WC 2006: Group E

[jameson]

One question here: Some of the Italian players have some very short haircuts, they almost look like some fascist impersonation to me. Am I just imagining or is there some truth to it? I hope I am wrong, but Cannavaro looks like one of them. I always thought Italian players fancy their hairstyle more than the game (like Nesta etc.)

I thought that too. Which is one of the reasons for my persistent dislike for the Italian team - after 2000, of course. So I was pleased to some of them having it cut off. Maybe they finally decided that the game was more important than the hair.

 

[willemvanoranje]

Probably the short haircut is very stylish in Italy nowadays..

 

[willemvanoranje]

Italy - Ghana match is predictedly boring, as usual. I wonder who the hell coined that this is the second toughest group?

The Italians of course. They even tried to robb the title of "Group of Death" from group C I think it was clear to everyone that Italy will go through and that the second will probably be the Czech Republic.. I have to admit I too overestimated the USA by seeing them as serious competition for the Czech, but not it appears this group will have it's predicted outcome without any trouble. The last game will decide the winner for the group, and I think it will be Italy. If not, then we get the game that could've been the final in round 2 already haha!

 

[Rik Meleet]

I don't say Brazil is unbeatable, I just don't believe we're the ones who can beat them. They are better in everything. They would have to drink all night before the game in order to give us a chance.

I beg to differ. Czechs have the best keeper in the world, currently; a very solid defense; a world class midfield, and a coach who knows what he is doing and doesn't panic if things go wrong. The only thing Czechs don't have world class is a striker. Jan Koller is a limited striker, losing him hurts, but not as bad as losing Cech or Nedved ...

I think Czechs can beat Brasil.

 

[woodelf]

An ESPN2 commentator picked the US for the ''simple'' reason that he thought the us goalie was better than Peter Cech. I mean.. com'on!!! How can you consider Keller better than Cech who plays @ the english powerhouse Chelsea?? That just disgusted me and it meant those commentators do not watch the European leagues.

Yeah, the same commentator was saying Keller was top 3 (in the world!), then changed his tune to top 5, then top 10 when the guy next to him didn't agree. Classic ignorance.

 

[Rhye]

Juve players shaved their heads to celebrate the scudetto (as long as it's assigned to Juve), that's it. It isn't even stylish here actually....
Though I don't like very short hair, I appreciated the fact that they weren't so polished as in Euro 2004, where they probably thought they all were stars and their hair was the most important thing.

Anyway I wonder how you can see fascist (???) implications in this. Shaved heads can be related to neo-nazis. Not even nazis or fascists (who, the latter, could be recognized from wearing in black.)

 

[Rhye]

Yeah, the same commentator was saying Keller was top 3 (in the world!), then changed his tune to top 5, then top 10 when the guy next to him didn't agree. Classic ignorance.

Keller in thetop 10?

 

[Rhye]

The Italians of course. They even tried to robb the title of "Group of Death" from group C I think it was clear to everyone that Italy will go through and that the second will probably be the Czech Republic..

Well is this an easy group then?
A overhyped USA and our fears of Ghana helped the valutation of a 2nd goup of death, considering too that only the 1st will go through (the 2nd already knowing to be knocked out by Brazil very soon).
Italy arriving first iasn't clear to anyone with a bit of realism, at least here.

 

[woodelf]

Keller in thetop 10?

I nearly spit out my coffee. The idiot assumes that because Keller plays (starts?) in Europe that he's the best there is. I don't even know who he plays for. What a moron he was to listen to.

 

[Red Threat]

Rhye, maybe your judgement about the way Italy played were influenced by your anxiety and feeling towards the match when watching tv?

I really had not such heart-breaking times, I saw a team which dominated over another one, whose point of strenght (the physical game) was completely annihilated by our technical superiority.

P.S. I hopefully will send you something on sunday.

 

[MCdread]

@ the italians: So, what would be considered a good performance? A 5-0 hammering with doubles from Toni and Gillardino, and a 5th brilliant play by Totti against a good team, that would be forced never to leave their own midfield on the first game of the WC?!?
Have some sense of reality, men! To start winning is already good, and Italy did it against good opposition and more convincingly than the other top teams so far.

