WC 2006: Group E

[Red Door]

This is the thread for Group E.

The Teams
United States
Italy
Ghana
Czech Republic

Rosters


Czech Republic
1 CECH Petr (GK)
2 GRYGERA Zdenek
3 MARES Pavel
4 GALASEK Tomas
5 KOVAC Radoslav
6 JANKULOVSKI Marek
7 SMICER Vladimir
8 POBORSKY Karel
9 KOLLER Jan
10 ROSICKY Tomas
11 NEDVED Pavel
12 LOKVENC Vratislav
13 JIRANEK Martin
14 JAROLIM David
15 BAROS Milan
16 BLAZEK Jaromir (GK)
17 STAJNER Jiri
18 HEINZ Marek
19 POLAK Jan
20 PLASIL Jaroslav
21 UJFALUSI Tomas
22 ROZEHNAL David
23 KINSKY Antonin (GK)

Ghana
1 ADJEI Sammy (GK)
2 SARPEI Hans
3 GYAN Asamoah
4 KUFFOUR Samuel
5 MENSAH John
6 PAPPOE Emmanuel
7 SHILLA Illiasu
8 ESSIEN Michael
9 BOATENG Derek
10 APPIAH Stephen
11 MUNTARI Sulley
12 TACHIE-MENSAH Alex
13 MOHAMED Habib
14 AMOAH Matthew
15 PANTSIL John
16 OWU George (GK)
17 QUAYE Daniel
18 ADDO Eric
19 PIMPONG Razak
20 ADDO Otto
21 AHMED Issah
22 KINGSTON Richard (GK)
23 DRAMANI Haminu

Italy
1 BUFFON Gianluigi (GK)
2 ZACCARDO Cristian
3 GROSSO Fabio
4 DE ROSSI Daniele
5 CANNAVARO Fabio
6 BARZAGLI Andrea
7 DEL PIERO Alessandro
8 GATTUSO Gennaro
9 TONI Luca
10 TOTTI Francesco
11 GILARDINO Alberto
12 PERUZZI Angelo (GK)
13 NESTA Alessandro
14 AMELIA Marco (GK)
15 IAQUINTA Vincenzo
16 CAMORANESI Mauro
17 BARONE Simone
18 INZAGHI Filippo
19 ZAMBROTTA Gianluca
20 PERROTTA Simone
21 PIRLO Andrea
22 ODDO Massimo
23 MATERAZZI Marco

United States
1 HOWARD Tim (GK)
2 ALBRIGHT Chris
3 BOCANEGRA Carlos
4 MASTROENI Pablo
5 O BRIEN John
6 CHERUNDOLO Steve
7 LEWIS Eddie
8 DEMPSEY Clint
9 JOHNSON Eddie
10 REYNA Claudio
11 CHING Brian
12 BERHALTER Gregg
13 CONRAD Jimmy
14 OLSEN Ben
15 CONVEY Bobby
16 WOLFF Josh
17 BEASLEY DaMarcus
18 KELLER Kasey (GK)
19 HAHNEMANN Marcus (GK)
20 MC BRIDE Brian
21 DONOVAN Landon
22 ONYEWU Oguchi
23 POPE Eddie

Games
12-June-2006
USA vs. Czech Republic - 18:00 in Gelsenkirchen
Italy vs. Ghana - 21:00 in Hanover

17-June-2006
Italy vs. USA - 21:00 in Kaiserslautern
Czech Republic vs. Ghana - 18:00 in Cologne

22-June-2006
Ghana vs. USA - 16:00 in Nuremburg
Czech Republic vs. Italy - 16:00 in Hamburg

Predicitons?
Fitness Issues?

Personally, I think Italy is going to win this group with 9 points. Czech Republic is going to have 4 points, as well as the United States. Ghana will have 0, but they will make a good run for points. The United States will advance on goal differential.

 

[ummmm........]

I'm betting on Italy and the Czech Repulic advancing, partially because I don't want to get my hopes up, but also because I don't want to have to watch us play Brazil . . .

But I wouldn't consider that an educated guess at all.

 

[woodelf]

In my Pick a Winner contest I had Italy and the US going through and I think that'll happen here. I think Ghana may scrounge a tie with the Czechs and hopefully not the US.

 

[thetrooper]

Don't underestimate Ghana!

 

[Hitro]

Having a look at their squad there I have to second that.

 

[woodelf]

I'm assuming at least a tie. I'd be thrilled if Ghana beat Italy or the Czechs. Worst case for me is they beat the US.

 

[Red Door]

I think the US and the Czechs are going to tie.

 

[ChrTh]

Don't underestimate Ghana!

I'm rooting for all the underdogs. Go Ghana!

 

[Berrie]

This looks like a very tight group to me. 4 strong teams with lots of quality and they all have already proven their strenght in different tournaments...

As for predictions: I guess Italy and Czechs will go through, but I wouldn't bet any money to it!

 

[woodelf]

The Group of Death, or whatever it's called. I think the US feels some pressure, but aren't the Czechs ranked like #2 by FIFA?

 

[Darkness]

The Group of Death

is group C, actually, not group E.
Argentina, Serbia and Montenegro, Ivory Coast and the Netherlands are stronger than Italy, Czech Republic, Ghana and the USA...

The Czech Republic and Italy will advance from group E. The USA will finish third and Ghana will be fourth.

but aren't the Czechs ranked like #2 by FIFA?

Didn't we already establish in another thread that the FIFA ranking are bullfeathers?

 

[woodelf]

Didn't we already establish in another thread that the FIFA ranking are bullfeathers?

Yeah, but it's still pressure, bullfeathers or not.

 

[Darkness]

Yeah, but it's still pressure, bullfeathers or not.

The only pressure for the US is coming from the US itself. Nobody outside the US (at least, that I know of) expects them to make the second round anyway.

 

[dgfred]

This looks like a very tight group to me. 4 strong teams with lots of quality and they all have already proven their strenght in different tournaments...

As for predictions: I guess Italy and Czechs will go through, but I wouldn't bet any money to it!

I feel the same way, though the US may surprise some of you.

 

[Shigga]

One of the few truly interesting groups. Looking forward to see first results!

 

[classical_hero]

This is really the second group of death, after C of course, so any teams that make it out should do well and do not forget that the second place team will be facing Brazil in the Round of sixteen. Now isn't that a wonderful gift of qualifying from this group.

 

[ChrTh]

This is really the second group of death, after C of course, so any teams that make it out should do well and do not forget that the second place team will be facing Brazil in the Round of sixteen. Now isn't that a wonderful gift of qualifying from this group.

Assuming Brazil makes it to the round of sixteen ...

 

[ummmm........]

What is a "Group of Death", exactly?

 

[Marla_Singer]

This is really the second group of death, after C of course, so any teams that make it out should do well and do not forget that the second place team will be facing Brazil in the Round of sixteen. Now isn't that a wonderful gift of qualifying from this group.

More than the group of death, I would call it the group of uncertainty. As all the 4 teams can finish at any position in the end.

 

[Panda]

If either the Italians or the Czechs don't make it, it's gonna be one of the biggest surprises of the WC. Slim chances for the US to be team #2 that makes it.

What is a "Group of Death", exactly?

A group loaded with top-notch teams. This WC, it's Group C.