What a match! Ghana 2 - Czech Republic 0. Great for Ghana, a team that didn't show it's good stuff in the Italy match.
Now what? Well, a lot rides on the US-Italy game. My original prediction for this group was the Czechs taking it, Ghana pulling off the upset and moving on to the knockout round, Italy being sent home, and the US - though strong - coming in last. This could still happen. In fact, anything could still happen.
Even if they can't be eliminated today, the US has to beat Italy to make this all interesting and to keep a slim hope alive of moving on. Italy nearly wraps up a place in the next round if they beat the US by a couple of goals. The Czechs are still looking okay, but they'll have to win the Italy game. The earlier 3-0 result against the US gives them a leg up on goal differential.
So, let's say (hope) the US beats Italy. This brings the whole thing down to who beats whom in the last set of games and by how many points since we would then have all four teams tied at three points each. Basically, the winners of those final two games would go on.
There are many scenarios left, however, in this group. Fun game coming up. Go USA.
p.s. Oh yeah, look for both Italy and the US to try to light up the scoreboard.
UPDATE (3:48):
A wild first half: US 1 - Italy 1. The top scorer for the US at this point is an Italian. The US is looking solid. Great attacking, slightly shaky but stronger defense, and excellent possession in the center and up front. A missed goal towards the end of the half was one of the most beautifully constructed plays I've ever seen the US make.
But... what I really want to say is go to hell de Rossi.
UPDATE (5:30):
That was a moral victory for the US, despite the 1-1 final score. Playing one extra man down the entire second half and tying Italy is a tremendous feat. And, contrary to ABC's call, I thought the officiating was pretty good. The send-off of Pope was a bad call on a good tackle. Mastroeni's red card was deserved - you can't slide into an opponent cleats up. It could have been a yellow card, but the red is in the rulebook. So, forget complaining about the officiating.
As for Italy, well, I can't stand them. Spitters, divers, whiners, elbowers. That's their game and it's ugly, regardless of the individual talent they have every year. The problem is that it's now to the US' advantage - assuming they can beat Ghana next match - to have Italy beat the Czechs. I simply can't bring myself to root for Italy. A Helmutian Dilemma.
UPDATE (5:47):
A final update on soccer today.... Click here for the mp3, "Kasey Keller" by the band, Barcelona.
OK, Final UPDATE:
Mastroeni went in cleats up. I didn't know he was Argentinian (and all a-het-up for the good lovin'). What is the US thinking? (Thanks to SuperFrenchie).
3 comments:
Italy will beat the Czechs. The fact that Larrionda wasn't pulled by FIFA at the half tells this suspicious mind that the fix is in. And I could agree with you on the red cards on Pope and Mastroeni but for the fact that they both got ball before contact. All those ankle injuries could be avoided if only the ball didn't have to be handled with the feet.....
Still, a gutsy performance by the USA, akin to T&T v. Sweden last week. USA was taking it to 'em before the red card confetti festival. Probably earned a lot of respect from objective observers.
Agree with you 100% about the USA-Italy game. One point that didn't get mentioned by the jingoistic commentary team: Bruce Arena screwed up badly by not subbing Pope as soon as he got his first yellow card. The way he was playing, a second yellow (and therefore a red) looked inevitable.
I don't know about Italy beating the Czechs. That'll be a hard-fought game, I think. And the Czechs are still one of the top sides.
Geoff, I certainly agree with you that Pope should have been substituted. The second yellow was a bad call, but Pope was doing lots of tugging and bumping and flirting with disaster anyway. He should have been pulled.
But... it might not be such a bad thing. Pope has looked one step too slow. I dislike how teams will generally go with experience over youth and speed in order - they think - to reduce the risk of errors. I'd rather see a fast, dynamic game, than those World Cup matches where no one wants to lose (as opposed to wanting to win) and that shows in the play.
One other thing about US-Italy. Although I think the cards were legit, the problem with them is that they changed a terrific match of two teams trying to win into one of those matches of not wanting to lose. When Pope was sent off, it was all Italy on the attack, except for a couple of brief attempts by the US.
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