 

[Rhye]

well probably you are right, I was just anxious and couldn't watch the game with objective judgment.
Even todays newspapers prove me wrong (but I still think to Nesta saving us from a counterattack with the heel...)

 

[thetrooper]

One question here: Some of the Italian players have some very short haircuts, they almost look like some fascist impersonation to me. Am I just imagining or is there some truth to it? I hope I am wrong, but Cannavaro looks like one of them. I always thought Italian players fancy their hairstyle more than the game (like Nesta etc.)

I shaved my head in the army. Does that make me a fascist?

 

[Rhye]

I nearly spit out my coffee. The idiot assumes that because Keller plays (starts?) in Europe that he's the best there is. I don't even know who he plays for. What a moron he was to listen to.

I jsut found this forum:
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/

very funny.
Now it's a tragedy, but if you browse back some pages, you'll find a load of statements like these true gems:

"We will win. There is absolutely no reason to believe that the US will not win the World Cup."

"12% of the Americans say they will win this World Cup"

"We can win this thing. We can crush the Czechs. We can send the Italians running back to their momma mias. We can manhandle Ghana like rag dolls. Who's with me?"

"We are #5 in the world, in our group only the czechs are above us, so we and them will go through"

"Come on, Donovan is way better than Totti"

"WE ARE THE FUTURE. The future is NOW."

"ELO rankings overrate mediocre european teams like Denmark"

"I predict 4-3 to Brazil after extra time"

"We're gonna show the world and you EuroSnobs what we can do"

"Your using the level of "play" in italian Serie A as some sort indicator of quality? You MUST be joking."

"We reached quarter finals in 2002, and having improved, it's clear that we'll reach at least the semis now"

"Czech republic is a small county, we should have no problems in defeating them" (as if they were talkng about invading them!)

 

[le_harv]

Ok I almost never post on forums but after Rhye's little 'find' I had to wet myself! No way are those comments for real?!?! lol!

I am English so obviously I have a vested interest in this world cup! Gotta say I was rooting for Ghana purely because they had some great opportunities but at the end of the day Italy's play was better. As for the the US/Czech game i was highly disappointed that the US didn't do better. The Czech's are never to be underestimated though.

Not wanting to insite any flaming but at this early stage i wouldn't be suprised if the US finish bottom of the group. Ghana are hungry for victory and could well beat the US, The Czech's will be difficult for them but it will be interesting match!

 

[dgfred]

All that is from hopeful fans only, not experts. I watched the match again on
tape and although the defense had several terrible lapses , overall the
USA didn't play that badly--- uninspired but not bad. The problem seemed to
be that the US forwards and midfield couldn't, or were not ready to put any serious pressure on the Czech defense and our super defender seemed to be in awe over being in the World Cup for the first time. Maybe Italy will relax
a bit and the US can give them a decent match. Although our team is much
improved, they are not improved enough to not go 'all out' in every match.
Another good thing is that there is no where to go but up .

 

[MCdread]

An ESPN2 commentator picked the US for the ''simple'' reason that he thought the us goalie was better than Peter Cech. I mean.. com'on!!! How can you consider Keller better than Cech who plays @ the english powerhouse Chelsea?? That just disgusted me and it meant those commentators do not watch the European leagues.

Well, Keller is a good keeper, but Cech will be considered by many the best in the world or sharing that title with Buffon. Someone seems to have forgotten of doing his homework.

 

[classical_hero]

Crap. It looks Lke I have overestimate the American. I predicted that they would win this group, but only by goal difference. i now think they will finish last in this group. Blast.

 

[Marla_Singer]

I've just heard an American journalist saying that yesterday's loss was expected because after all "Czech Republic is 2nd of the FIFA ranking" !

However, the Journalist was still confident as both Italy and Ghana are below the US in FIFA ranking so the US should beat them !

 

[MCdread]

I've just heard an American journalist saying that yesterday's loss was expected because after all "Czech Republic is 2nd of the FIFA ranking" !

However, the Journalist was still confident as both Italy and Ghana are below the US in FIFA ranking so the US should beat them !

The czechs are 2nd, USA 5th. 3 positions up, 3 goals up. Italy is only 13th I think, 8 positions down. USA should be to trash Italy and Ghana by plenty of goals then.