[WC] Ghana vs. United States [06.22.2006] (1 Viewer)

[Bjerknes]

Considering this match has a lot of bearing in the proceedings within Group E, we might as well have a thread for it.

Ghana will be without Sulley Muntari and the quick Modena forward Asamoah Gyan, two of their most crucial performers. The United States will be without Eddie Pope and Mastroeni after their expulsions on Saturday, and while the latter is a loss the former certainly is not. Pope should not even be in Germany.

The US needs to win to have any chance in progressing out of this group, while could still draw and hope for an Italian loss. Any side in this group could still go through, and I believe we will have some surprises on Thursday.

Here is how I think Bruce Arena will field our boys:

Keller

Cherundolo - Onyewu - Conrad - Bocanegra

Dempsey - Reyna - O'Brien - Convey

Donovan

McBride

 

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[Snoop]

delete the other Andy!

 

[Azzurri7]

Andy, how bad will Mastroeni's absence affect the States...As I don't know nothing about that player...?

 

[Snoop]

This one is hard to guess, Ghana seems the favourite thou but they have finishing problems, if they waste the chances like they did aginst the Czechs, they can't win it easily.

I would like a draw, then Italy will be safe, but I prefer If both Italy and Ghana win which is more likely to happen.

 

[Bjerknes]

delete the other Andy!

Finished.

 

[Stephan]

i dont know ghana players, but the one who hit the penalty got yellow card and will miss the game, seemed as a important player for ghana.

anyway i guess: go usa!

 

[Bjerknes]

Andy, how bad will Mastroeni's absence affect the States...As I don't know nothing about that player...?

The fact that Mastroeni is suspended is certainly blow, as he is our hard man in midfield and a player who can run with Essien and Appiah. Pablo is a great tackler in the center of the pitch and without him we lose that bite in midfield we need to beat superior teams.

His replacement will be Johnny O'Brien, a former Ajax player and certainly a good replacement. He is a strong runner and tackler, sound defensively, and is undoubtedly better with the ball than Mastroeni. I don't think O'Brien gives us much bite as Pablo, so that could be a problem for us.

 

[giovanotti]

I think that the USA won't repeat such a good performance as against us,the same goes for the czechs,I expect them to play much better than against Ghana.

 

[Azzurri7]

The fact that Mastroeni is suspended is certainly blow, as he is our hard man in midfield and a player who can run with Essien and Appiah. Pablo is a great tackler in the center of the pitch and without him we lose that bite in midfield we need to beat superior teams.

His replacement will be Johnny O'Brien, a former Ajax player and certainly a good replacement. He is a strong runner and tackler, sound defensively, and is undoubtedly better with the ball than Mastroeni. I don't think O'Brien gives us much bite as Pablo, so that could be a problem for us.

Interesting.

I think Ghana's players that wont feature on thursday will affect their team much more than the two players from USA.

 

[Marko]

Forza Italia & Czechs!

 

[Bjerknes]

Interesting.

I think Ghana's players that wont feature on thursday will affect their team much more than the two players from USA.

Well Gyan is the only Ghanaian player who looks like he could actually score, and he would have caused us all sorts of problems because we don't handle speed well at the back. Muntari is also a player who would cause us loads of problems on the left flank, and I'm not sure who Dujkovic will field instead. He'll just field another one of his fast players who will undoubtedly run us over.

 

[Morra10]

hey your backs are up against the wall, but i no one thing you will be cheering for an italian win and im down with that. I will say good luck to u.s.a and if they advance good job after they lost the first one.....

 

[Enron]

Well Gyan is the only Ghanaian player who looks like he could actually score, and he would have caused us all sorts of problems because we don't handle speed well at the back. Muntari is also a player who would cause us loads of problems on the left flank, and I'm not sure who Dujkovic will field instead. He'll just field another one of his fast players who will undoubtedly run us over.

Pimpong. Lightning fast with mad handles and decent crossing abillity.

 

[Bjerknes]

Pimpong. Lightning fast with mad handles and decent crossing abillity.

Razak Pimpong will be the replacement for Gyan up top.

 

[Enron]

hey your backs are up against the wall, but i no one thing you will be cheering for an italian win and im down with that. I will say good luck to u.s.a and if they advance good job after they lost the first one.....

I will cheer for Italy, for sure. I hope for a 3-0 victory. Of course the US will need to do their part first.

