balboa should tear into him. "No excuses" were the buzz words before the Cup, remember?
Huh? Adu is barely 17 years old.
I bet the US has more youth soccer players than most countries have citizens. Would like to see the numbers, but I wouldn't consider the US a "small" soccer country by any means.
This result is going to scar me for awhile. YUCK!
France won't get destroyed. They'll surrender first. Remember that the red and blue parts of their flag are held on by Velcro.
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