OFFICIAL WORLD CUP 2006

[No Mo Moss]

Will beating Czech and Ghana be enough though? I agree with you about the attack Italy has put together. It has been impressive, but then again I think they know how impressive it is. I'm counting on Michael Essien and Co. to get some early goals in the opener against them and hopefully hang on to win.

The pressure is on Italy and the Czechs to get out of the group. The US has pressure, but its not liek they will be seen as a less successful team if they can't get out of this very difficult group. I want to see the US play its final tune-up today and see how their finishing looks. They put themselves i ngreat positions, but don't finish as well as they should. They're going to need to come WC 2006 in under 2 weeks.

[No Mo Moss]

Updated: May 28, 2006, 7:00 AM ET
McBride header seals win for the U.S.
Associated Press

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. -- Brian McBride scored, DaMarcus Beasley shifted across the field to the right side and Eddie Johnson looked a lot better.
U.S. World Cup schedule
• Monday, June 12 -- vs. Czech Republic at Gelsenkirchen, Germany, noon (ESPN2)
• Saturday, June 17 -- vs. Italy at Kaiserslautern, Germany, 3 p.m. (ABC)
• Thursday, June 22 -- vs. Ghana at Nuremberg, Germany, 10 a.m. (ESPN)
With a 1-0 victory over Latvia on Sunday night behind McBride's 43rd-minute goal, the United States completed a grueling series of three World Cup warmup games in six days.
"All the talking is done. We'll have to step on the field June 12 and show what we're about," U.S. coach Bruce Arena said.
Following a 1-0 loss to Morocco and a 2-0 victory over Venezuela, the Americans looked sharper and dominated possession until tiring midway through the second half.
American players will be given three days off to return home before the team leaves for Germany on Thursday. They have a closed scrimmage against Angola on June 5 in Hamburg, then meet the Czech Republic in their World Cup opener on June 12 in Gelsenkirchen.
"I think the loss against Morocco was a good wakeup call," said U.S. goalkeeper Kasey Keller, who got his 45th shutout in 93 international games.
Ranked 70th in the world, Latvia failed to qualify for the World Cup after making it to the 2004 European Championship. Keller was rarely tested until a diving stop of Girts Karlsons' header in the 89th minute.
"What we did now isn't that big a deal," Keller said. "I don't want guys thinking, 'All right. We beat Latvia 1-nil, so now we're going to roll over the Czech Republic.' That doesn't quite equate."
Coming off a quarterfinal finish at the 2002 tournament, the United States is in a difficult group with the Czechs, Italy and Ghana. Trying to test players, Arena changed nine starters for the second straight game.
In a possible signal of what he might do in the World Cup opener, he moved Beasley to right midfield from left, and inserted John O'Brien on the left side.
"I'm probably the only left-footed guy that will play the right because I played there all year at PSV. I feel comfortable out there," Beasley said, referring to PSV Eindhoven, his club in the Netherlands.
O'Brien, coming off a lengthy string of injuries, played well until he was replaced by Bobby Convey in the 66th minute.
"He still has a way to go," Arena said. "He's probably not going to be ready to position himself to play 90 minutes on June 12, but we're getting to see the old John again. His match fitness isn't where it needs to be, but physically he appears to be fine."
Landon Donovan was positioned at the top of the midfield diamond behind McBride and Johnson.
Johnson scored seven goals in seven World Cup qualifiers but missed much of last year with a toe injury. He has struggled to regain his sharpness and failed to convert several opportunities against the Latvians, just missing or getting called offsides.
"We've had a tough time with him over the last five months, and I think he's starting to break out of it now," Arena said. "Although he didn't get a goal tonight, I thought he had some real good moments."
McBride could be paired up front with Josh Wolff against the Czechs or Arena could go with Johnson, who had four of the 16 American shots against Latvia.
"I was doing things that I did back when I was scoring goals," Johnson said. "I was getting in behind the defenders, getting dangerous in the box, getting in crosses, making those runs in the back, holding the ball up, bringing other players into the game."
Only the U.S. defense seems set, with Eddie Lewis at left back, Eddie Pope and Oguchi Onyewu in the middle and Steve Cherundolo at right back. Captain Claudio Reyna, who plans to resume training in a few days after a right hamstring strain heals, is likely to be in defensive midfield.
McBride scored from 6 yards off a cross from Cherundolo, sending the ball off the fingertips of leaping goalkeeper Aleksandrs Kolinko and into the net at the far post. With his 30th goal in 92 international appearances -- his first since connecting in a 1-0 qualifying win against Trinidad and Tobago at East Hartford last Aug. 17 -- McBride moved within four goals of Eric Wynalda, the American career scoring leader.
McBride was playing with a large welt on the left side of his forehead, incurred when Genadjis Soloncins butted heads with him in the 18th minute.
"For McBride, that's nothing," Arena said. "He's had a lot worse."
Game Notes
MFs Reyna (strained right hamstring) and Clint Dempsey (sore back) didn't dress, and D Carlos Bocanegra was suspended following his ejection against Venezuela. ... The U.S. team wore special edition red "Don't Tread on Me" jerseys with a 1950s-era crest.

[Tarlam!]

Will beating Czech and Ghana be enough though?

It should be.

It depends on Italy's 3rd game against Czek.