 

[Enron]

Considering this match has a lot of bearing in the proceedings within Group E, we might as well have a thread for it.

Ghana will be without Sulley Muntari and the quick Modena forward Asamoah Gyan, two of their most crucial performers. The United States will be without Eddie Pope and Mastroeni after their expulsions on Saturday, and while the latter is a loss the former certainly is not. Pope should not even be in Germany.

The US needs to win to have any chance in progressing out of this group, while could still draw and hope for an Italian loss. Any side in this group could still go through, and I believe we will have some surprises on Thursday.

Here is how I think Bruce Arena will field our boys:

Keller

Cherundolo - Onyewu - Conrad - Bocanegra

Dempsey - Reyna - O'Brien - Convey

Donovan

McBride

My guess.

Keller

Conrad - THE GOOCH - Bocanegra

O'Brien

Dempsey - Reyna - Donovan - Convey/Lewis

McBride - Johnson


Look for the US to have most of the possession or attemp to do so with Dempsey and most likey Convey to push up on the flanks and Reyna to play a deeper central mid role in order to slow Essien and Appiah's counter with Donovan pushing forward to support the two forwards. McBride and Johnson should give Ghana's defense trouble as Johnson is a speedy pure striker and McBride can win in the air. Also watch to see how the squirrely Winson does with the crosses to McBride. Look for lots of flick and for Johnson to play off McBride. The cool thing about this tactic is that if the US score an early goal the wings can collapse forming a five man back line and still give enough depth in the center of the field for quick counters. For reference see any US - Mexico game between 2001 and the present, except this year because we play a 4-4-2.

 

[Enron]

Razak Pimpong will be the replacement for Gyan up top.

Then pick an Addo brother.

 

[Seven]

The fact that Mastroeni is suspended is certainly blow, as he is our hard man in midfield and a player who can run with Essien and Appiah. Pablo is a great tackler in the center of the pitch and without him we lose that bite in midfield we need to beat superior teams.

His replacement will be Johnny O'Brien, a former Ajax player and certainly a good replacement. He is a strong runner and tackler, sound defensively, and is undoubtedly better with the ball than Mastroeni. I don't think O'Brien gives us much bite as Pablo, so that could be a problem for us.

TBH O'Brien is all but world class. I can't see him competing with Appiah and Essien. He's very lucky Muntari won't be there though.

 

[Boudz]

Scenarios:

Italy wins and Ghana wins: Italy tops group and Ghana 2nd
Italy wins and USA wins: Italy tops group and depending on Goal Difference its either USA or Czech ... USA need to reverse the -3 goal deficit. if Czech lose by 1 goal which is the most probable defeat, USA need to win by 4 goals
Italy wins and USA ties: Italy tops group and Ghana 2nd

Italy ties and Ghana wins: Italy comes in 2nd and Ghana 1st
Italy ties and USA wins: Italy comes in 2nd and Czech 2nd unless USA wins by 5 goals
Italy ties and USA ties: Italy comes in 1st and Czech 2nd

Italy loses and Ghana wins: Czech comes in 2nd and Ghana 1st
Italy loses and USA wins: Czech comes in 1st and Italy 2nd unless USA wins by 4 goals
Italy loses and Ghana wins: Czech are +1 and Ghana are at 0. So Ghana need to win by 1 more goal than Czech does to top the group. If not Czech 1st Ghana 2nd

 

[giovanotti]

Scenarios:

Italy wins and Ghana wins: Italy tops group and Ghana 2nd
Italy wins and USA wins: Italy tops group and depending on Goal Difference its either USA or Czech ... USA need to reverse the -3 goal deficit. if Czech lose by 1 goal which is the most probable defeat, USA need to win by 4 goals
Italy wins and USA ties: Italy tops group and Ghana 2nd

Italy ties and Ghana wins: Italy comes in 2nd and Ghana 1st
Italy ties and USA wins: Italy comes in 2nd and Czech 2nd unless USA wins by 5 goals
Italy ties and USA ties: Italy comes in 1st and Czech 2nd

Italy loses and Ghana wins: Czech comes in 2nd and Ghana 1st
Italy loses and USA wins: Czech comes in 1st and Italy 2nd unless USA wins by 4 goals
Italy loses and Ghana wins: Czech are +1 and Ghana are at 0. So Ghana need to win by 1 more goal than Czech does to top the group. If not Czech 1st Ghana 2nd

Italy win,that's what I want...I'm not interested in other options.