How will Brazil influence group E?

[Foosinho]

In the end, I don't think it matters that much. Sure, you'd like to avoid playing Brazil until as late in the tournament as possible, but to win the whole thing you've got to beat several very good teams, possibly including Brazil.

You can't control that anyway, so if you spend too much time worrying about it you are likely going to screw up something you can control. I say just play your game, and let the chips fall where they may.

[inswinger]

All of you are assuming Ghana will not take points from anyone. I doubt any of the teams in E will go home with no points. It will be down to the final minutes of the third game for both ITA-CZE and USA-GHA...

[Grandpa Goal]

Has anybody read the FIFA regs for tie-breakers? I have this horrible idea that ITA, CZE, and USA are gonna' be tied at the top with 1 win and 2 draws, and that the first place team will be determined by 6th tie-breaker: goals scored in group matches between the teams concerned... and THEN by drawing of lots. Gasp! A coin flip to face Brazil?

[leftcross]

Most of you in this thread, like the press, give way too much rating to Brazil!
I don't think the teams in group E, arguably the toughest group in the tourny, give a ---- who they face in the 2nd round! If they survive this group, they can beat ANYONE in the next round. It is Brazil who should be worried. The pressure and expectations for the Brazilians is enormous. An entire nation that has nothing but football to be proud of is watching and counting on those guys!!!
Look for Brazil to cave in the 1st knockout round (against the USA) :eek: Remember, you read it here first!!! ;)

[dvandyke]

Brazil will not effect this group at all. They will all be to busy fighting to qualify to worry about the next round.

[Buuks]

Most of you in this thread, like the press, give way too much rating to Brazil!
I don't think the teams in group E, arguably the toughest group in the tourny, give a ---- who they face in the 2nd round! If they survive this group, they can beat ANYONE in the next round. It is Brazil who should be worried. The pressure and expectations for the Brazilians is enormous. An entire nation that has nothing but football to be proud of is watching and counting on those guys!!!
Look for Brazil to cave in the 1st knockout round (against the USA) :eek: Remember, you read it here first!!! ;)

That part of your statement wasn't necessary. Brazil has a lot of things to be proud of.......soccer is just one of them.

[KCWiz]

I'm not so sure Brazil will advance out of the group stages. The Aussies have the best tean they've had in a long time ... maybe ever, and Croatia, IMO, is one of the best European nations. And Japan ... well, I don't know and I don't care.

[Buuks]

I'm not so sure Brazil will advance out of the group stages. The Aussies have the best tean they've had in a long time ... maybe ever, and Croatia, IMO, is one of the best European nations. And Japan ... well, I don't know and I don't care.

Weak basis: Australia's all time best cannot be compared to Brazil of today.

[kerpow]

Brazil will not effect this group at all. They will all be to busy fighting to qualify to worry about the next round.

Exactly. If there were two teams in Group E which were clear favourites to qualify, such as Portugal and Mexcio (looks cautiously around for any irate US fans :) ) in their Group D setup I could see it happening. But as it stands, even Italy will be playing to win every game.

[Raulduke]

Most of you in this thread, like the press, give way too much rating to Brazil!
I don't think the teams in group E, arguably the toughest group in the tourny, give a ---- who they face in the 2nd round! If they survive this group, they can beat ANYONE in the next round. It is Brazil who should be worried. The pressure and expectations for the Brazilians is enormous. An entire nation that has nothing but football to be proud of is watching and counting on those guys!!!
Look for Brazil to cave in the 1st knockout round (against the USA) :eek: Remember, you read it here first!!! ;)

The Italian coach has already been quoted in the media as saying winning the group is a must to avoid having to play Brazil, so I think you're a little off.

All this talk about the US needing to attack the Czechs as opposed to playing defensively and countering are off their collective rockers. This is not a good attacking team for the US because we don't have any great finishers on this team. However, even with the injury to Gibbs, I think the back line is the strongest part of the team. BA will play a 4-5-1 most of the game in an attempt to equalize possession and deny the Czechs the ability to build their attack through the midfield on the ground, forcing them to play more hopefull balls in the air than they would normally prefer.

[Polar Bear]

The Italian coach has already been quoted in the media as saying winning the group is a must to avoid having to play Brazil, so I think you're a little off.

But what will Italy do if it looks like Brazil will finish 2nd in their group?

[Reazzurro90]

But what will Italy do if it looks like Brazil will finish 2nd in their group?


Lippi has made it perfectly clear. It's amazing how people are taking out of context Lippi's words. Yes, Lippi spoke of avoiding Brazil until the finals in order to avenge the 1994 defeat. However, he also said that if it was to be that Italy would face Brazil in the second round, he said that Italy was ready. Of course, avoiding Brazil would motivate the team to play at a much more impressive style, but I'm sure Italy could defeat Brazil if they eventually played in the second round....As Lippi said, "it was bound to happen sooner or later."

