2nd Game Group Wraps
Group D
Mexico sputtered and missed a great opportunity to advance to the Round of Sixteen as they failed to overcome Angola, a team reduced to 10 men. Though Mexico had plenty of opportunities to secure victory, they were far too wasteful in front of goal. Credit the Angolan goalkeeper though as he held it together between the sticks. Mexico missed injured striker Jared Borgetti and will be hoping to get him back fit again to lead the attack.
Portugal defeated Iran 2-0, but didn’t look so convincing. It took a Deco Dreamer (first time blast set up by Figo right outside the 18) and a 2nd half penalty converted by Christiano Ronaldo to eliminate Iran from the World Cup before their final game.
Mexico face Portugal in the third and final Group Match in an intriguing fixture that will determine the top seeding in this group. Angola, who face Iran, will need not only a win, but a miracle, to progress to the next round.
Group E
Ghana shocked Czech Republic 2-0 and forced an all out fight for 2nd seeding in this group. Ghana showed that their opening loss to Italy was not fatal to their confidence and came out and forced the issue over the Czechs, who looked quite lame without strikers Koller and Baros. Ghana struck on an early goal by Asamoah Gyan and then killed the game off by a late goal from Muntari, leaving the Czechs advancement to the next round in balance.
The United States’ hopes was luckily kept alive coming back one down against Italy to earn a point and a tie. Italy struck first on a set piece with Gilardino getting in at the near post to head home the free kick. The Americans were given a life-line by an own goal from Italian defender, Zaccardo, who got into a pushing match with an American attacker in the box and then miss-cleared into his own net past the helpless goalie. The game then turned ugly, becoming the most violent match of the tournament so far.
Despite the very physical approach of the US tactics, Italian midfielder, de Rossi lost his mind and was expelled in the 1st half for an x-rated elbow on McBride—most face injuries suffered by an international player—a special stat should be invented for this man who courageously continues to go for headers. The US were then punished for their overall physical approach with two sending offs in the 2nd half.
Ironically, the US attacked much better with the loss of two and narrowly missed nicking a goal at the end, when McBride was rightly adjudged offside in his involvement with DaMarcus Beasley’s disallowed goal. Kasey Keller shrugged off the 3-0 slacking by the Czechs to make some key saves to keep the Italians from victory.
Italy will face the Czech Republic in a tense game that will determine the fate of the Czechs. Will they be able to unlock a stingy defensive Italian side that only need one point to go out as group winners?
The US face Ghana and must pull off the victory and hope that the Italians pull the tri-fecta over the Czech Republic, for the US to get into the Round of Sixteen.
Unfortunately, the tactics of the US National Team make it very difficult to move forward in numbers and be able to deliver quality crosses into the box, where a striker like McBride is capable of finishing—his Fulham goals speak for themselves—and with the physical and technical aspects of the Ghanaians it will be very difficult for the Americans in Nuremberg.
American Lineup—Keller
Cherundolo, Onyewu, Bocanegra, Lewis
Dempsey, O’Brien, Beasley
Donovan
Johnson, McBride
*some selections forced through red cards
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