WC 2006: Group E

[Hitro]

I've heard about Rosicky being "so very good" for years (even Pre WC 2002). I've never seen him being "so very good" - not even today. What did he do ?

Finally a voice of sanity. Well, he scored two goals, that's fine, of course. But so did bloody Paolo Wanchope...

 

[ThERat]

Rosicky was very good IMHO. Robben was far too selfish. I see the strength in the Czech team that they have a great balance and play as a team. USA coudn't play well also due to the Czech strength.

Rosicky didn't only have a lucky shot. He opened the game several times. He also hit the crossbar. I agree so far the best player in the tournament.

edit: 2004 we saw Czech and Holland, an outstanding game. I would have wished such teams to reach the final (that's my prediction this year). Negative Greece was able to beat them after injuring Nedved.

 

[Darkness]

Rosicky?
Penetration, positioning, passing, finishing. He did it all this game. The entire Czech midfield did, but he stood out (mostly due to his two goals, but still)...

Robben played quite good yesterday. He won the game for Holland, but his efficiency was lacking at times. He often wanted to do too much himself.

 

[MCdread]

What did Rosicky do today? I think Darkness already answered it.

Let's get a couple of things straight:
- The modern game is tactical, with speed and technique (not in the sense of dribbling ability) added in.
- More important than dominate a game is to control it, especially in competitions like these and in first games, where you want to save energies for the rest of the competition.
- A game is controlled by how well the collective movements and especially positioning are done. For example, the czechs have a leftwinger with 34 years old, that has lot the edge for a long time ago, but because of how well organised the team is, he does not need to run a lot or get more tired than normally expected. He was very much on game for 82 minutes.

The czechs didn't destroy the USA, they didn't even outplayed them in the sense of putting the oppoennt out of breath. What they did was a nice display of modern positional play. That way they won the game comfortably and with minimum energy expended. Not necessarily enough to win the WC, but enough for today. And Rosicky was very much involved in all of it, he and Nedved were the pivots of the system, but Rosicky shined more because when it's necessary to run and press the speed button, he's one that does it because he's the youngest of the lot.

So far, the czechs and the dutch were the best, or if you prefer, the most consistent.

 

[MCdread]

Italy is playing really well after the first 45 minutes. Showing their best face, now let's see what face they're gonna show in the second, but so far it has been really impressive. I'm watching this game with a bunch of italians and africans packed in a small room, and so far it's being the most entertaining game of the WC for me as a spectator.

 

[Volum]

Arg that was a penalty!

 

[kronic]

Not really.

 

[Volum]

It was, but it dosnt matter now.

 

[Truronian]

Ghana got nasty towards the end. I think that defender (Kuffah?) got a good taste of karma though .

 

[Rik Meleet]

Rosicky?
Penetration, positioning, passing, finishing. He did it all this game. The entire Czech midfield did, but he stood out (mostly due to his two goals, but still)...

I just didn't notice. I'll pay more attention to him next game then.

 

[Hitro]

As for Rosicky, well, I'll change my opinion on him as soon as he plays well in one whole season against good opponents.

But enough of that boring game, finally there was a truly great World Cup match!

Italy vs. Ghana was brilliant for a first round match, with the better team scoring a deserved win. I was much impressed by the Italians, though not surprised. While tactically enourmously strong as usual they were also creating more chances than any other team in the competition so far. Truly great. And Ghana were a really decent opposition, they just lacked a little organization in comparison with Italy and that made the difference, especially in the second half.

Overall Italy clearly the best team so far to me.

 

[jameson]

Funny thing happened today: I found myself, if not downright rooting for, then at least sympathizing with the Italians. Apart from playing well (and not at all overly defensively), they also looked much more like a team than they normally do, plus they were subject to some horrific fouls from the Ghanaians. I was surprised Ghana ended the match with 11 men on the pitch.
Maybe it helps that the Azzurri now have several players who made their careers at less-fancied clubs ?

