Game SChedule for US team

[brittkamp]

I just finished an article on si.com and have seen this here on BS and other places that the biggest hurdle the US faces besides trying to win their matches is the fact that Italy and the Czech republic play each other last.

The Us may need to to beat Ghana by goal differences to get to the next round but the two stupid european teams will play a ridiculously boring game with no effort in order to secure their places!!
Yes, I know you can't really blame them but shouldn't FIFA at least put in a rule that teams need to at TRY AND PLAY FREAKING SOCCER!!!

If the US goes out because those idiot teams play a 0-0 game I will scream!!

I know that this won't happen because we will win our group but just in case FIFA is doing a diservice to the game by letting teams coast!!

Before you give me any grief look at what South Korea did to Portugal in '02.
Most people were pissed that Korea did not play for the draw and for that the US and anyone who is a fan of the game should applaud Korea for thier effort!

Rant over THANK YOU!!!

[WambachWoodenOrnamen]

Typical spazzo rant. Something tells me that the outcome of the Italy-Czech game will have no bearing whatsoever on the chances of the US progressing to the next round. And if it does, well, the US team will only have itself to blame.

[brittkamp]

gee thanks newbie!! I can now sleep better knowing that all these soccer experts have nothing on you!!

[Cweedchop]

I just finished an article on si.com and have seen this here on BS and other places that the biggest hurdle the US faces besides trying to win their matches is the fact that Italy and the Czech republic play each other last.

The Us may need to to beat Ghana by goal differences to get to the next round but the two stupid european teams will play a ridiculously boring game with no effort in order to secure their places!!
Yes, I know you can't really blame them but shouldn't FIFA at least put in a rule that teams need to at TRY AND PLAY FREAKING SOCCER!!!

If the US goes out because those idiot teams play a 0-0 game I will scream!!

I know that this won't happen because we will win our group but just in case FIFA is doing a diservice to the game by letting teams coast!!


Rant over THANK YOU!!!

You do realize of course that the second place team in the group will have to play Brazil most likely in the knockout phase.

That in itself is an incentive for both Italy and the Czech Republic not to play to a dour draw.

If it comes down to either one of those teams winning the group with a win, you better be damn sure they will go for it.

This is a very likely scenario heading into the third game

Italy 4 pts
Czech Rep 4 pts
USA 1 pt
Ghana 0


Assuming that is how the group looks heading into their final match, the US could have an outside chance of going thru on goal differential. They would have to win by a substantial margin big enough to have a greater goal diff after the Italy/CR match.

Therefore, with both matches being played at the same time, there is no chance that Italy/CR will walk thru their match because their outcome could force a matchup with Brazil or outright ouster from the tourney altogether if the US wins by multiple goals.

That is just one of many scenarios. But that should prove to you that everyone in the group has something to play for provided they gain at least 1 point after their first two matches.

[uniteo]

This is a very likely scenario heading into the third game

Italy 4 pts
Czech Rep 4 pts
USA 1 pt
Ghana 0



I will bet you $5 million that will not be the case heading into the 3rd game


















actually, it's an impossible scenario unless FIFA docks some team a point for some reason

[elbita]

I will bet you $5 million that will not be the case heading into the 3rd game


actually, it's an impossible scenario unless FIFA docks some team a point for some reason

nice catch. US would have to have 2 for the two euro teams to each have 4 and ghana 0 pts. in which case they'd be taking a huge risk to play for a draw since a US win could see us all tie with 5 pts.

[Rocket]

nice catch. US would have to have 2 for the two euro teams to each have 4 and ghana 0 pts. in which case they'd be taking a huge risk to play for a draw since a US win could see us all tie with 5 pts.
On the other hand,

Italy 4
Czech 4
USA 1
Ghana 1

could well happen entering the final game.

In which case Italy & Czech reaching a gentlemen's agreement to draw is certainly is a possibility.

[ghazi]

Whenever i hear this argument about teams playing to a draw and screwing us out of the second round, i shrug my shoulders. If that happens its our fault and nobody elses.

No team with champion ambitions or integrity looks to rely on others for its own success. Bottom line is this - DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IIN ORDER TO SECURE YOUR FUTURE.

If all we manage out of Italy and CZech games is a single point, then we get what we deserve if we fail to make the next round. Simple as.

