Get out of jail free card

[Dan Loney]

Thank you, Ghana. The United States is once again in control of its own destiny, for the moment.

If we do get to the second round, we'll have to climb over the world's new darling Cinderella team, but it's the World Cup, not a student council election. Popularity doesn't count.

Killing a little time before posting this. A vision of an inflatable kangaroo told me not to test the vengeance of the Soccer Gods, hateful bitch-goddesses they are, so I'm waiting for the final whistle.

There we go. Thank you, Ghana. Now, lose the next game badly, please.

"If I was a linesman, I would execute defenders who applauded my offsides"
- Half Man, Half Biscuit, "Paintball's Coming Home"

[gfranc79]

What a performance from ghana today. USA needs to take advantage of this result. DID any one catch Chinaglia's attitude toward the USA vs ITALY match and Czech vs Ghana matching saying they had no chance. What a Mother@!@#R . I hope USA NT shuts his mouth for good!

[VioletCrown]

What a performance from ghana today. USA needs to take advantage of this result. DID any one catch Chinaglia's attitude toward the USA vs ITALY match and Czech vs Ghana matching saying they had no chance. What a Mother@!@#R . I hope USA NT shuts his mouth for good!

He said nearly the same thing about Ghana. May he be doubly wrong.

Argh. Didn't read your post thoroughly. Mine makes no sense whatsoever.

Oh well...

Chinaglia's an ass.

[Matrim55]

Chinaglia's an ass.
That always makes sense.

[nicodemus]

Chinaglia's an assface.

edited for greater clarity

[UnitedStatesFutbol]

Is this correct? Beat Ghana by 5 goals and we wouldn't have to worry about the outcome of Italy/Czech?

Yeah I know, good luck with that.

[nicodemus]

No, because we'd still have the same amount of points as Italy so it would depend on the score of that game. If they lose 1-0, we'd have the same goal differential, but more goals for, so we'd go ahead. If they were to lose 3-2 and we won 5-0 I don't know what would happen because we'd have the same differential and the same gf and ga. (coin toss?)

If they lost 4-3, they'd go ahead on goals scored (I think.)

[ThreeApples]

Is this correct? Beat Ghana by 5 goals and we wouldn't have to worry about the outcome of Italy/Czech?

Yeah I know, good luck with that.Yes.

If ITA/CZE is a tie, then USA would beat CZE on goal difference +2 to +1
If CZE wins, then ITA's GD would be at best +1, and USA would beat ITA.
If ITA wins, then there is no tiebreaker needed.

[nicodemus]

Yes.

If ITA/CZE is a tie, then USA would beat CZE on goal difference +2 to +1
If CZE wins, then ITA's GD would be at best +1, and USA would beat ITA.
If ITA wins, then there is no tiebreaker needed.
I stand corrected. I had Italy's "goals for" wrong when I was tabulating my scenaros.

[YNWAYNWA]

as I understand it (and I haven't been able to confirm yet), the first tiebreaker is head-to-head result, then goal differential

if so, the USA needs Italy to win

otherwise, with a USA win and a Italy/Czech draw, the Czechs advance

and I fear a gentlemen's agreement, where a draw would see Italy win the group and the depleted Czechs advance (see West Germany/Austria, 1982)

[nicodemus]

and I fear a gentlemen's agreement, where a draw would see Italy win the group and the depleted Czechs advance (see West Germany/Austria, 1982)
No way that's happening.

1) If Ghana wins, then the Czechs are out if they tie.

2) Italy and Czech Republic both want to win the group to minimize their chances of having to face Brazil in the next round (the likely group winner.)

That's why they play these games simultaneously.

[UnitedStatesFutbol]

Thread that details the tiebreaker. (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=371263&highlight=tiebreaker)

Goal difference is the first tiebreaker.....

[Labdarugo]

He said nearly the same thing about Ghana. May he be doubly wrong.

Argh. Didn't read your post thoroughly. Mine makes no sense whatsoever.

Oh well...

Chinaglia's an ass.

Chinaglia's a big, fat, stupid assface.

Edited for even greater clarity

[FC Dizzle]

Thank you, Ghana. The United States is once again in control of its own destiny, for the moment.



no we're not

[DSM1]

One of the many pleasant outcomes of today's results was seeing Alexi and Eric gloating about the inaccuracy of Giorgio's predictions. Always nice to see something happen that shuts Giorgio's giant gob! :)

[AndyMead]

- Half Man, Half Biscuit, "Paintball's Coming Home"

After riding a train with a bunch of Brits, this is freakin' hysterical.

[Dave Brull]

as I understand it (and I haven't been able to confirm yet), the first tiebreaker is head-to-head result, then goal differential

if so, the USA needs Italy to win

otherwise, with a USA win and a Italy/Czech draw, the Czechs advance

and I fear a gentlemen's agreement, where a draw would see Italy win the group and the depleted Czechs advance (see West Germany/Austria, 1982)

There can't be. If Ghana wins, a gentleman's agreement means the Czechs go home, no?

[Mordakai]

No chance of a gentlemens agreement, no one "wants" to face Brazil in the 2nd round.

Italy AND Chz will be playing for the top spot of our group. I would gladly take 2nd as we cant win the group anymore.

Hell who knows, maybe we get lucky against Brazil. We did damn well with 9 v 10 on Saturday. What heart our boys have!