WORLD CUP

[Freak Out]

Ziggy, Aimar plays for Benfica in Portugal btw.

I swear we had this conversation before.

[mraynrand]

A final tribute to Italy

That's a small tribute

[pbmax]

I am quickly reaching my limit on processing new information on the World Cup. So I am just going to post SI writer Grant Wahl's stuff and see what sticks. Essentially, he doesn't see Gooch playing even if healthy as Bornstein is faster and the Black Stars do not play much of an aerial offense. He has Bill Clinton's drinking buddy playing in the center with DeMerit and Bornstein on the left. Findley with Altidore and Clark with Bradley.

And the Italy supporter looked just fine. As a college roommate used to say, more than a mouthful is a waste. Everyone agrees with that, right?

United States-Ghana: Six Things To Watch For

JOHANNESBURG — Six things to watch for in the World Cup second round game between the U.S. and Ghana on Saturday (ABC, Univisión, 2:30 p.m. ET):

• Can the U.S. take advantage of this bracket? No game is easy in this tournament, but the Americans will never have a more workable path to the World Cup semifinals than this one. In fact, the U.S. (No. 14 in the latest FIFA rankings) is the highest-ranked team in its quadrant of the bracket, ahead of Ghana (No. 32) and potential quarterfinal foes Uruguay (No. 16) and South Korea (No. 47). These games aren’t played on paper, of course, and Ghana has beaten the U.S. before in the World Cup: in 2006, when the Black Stars eliminated the Yanks with a 2-1 victory. Still, Ghana is missing its best player (the injured Michael Essien), and the Ghanaians haven’t scored in the run of play during this World Cup, mustering just two penalty-kick goals. As for the revenge factor, there may not be much for the Americans. Only seven of the 22 starters from the ’06 U.S.-Ghana game (four from the U.S.; three from Ghana) are likely to be in the lineups on Saturday.

• Can the Americans rediscover their finishing touch? Landon Donovan’s 91st-minute goal against Algeria released a few kilotons of pent-up frustration not just because it saved the U.S.’s World Cup campaign in the most dramatic fashion possible, but because it also came after the U.S. had missed a series of scoring chances in the Algerian goalmouth. Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey and Edson Buddle all failed to convert good chances, and Altidore was particularly wasteful, launching a shot from seven yards over the crossbar. Altidore has found a way to be useful even though he hasn’t scored yet in this World Cup, but the time has come for the talented 20-year-old to hit the back of the net.

• Can the U.S. defense handle Ghana’s speed? Just because the Black Stars haven’t scored in the run of play in this World Cup doesn’t mean their attack isn’t dangerous. Forward Asamoah Gyan is a seasoned scorer who can challenge defenses with his speed. Midfielder Andre Ayew is just 20 years old, but he’s Ghana’s most creative player on the ball. And Kevin Prince Boateng is another relentless attacker. The U.S. doesn’t have the fastest back line, so it will be doubly important that the U.S. defenders play smart positions and cover well for each other. Will Oguchi Onyewu return to the lineup after being dropped against Algeria? It’s possible, but I’m doubtful. Ghana doesn’t play a lot of aerial balls into the box—Onyewu’s strong suit—and its team speed might better be handled by the faster Jonathan Bornstein at left back (with Carlos Bocanegra playing next to Jay DeMerit in the center).

• Which rising star will win the midfield battle? Two of the most promising young players of this World Cup will be going head-to-head in the central midfield: Ghana’s Kwadwo Asamoah, 21, and the U.S.’s Michael Bradley, 22. Asamoah, who plays for the Italian club Udinese, was the breakout star of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, leading an Essien-less Ghana on a surprising run to the final. Meanwhile, Bradley (who plays in Germany for Borussia Mönchengladbach) has emerged as one of the young stars of the World Cup, running off three straight sterling performances as the U.S.’s destroyer and midfield engine. Asamoah and Bradley both cover a ton of ground, and they’ll seek to put their stamp on this gargantuan game from the opening whistle. Whoever wins this battle will have a big advantage in the match itself.

• Could penalty kicks come into play? Now that we’re in the elimination rounds, I’d be surprised if at least a few games aren’t decided by penalties after a 120-minute deadlock. Could the U.S. handle the psychological pressure of having its World Cup rest on a series of spot kicks? We may find out. Donovan is the Americans’ first-choice penalty taker, and he has a remarkable record of success, having failed to convert only once in his U.S. career and setting the all-time record for conversion percentage in Major League Soccer. But Donovan has mysteriously failed to convert penalties twice in Cup finals: the 2007 Superliga final and the ’09 MLS Cup final. How would he perform from the spot on this stage? And who would be on the U.S.’s five-man list to take penalties? My guess: Donovan, Dempsey, Bradley, Bocanegra, Altidore.