[dfb547490]

On the other hand,

Italy 4
Czech 4
USA 1
Ghana 1

could well happen entering the final game.

In which case Italy & Czech reaching a gentlemen's agreement to draw is certainly is a possibility.

That's where the fact that Brazil is in the group opposite ours is a huge benefit to us. Whichever of those teams has a worse goal difference is going to go balls-out to beat the other to avoid a matchup with Brazil in the second round (assuming that Brazil coasts thru their group), potentially opening up the door for us to sneak in on goal differential if we can beat up on Ghana.

Nonetheless, however, that scenario shows why it is absolutely imperative that we take AT LEAST 2 points from the first 2 games.

[Rocket]

That's where the fact that Brazil is in the group opposite ours is a huge benefit to us.

Perhaps. But I suspect one of Czech's main goals is just to make it to the Round of 16.

Thus, if entering the final game it's

1st: Italy 4
2nd: Czech 4
3rd: USA 1
4th: Ghana 1

there may be a pretty strong chance that Italy & Czech play conservatively for a draw.


However, if its

1st: Czech 4
2nd: Italy 4
3rd: USA 1
4th: Ghana 1

there's much more likelihood that Italy will play aggressively to win since not making it past the Round of 16 would be considered a failure for them.

[Shackleton]

I just finished an article on si.com and have seen this here on BS and other places that the biggest hurdle the US faces besides trying to win their matches is the fact that Italy and the Czech republic play each other last.

The Us may need to to beat Ghana by goal differences to get to the next round but the two stupid european teams will play a ridiculously boring game with no effort in order to secure their places!!
Yes, I know you can't really blame them but shouldn't FIFA at least put in a rule that teams need to at TRY AND PLAY FREAKING SOCCER!!!
If the US goes out because those idiot teams play a 0-0 game I will scream!!

I know that this won't happen because we will win our group but just in case FIFA is doing a diservice to the game by letting teams coast!!

Before you give me any grief look at what South Korea did to Portugal in '02.
Most people were pissed that Korea did not play for the draw and for that the US and anyone who is a fan of the game should applaud Korea for thier effort!

Rant over THANK YOU!!!

How would this rule you propose be worded? "All teams must try to win every game. Any team failing to try to win will have points deducted"???

Frankly, I cannot imagine any language that is both unambiguous and enforceable. Do you really want some FIFA committee to pass judgment on whether or not one or both teams tried hard enough to win? Would you establish a FIFA court with evidence presented, witnesses questioned, and an appeals process?

It's really silly to blame FIFA for not doing the impossible.

[tab5g]

getting 3 or more total points from your first two group games is a much better argument for inclusion in the 2nd round than the case made by earning 1 or 2 total points from those first two games and complaining about teams higher in the group table perhaps entering into a gentlemans agreement to settle for a tie in their 3rd match.

[Agogwe]

On the other hand,

Italy 4
Czech 4
USA 1
Ghana 1

could well happen entering the final game.

In which case Italy & Czech reaching a gentlemen's agreement to draw is certainly is a possibility.

I would have to agree about the gentlemen's agreement being a strong possibility if this is how the group went by the third game. It seems to me that either Italy or the Czech Republic would rather take on Brazil and go for the upset win instead of running the possibility of losing in the group stage. Brazil certainly holds sway, but not so much as to risk losing in the group stage.

[ty webb]

First, I seriously doubt that Italy and the Czechs are going to the WC to just make the second round. The Czechs were one of the favorites at the Euro Championship two years ago and the Italian press isn't expecting a second round exit. With that said both teams would try to avoid Brazil. If you seen the Czechs play, they do not play for 0 - 0 draws. They try to score A LOT of goals. They typically play three up top and attack, attack, and attack some more.

Also, posters above are correct. If we don't put ourselves in position to advance, that is our FAULT. We can't rely on other teams to get us through. I think South Korea bailed us out last tourney thanks to our great display against Poland. So, we need to take care of our own business.

[AndyMead]

On the other hand,

Italy 4
Czech 4
USA 1
Ghana 1

could well happen entering the final game.

In which case Italy & Czech reaching a gentlemen's agreement to draw is certainly is a possibility.

On the other hand,

USA 4
Ghana 4
Italy 1
Czech 1

could well happen entering the final game.

In which case Ghana and the USA reaching a gentlemen's agreement to draw is certainly is a possibility.