[Rudiegirl5446]

UCLACarlos, you are so right! I was thinking the same thing myself when I was reading through this thread. I was afraid at first that the US would be knocked out by Brazil if we came in 2nd, but you people are forgetting that Brazil CAN be beaten! & Yes, one of the ways that they can be beaten is if they're tired or they haven't been practing enough, & the US has that extra day to recoup & practice.

I haven't watched Brazil play in a while, but the last time I saw them play, I can remember them having a defense that was tough to play through, but what I also noticed was that that can be overcome by kicking above the defense, not through them. I can also remember them trying to tire out the opposing team in the 1st 1/2 or playing lousy in the 1st 1/2 & then taking advantage of that by playing harder & coming away with a score in the 2nd 1/2. We can beat them that way too because if they're going to play the same game as that, then we know their game & can play right along with them. Heck, maybe we can tire them out in the first round & give them a little taste of their own medicine!

Yes, Brazil is in an easier group & the US has it a little tougher. So does Italy & so does Ghana. Yes, these will be great matches to watch because all of the teams in our group will be playing harder, but the teams in group f will be playing pretty hard too because they also want to beat Brazil & if they do, then they have a better chance at moving forward obviously.

I think maybe the idea for group f is to get Brazil out of the tournament early. Then, everyone will be happy!

I should hope not.

You can't *play* for opponents in the next round. Who the hell knows what will happen in another group. For some f-reaky reason, Japan has beaten Brazil 5 times and only lost twice (if I heard correctly on the news last night). So any coach who gambles so as to avoid Brazil is just plain stupid.

Oftentimes teams will play for a tie, and there's this unspoken agreement (like Portugal-SK in '02) to do just that so that both teams advance. But even that can backfire.

All I can say is that the US will NOT play those games. Concern #1 is getting out of the group. Let Group F work their stuff out. Who knows... maybe it might be a good thing to take on a team whose defense is anchored around a 33 and 36 (Brazil) year old players playing their 3rd game in 11 days, as opposed to Group E players playing their 3rd game in 12 days.

[mirco22b]

hey, brazil will win the worldcup... like it or not! :p ;)

[rat2k5]

The Italian coach has already been quoted in the media as saying winning the group is a must to avoid having to play Brazil, so I think you're a little off.

All this talk about the US needing to attack the Czechs as opposed to playing defensively and countering are off their collective rockers. This is not a good attacking team for the US because we don't have any great finishers on this team. However, even with the injury to Gibbs, I think the back line is the strongest part of the team. BA will play a 4-5-1 most of the game in an attempt to equalize possession and deny the Czechs the ability to build their attack through the midfield on the ground, forcing them to play more hopefull balls in the air than they would normally prefer.


Italy fears no one, trust me. If there is one team that can beat Brazil it is Italy. I am sure the Brazilian coach doesn't want to face Italy either, in the second round.

[encinitas]

Italy fears no one, trust me. If there is one team that can beat Brazil it is Italy. I am sure the Brazilian coach doesn't want to face Italy either, in the second round.
There only fear is match fixing:eek:

[leftcross]

I hope that you are not suggesting that Brazil is willing to tank a game so that they will finish 2nd to avoid playing Italy. Italy may do that to avoid Brazil, but I don't see Brazil doing that.

Are you Kidding??? You've got it reversed... Brazil certainly WOULD do that to avoid Italy... This whole thread is reversed... Should not read "How will Brazil influence group E" rather, How will Brazil BE influenced by Group E...

[Reazzurro90]

Italy fears no one, trust me. If there is one team that can beat Brazil it is Italy. I am sure the Brazilian coach doesn't want to face Italy either, in the second round.

Exactly, and after the impressive victory over Ghana, I'm sure the Azzurri are even more confident of thwarting Brazil if that happens.

Ghana was a strong team, but Italy did not buckle at all under pressure and really handed the arrogant Ghanians a heavy defeat.

Brazil is not some all-powerful monster that will overwhelm anyone in its path, and Croatia certainly proved that.

[Polar Bear]

Are you Kidding??? You've got it reversed... Brazil certainly WOULD do that to avoid Italy... This whole thread is reversed... Should not read "How will Brazil influence group E" rather, How will Brazil BE influenced by Group E...

Am I kidding? Are you crazy? Brazil is not afraid of Italy. The Brazilians are so cocky that they may relish playing Italy in the 2nd round. I doubt that the Brazilian coach is using the not having to play Italy card to psych his team up to win the group. We already know that Italy's coach has used it to psych up his players.

So should the thread be reversed to read "How will Brazil be influenced by group E"? Don't think so.