• Will the referee play a controversial role again? The U.S. has had two legitimate goals waved off in the last two games, which makes you wonder if the Americans might be due some luck when it comes to the officiating crew. The man in the middle on Saturday will be Hungarian Viktor Kassai, who refereed the 2008 Olympic men’s final and is working in his first World Cup. (He also refereed Brazil’s 2-1 win over North Korea.) Kassai doesn’t have a major history of controversial decisions and is known as someone who doesn’t hand out many red cards, but he has been known to liberally pull out his yellow card. Kassai handed out five yellows in Fulham’s Europa League win at Wolfsburg (i.e., Clint Dempsey knows his work), and the Hungarian issued no fewer than 11 yellows in a single domestic match earlier this year.

My predicted U.S. lineup: Tim Howard; Steve Cherundolo, Jay DeMerit, Carlos Bocanegra, Jonathan Bornstein; Landon Donovan, Michael Bradley, Ricardo Clark, Clint Dempsey; Jozy Altidore, Robbie Findley.

What’s your take on U.S.-Ghana? Can the Americans keep their storybook run going? What else should we be talking about heading into the game?

http://worldcup.si.com/2010/06/25/united-states-ghana-six-things-to-watch-for/?eref=sihp

[red]

US needs to learn how to bury the ball in the back of the net. last game they had a ton of chances, but couldn't put it away

lots of weak efforts IMO

[red]

A final tribute to Italy

That's a small tribute

she'd be hotter if she didn't have a mans face and chest

[hoosier]

Can the U.S. take advantage of this bracket? No game is easy in this tournament, but the Americans will never have a more workable path to the World Cup semifinals than this one. In fact, the U.S. (No. 14 in the latest FIFA rankings) is the highest-ranked team in its quadrant of the bracket, ahead of Ghana (No. 32) and potential quarterfinal foes Uruguay (No. 16) and South Korea (No. 47).

So true. If the US had finished second instead of first it would have been facing Germany, and then Argentina (likely) and Spain (likely). They're all tough, but some brackets look a bit tougher than others. If the US plays up to its potential it has a decent chance of getting to the semifinals.

[Bretsky]

could we PLEASE POST MORE PIX ?

It's the only reason I visit in here

[swede]

I think Miss Italy looks a bit like the Statue of Liberty.

I find her eyes to be delightful, and, though I could be forced to agree that she scores in the average range on several superficial components of attractiveness, I find that she appeals to my domestic side; add 50 pounds and twenty years of married bliss and she'd still appeal as she ever once did.

[Freak Out]

I think Miss Italy looks a bit like the Statue of Liberty.

I find her eyes to be delightful, and, though I could be forced to agree that she scores in the average range on several superficial components of attractiveness, I find that she appeals to my domestic side; add 50 pounds and twenty years of married bliss and she'd still appeal as she ever once did.

She's gorgeous.

[Freak Out]

could we PLEASE POST MORE PIX ?

It's the only reason I visit in here

Did you see the hot gal on gal vid I posted for you in the Brewers forum?

[wootah]

What’s your take on U.S.-Ghana? Can the Americans keep their storybook run going? What else should we be talking about heading into the game?

USA has got a BIG mental advantage over Ghana. They are the wildcard more or less, since the got in at the very last second. Nothing to lose, all to gain. The match against Slovenia in mind, they won't back down even if Ghana scores 2 in the first half (which they won't). It won't be easy, it won't be a pretty match, but I expect the yanks to win it.

A lot of the success will depend on Altidore according to me. Up until now he has been playing good as a target man, but once he's in the box, he needs to use his qualities more to score. He's got the potential I think, he just hasn't taken it to the next step.

For those who didn't have the chance to watch Denmark-Japan 2 nights ago, check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FavJ9UQ4shI

Last goal is one of the greatest moments of the last 2 weeks.

[mraynrand]

A final tribute to Italy

That's a small tribute

she'd be hotter if she didn't have a mans face and chest

You could probably say the same thing about Swede. Probably.

[pbmax]

Order and Progress rarely look this stylish. But I have my doubts about this picture. If she was from Brazil, wouldn't the shirt be spelled Brasil?

[pbmax]

Zonal Markings - Michael Cox - 6/26/10

USA v Ghana

The US start as favourites, but this one might suit Ghana tactically; they will be content to sit back and soak up pressure, before hitting the US on the counter-attack. The American full-backs have appeared a little slow in recovering their position after forays forward so far in the tournament, which will be perfect for the pacey Ghana wingers.

The best course of action for the US is to put the Ghana centre-backs under as much pressure as possible early on. Ghana will probably have a 3 v 2 advantage in the centre of midfield, so more direct balls towards the strikers (with Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan supporting very close by, something they did particularly well against England) might be a better approach than playing through midfield. In particular, 20-year-old Jonathan Mensah has looked slightly nervy so far, and Jozy Altidore should be able to get at him.

The midfield battle will probably be quite reserved. Both central midfields generally sit deep rather than look to make penetrative runs, so they may play in front of each other, and create a slightly static contest.

The US will dominate possession and territory – but finding a way past Ghana’s good defence won’t be easy. This one calls for all of Bob Bradley’s tactical ability – so far he’s generally got his team playing better after half-time, but below-par first halves won’t be acceptable in the knockout stages.

[Freak Out]

Uruguay moves on.