2006 WORLD CUP - Day 14 Thread - U.S. needs win in group E finale

MLSnet.com ^ | 6-22-06 | MLSnet.com

[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.

[Michael81Dus]

I want Australia to win.

Then, England has "lost" Owen, Beckham complained about the "hot weather" - England could have been better prepared with the prominent men available.

[jjbrouwer]

Owen and Beckham have been garbage. Becks should be dropped from the team. I think we will win the World Cup if/when Lampard, Gerrard and Joe Cole push forward and support Rooney in the attack. Cole and Gerrard have already bagged three goals between them and Lamps is bound to come good sooner rather than later.

I don't understand why we brought teenager Theo Walcott with us if the manager has no intention of playing him. He should be given a run out in the second half against Ecuador. And then sent home in disgrace if he turns out to be as useless as many suspect.

[You Dirty Rats]

I agree about the first match, but I don't think we can complain too much about the Italy match and today I think the effort was there but the execution was not crisp.

This was a much tougher group than 1998.

And as far as playing Eddie Johnson is concerned -- fact is that since his injury he's proven nothing on any level. I really hope he gets his form back; the World Cup is not the place to do that (unless your name is Paolo Rossi).

This was a disappointing World Cup for us, but not an awful one. 1998 was awful. 2002 for France and Argentina was awful.

I do think we need a lot of changes for 2010. Some of the old guard have to go, and that might include Arena.

But regardless of who the coach is or who plays for us, until we get a striker who scares the opposition and reliably puts the ball in the net we won't be a hugh and series threat in the World Cup.

[don-o]

Brazil is flat wearing out Japan goalie

[Michael81Dus]

Japan - Brasil 1-0.

[Michael81Dus]

Proof, that Brasil is baaaaad.

[dfwgator]

Uh Oh!

[onja]

Wow. It'd be interesting if Japan beat Brazil. hahahaha

[dfwgator]

I am going to put this in big, bold letters

Brazil ain't going to win the cup this year!!!

[Michael81Dus]

BUMP!

[Eurotwit]

penalty Australia.

[Michael81Dus]

YESSS!!!

[Eurotwit]

Goal.

That is so deserved. Craig Moore.

Australia has utterly dominated the first half with some great football.

Italy look out ;-)

[Tolik]

Merkus Merk is a good ref, but he butchered it today.

Let me put it this way: there is no good refs on that level of playing. Merk maybe somewhat better than others, but he butchered his portion of highly visible games in the Champions League as well. I don't think even Molina was perfect. Nobody can on that high speed, high intensity play. Plus, the video replay we see and they don't is getting better and better.

There was something assuring in the unchanging rules of the game that resists bringing in every new supposedly hot trend. BUT, but, but... There are complains about some aspects of the game that become universal practically everywhere. There is no league in the world that does not have referee crisis, offside crisis, crossing the goalmouth crisis.

Some changes must be done, otherwise the fans will lose sanity. We might say that in ten years technology may solve some of these problems, but why not to start now?

If hockey and basketball played on the much smaller field can have more than one field official, why soccer can't add another one?

There are game stopping moments anyway, let's not pretend that it flows 45 minutes non-stop. Some crucial moments can be reviewed by now existing 4th official even now.

After the game review of cards given or not given should be a routine. A terrible foul that did not receive a card during the play can be penalized now only in extraordinary situations. Why not change it? Same as reduce penalty if the card was not justified. (at least some consolation)

There is no way FIFA will introduce any changes without long experiments. We had some stupid ones in the US, why not do some beneficial to everybody ones. I am sure FIFA will be happy, and our restless fans as well.

[Michael81Dus]

GREAT!!! I read it on the ticker.

[lainie]

I know. And he even deferred getting first comment right after the match, saying he's still too steamed to think straight. But I think he'll temper his comments later, if he's being honest, and admit that obvious mistakes were made by squad members, and that can only partially be blamed on Arena's coaching. Though I'm certainly no fan of Arena's coaching in the tournament.

[dfwgator]

After the game review of cards given or not given should be a routine.

I don't think a card should be given after the fact, but I do think there should be a review of cards given out, and the possibility of them being overturned by a neutral panel.

[Michael81Dus]

Agreed. And before you give a penalty, you should ask for an ok from a ref sitting at a video screen with slow-motion. You can add that extra-time the way they do it these days.

[jjbrouwer]

Brazil really have to kick that lumpen hippo Ronaldo off the team. Cro-stralia have their own hippo in Viduka. If Viduka could have ceased some of Kewell's passes, the Cro-stralians would be about 3-1 up by now.

Mind you, he is a Croat so he may be trying to fix the game for the old country.

[Michael81Dus]

No arguement about both proposals. Ronaldos high times are over.