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It could be "Last Roundup" time for the American side if they can't upset the Italians. The teams have met twice in the World Cup. The first time was in 1934 and the Italians won 7-1. They met again in 1990 and Italy won 1-0.
Italian soccer has had its internal problems, but it doesn't seem to affect the players much.
Group E is a bit of a mess now after Ghana shocked the Czechs 3-0 earlier in the day. Italy, Ghana, and the Czech Republic all have 3 points and the USA has none. If the Americans pull off the upset, everybody would tied going to the last match.
But most likely, at the end of the day, Italy will have 6 points and a goal difference of at least +3. The Czechs are at 3 points and +1 and Ghana is at 3 points and 0. Ghana would be able to advance if they could pull off a tie and the Czechs lose by 2 or more to Italy.
If the USA wins, they would still need to beat Ghana in their last match to have a good shot of advancing.
National anthems
USA, Star Spangled Banner Hey, you might not know it.
And two of them were in 1930.
Then they beat England in 1990.
Colombia in 1994.
Portugal and Mexico in 2002.
Where would a win over Italy rank? Under the circumstances, I think it would be pretty high. I was reading some stuff this morning where they talked to Walter Bahr about the 1950 win over England. He said he thought the US played better in its earlier loss against Spain and just got all the breaks against England.
The U.S. keeper then, Frank Borghi, said he played that position because he could never kick the ball well. He said he always threw the ball out if he could and he never took the goal kicks. All of his punts would go straight up in the air.
Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
But how would Jose in the adidas commercial line 'em up?
You would have
Italy 4 pts, +2
Czech 3 pts, +1
Ghana 3 pts, 0
USA 1 pts, -3
I can buy that since the Czechs have no strikes available for the match against Italy and Ghana lost both its goal scorers with second yellows.
Dammit.
Now is the chance for US, but that was a questionable foul against Italy.
lol
DAMN right on his foot. Even the pros lean back when they shoot like I used to when I put it over the net.
The USA is controlling the middle third here. As long as they keep more possession, and win it in the midfield, they will create opportunities.
These are just like high school games. Soccer is pretty universal and consistent.
Scary.
Yes, it was Ramos who got the skull fracture.
I really wish there was more of those from outside the box. The extensive passing in the mess of the box and just beyond does not seem to come close to as good a result as those aggressive shots-on-goal.
Oh crap, I want to see the Ghana highlight.
http://www.mindspring.com/~jaypsand/ghana2.htm
Feeble attempt from reyna.
wait...NOOOOO!
It just opened. And it has a TV. That was a good $9 sandwich!
Keller was Man of the Match and he was quite studly.
My comments when Pope got his red card and Beasley's goal was taken off are better left unsaid. They involved words starting with "f" and ending with "g."
So....
Now we have:
Italy 4 pts, +2, 3 goals
Czech 3 pts, +1, 3 goals
Ghanga 3 pts, 0, 2 goals
USA 1 pt, -2, 1 goal
The USA will need Italy to beat the Czechs and then they would have to put a serious hurt on Ghana, which I can't foresee.
Unless this crazy Uruguayan ref comes back.
If Italy and USA win, it would be:
Italy, 7 pts
USA, 4 pts
Ghana, 3 pts
Czech, 3 pts
US beats Ghana
US is in
I need to review what happens when you add 1 to 3.
Ghana lost its strikers. The US won't have Pope.
I really hate this Italian squad. They just ooze corruption. I need to root on a team that doesn't cheat as much.
Are the Swedes honest?
The Czechs can't afford to do that. But the Czechs are losing players like it's the Battle of the Somme.
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