You need to beat Czek in game 1 higher than Italy beats you.

Now, assume Czek beats Ghana.

Assuming you play Ghana with a win and a loss, Italy will be playing with 2 wins.

That way, you head into Game 3 with a with a chance to win the group if you beat Ghana higher than Italy. Czek is in the same boat if they beat Ghana high.

That will force Italy to play some stars in order to win the group. They will need at least a draw. Since they know tournament football, they will want Czek out by the 1st round, they will do you that favour. But, you must beat both Czek and Ghana to safely go through.

Regarding Italy's attack. I think you misunderstood me. They play attacking football, which means their outside backs double as their outside forwards.

They play so far forward, they don't want you in their half. That's the problem. They no longer fall back and defend in the 4-chain.

[Tarlam!]

How do you like Australia's chances?

Group F

Brazil
Croatia
Australia
Japan

[b bulldog]

What a waste of time

[Tarlam!]

What a waste of time

Well, gee thanks, Bulldog. That certainly made this thread all the more worthwhile. Thank God you dropped that on us, otherwise we could have felt it was a COMPLETE waste of time.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I thought the US came back and played outstanding ball against Venezuela and the first 60-70 minutes against Latvia. I know Latvia isn't that good, but they played well enough to have a 2-0 or 3-0 lead going into half in that game. They ran out of gas in that game. Reyna is key for the USA. He HAS to stay healthy. He controls the ball in the midfield so well. HUGE dropoff from Reyna to Mastreoni. Here's a quick take on the USA:

1) We've had outstanding goaltending for about 10 years. Keller is one of the best in the world. Friedel was one of the best before him. Howard has a ton of potential. He was outstanding for Man U. two years ago before really falling off in the last year and a half.
2) Brian McBride is our most consistent performer.
3) Right now, like him or not, Landon Donovan is our best player.
4) Claudio Reyna is our most important player. Unfortunately, he's a bit brittle.
5) Eddie Johnson has, by far, the best potential on the team. I could see him being our superstar in the 2010 World Cup.

[No Mo Moss]

Tarlam, similar to Italy, the US attack will come from defenders. Steve Cherundolo plays in the bundesliga and has to ability to lay veru accurate crosses into the box coming up field from the back four position. He had the assist Sunday.


Harv, I agree with you. I don't know what's not to like about Donovan. If Eddie Johnson could finish he could be a monster, even in this world cup. Our defenders have impressed me. TO bad about Gibbs, but Pope and Oguchi give the US a formidable center D for the first time ever. I think Convey has won a starting spot over BEasley. I also think MAsrtoeni will remain in the starting 11, with Jon O'Brien being replaced with Reyna. I like what I've seen from Dempsey and Olsen as well, they'll be good in a sub role.

[No Mo Moss]

How do you like Australia's chances?

Group F

Brazil
Croatia
Australia
Japan

That's a tough group, but the only sure fire team that will advance is BRazil. Croatia is capable of playing at a very high level and is dangerous. Japan played well in 2002. If Viduka and Kewell both stay healthy I would think it will come right down to it between those three, tough to call. What do you think?

[HarveyWallbangers]

TO bad about Gibbs, but Pope and Oguchi give the US a formidable center D for the first time ever. I think Convey has won a starting spot over BEasley. I also think MAsrtoeni will remain in the starting 11, with Jon O'Brien being replaced with Reyna. I like what I've seen from Dempsey and Olsen as well, they'll be good in a sub role.

I forgot to mention Oguchi. He is very underrated. We aren't very physical. We need a guy like him. I like Johnson because he's a bit more physical than the other speed demons we've had (like Jones, Beasley, and Hejduk). I'm not a big fan of Mastreoni. I'd much rather have Beasley in the lineup over Mastreoni. O'Brien is a great passer. Physically, I'm not sure he's ready to go 90 though.

[HarveyWallbangers]

How do you like Australia's chances?

Group F

Brazil
Croatia
Australia
Japan

I like their chances. I'm thisclose to picking them. Brazil is in. I think it's a tossup with the other three. I like the attitude of the Australians. I don't think they'll be afraid. I think they've been waiting for this, and have a lot to prove.

[Tarlam!]

Well, I hope the Aussies go through. They certainly add richness! I can't make any predictions, I am a jinx!

[No Mo Moss]

Well, I hope the Aussies go through. They certainly add richness! I can't make any predictions, I am a jinx!

The aussies weren't involved in WC 2002 were they? Maybe you made a prediction during qualifying?

[No Mo Moss]

Updated: June 4, 2006
Czech concern over Baros foot problem

Czech Republic striker Milan Baros has joined the injury list for the world's second-ranked team.

The Aston Villa hitman had to be substituted in the first half of the last Czech friendly in Prague against Trinidad & Tobago after feeling a prickling sensation in his foot.
Team doctors have ordered the 24-year-old - who was top scorer in Euro 2004 - to rest for two days and he joins midfielders Tomas Rosicky and Tomas Galasek on the treatment table.
The Czechs will travel to Germany on Tuesday and their first World Cup match is scheduled on June 12 against USA in Gelsenkirchen.

Interesting. Kohler is hurt as well. USA vs Czech wil be an absolute barn burner.

[Tarlam!]

Holland - Australia 1-1 in a friendly. Dare I hope?