I don't rate them as challengers yet though - when they take on the Czech Republic, we'll know more about where they stand. Ghana did play better than I expected but were a bit weak offensively. Amoah just isn't a target man, his replacement was invisible, and Essien isn't quite as good at taking long shots as he seemed to think he is.

 

[Azale]

I am a little surprised at the USA's effort...Italy looked very smooth for most of thier game, I think its going to be damn near impossible for the USA to score an upset against them.

*sigh* I didnt expect to break out of the group, but I also didnt expect to lose 3-0 to the injury plagued Czechs...

 

[Red Door]

That was embarising. 3-0, that was awful.

The Italian game was better, Italy really played quite well. They had a bunch of chances.

 

[woodelf]

I hope the US at least pulls out a tie with Ghana. Amazing how my goals have dropped. Ghana would have whipped them today.

 

[MCdread]

I don't rate them as challengers yet though - when they take on the Czech Republic, we'll know more about where they stand.

They may both be qualified by then and rest a few players, although they may want to play to avoid Brazil otoh.

Good game and exxcellent italian display. It seems that Lippi didn't learn with Trappatoni and didn't start replacing forwards with defenders when 1-0 up. That's something that Trap never seemed to learn, that you cannot sustain a counter-attacking game if you have one or two lone men at front, with the midfield and defence lines packed on the other side of the pitch. Instead, he kept the formation, and while naturally playing more conservatively in the 2nd half, were able to continue to be very threatening in the counter strike. The quality of the italian movements (pressing, defending, in organised attack, in counter attack, etc.) contributed to show that Italy has many strong points and with the amount of quality players, the potential is huge and up until now they are the closest thing to challengers against Brazil's announced domination.

As for Ghana, they are also a good team, but need to extend the game a bit more: the central midfield is good, but the link between it and the attack isn't that great, especially on the forwards' point of view, and also looked more fragile when trying to use the wings (which on paper is the weakest point of Italy defensively). The shooting also needs more improvement, but I'm curious to see their game with the czechs. If Koller doesn't play and Baros takes too long to enter in the WC pace, they can shut the czech forwards and force more pressure on the midfield and in Rosicky and Nedved. They can make a mistake and then, if Ghana occupies the space well, they have good chances on counter strike there I think. I believe they can beat the americans, and if the czech game is fortunate, they can yet cause a surprise. Too bad though that what look to be the two best african teams got the two toughest groups...

 

[Hitro]

Too bad though that what look to be the two best african teams got the two toughest groups...

Yeah, that will likely result in a disaster for Africa, as they will get eliminated because of it while Angola and probably Togo too will get eliminated just because of not being good enough (I hope Togo will surprise me on that but doubt it). Tunisia against Spain and Ukraine? Well...

So it might end very ugly for them.

 

[Marla_Singer]

Yeah, that will likely result in a disaster for Africa, as they will get eliminated because of it while Angola and probably Togo too will get eliminated just because of not being good enough (I hope Togo will surprise me on that but doubt it). Tunisia against Spain and Ukraine? Well...

So it might end very ugly for them.

Actually, by looking at current results, not only Africa will appear badly, but also Asia and Concacaf. The only Concacaf team which have serious chance to reach the 2nd round is Mexico, but they should get beaten there by no matter who they'll meet.

 

[Rhye]

Is it just me?
I've probably seen another game.

The first 20 minutes were a Ghanese siege.
Then after Toni hitting the bar we recovered but still with the fixation with long passes. We don't seem good enough to hold the ball if not like the Argentinians, at least like the Czechs.
In the end it turned out to be a lucky game but WTH every time Italy plays it's either a boring game or, like this time, a continuous heart-attack.
I mean, have you seen Nesta saving from a potential equaliser a ball with the heel?

 

[jameson]

They may both be qualified by then and rest a few players, although they may want to play to avoid Brazil otoh.

My mistake, I thought Czech Republic v Italy was the second group match. It's a pity that in fact several of the last group matches are likely to have no impact on qualification (Sweden-England, Portugal-Mexico, Czechs v Italy and, I hope, Netherlands vs Argentina). Anyone know whether this is a deliberate effect of the seeding ?