Group E chances in k/o phase

[Kwame_Toronto]

Can Italy and Ghana BOTH make it to the quarters?

Italy v Australia

Ghana v Brazil

[midnightman]

I know people love surprises but there will be none here

[ForzaAmeen]

Italy 3-1 Australia
Brazil 2-0 Ghana

[Maruti]

Ghana have an outside chance. I would give more of a chance if they had a full squad, but unfortunately they will be missing two key players: Laryea Kingston (I bet Doya now wishes he had taken him now cuz both Derek Boateng and Otto Addo have been below par... for those who don't know Kingston had a three match ban that would have ended in 1/8 final) and Micheal Essien. Hopefully the yellow card can be rescinded but I wouldn't count on it. Fortunately Essien has a half decent sub in the form of Eric Addo, which is phenomenal in PSV and plays similarly to Essien (althouygh is nowhere as world class).

Still they will have to up there game and play like against the Czech Rep. but with finishing like today against the USA.

I'm hopeful that they will at least try their best.

And please Brazilian fans, i know how sure of yourselves you can be, but don't ditch Ghana. And remember that even if you win you'll win with a below full strength Ghanian side.

Best of luck Black Stars. Hope for a World Cup classic!

PEACE Y'ALL!

[DDR]

Italy 3-1 Australia

Let's not make the same mistake we made against the United States. I feel Australia is the easier of the two for us to beat. However we can't afford to walk in there thinking we already won. They are extremelly aggressive. It's like Brazil's coach said "Don't go out there and fight them" ... we need to control the pace and expose thier weakness.

I can see the Australia match playing out in the same fashion as the USA match.

We need to up our attack to ... bench Gilardino and start Toni if you want to play 4-4-2. Bring Inzaghi on in the second half.

[AmericanBlackStarFan]

Ghana have an outside chance. I would give more of a chance if they had a full squad, but unfortunately they will be missing two key players: Laryea Kingston (I bet Doya now wishes he had taken him now cuz both Derek Boateng and Otto Addo have been below par... for those who don't know Kingston had a three match ban that would have ended in 1/8 final) and Micheal Essien. Hopefully the yellow card can be rescinded but I wouldn't count on it. Fortunately Essien has a half decent sub in the form of Eric Addo, which is phenomenal in PSV and plays similarly to Essien (althouygh is nowhere as world class).

Still they will have to up there game and play like against the Czech Rep. but with finishing like today against the USA.

I'm hopeful that they will at least try their best.

And please Brazilian fans, i know how sure of yourselves you can be, but don't ditch Ghana. And remember that even if you win you'll win with a below full strength Ghanian side.

Best of luck Black Stars. Hope for a World Cup classic!

PEACE Y'ALL!

Ghana has an outside chance, yes...but to a certain degree you can't help but to expect a loss when facing a team like Brazil. Japan looked good for a while, but they totally loss the midfield battle...they made it way too easy for Brazil to break through and take shots. Their takeaways and counters were really good though.

[pippomo]

Let's not make the same mistake we made against the United States. I feel Australia is the easier of the two for us to beat. However we can't afford to walk in there thinking we already won. They are extremelly aggressive. It's like Brazil's coach said "Don't go out there and fight them" ... we need to control the pace and expose thier weakness.

I can see the Australia match playing out in the same fashion as the USA match.

We need to up our attack to ... bench Gilardino and start Toni if you want to play 4-4-2. Bring Inzaghi on in the second half.
Finally I read a good, judicious, prudent post frm an Italian fan. A GOOD POST INDEED.

[Maruti]

Ghana has an outside chance, yes...but to a certain degree you can't help but to expect a loss when facing a team like Brazil. Japan looked good for a while, but they totally loss the midfield battle...they made it way too easy for Brazil to break through and take shots. Their takeaways and counters were really good though.

If they had Essien than I don't see them lose in midfield. And we know they can play 90 minutes on top speed.

Unfortunately they don't have Essien... Hopefully Eric Addo will do his best to fill his shoes.

The Essien-Muntari-Addo-Appiah midfield is one of the top three midfields at this world cup.

[NGV]

Australia isn't an easy opponent for anyone. Italy is a much better team, but I think they'll be looking at another early exit if they undestimate the opposition.

Ghana getting past Brazil without Essien would be one of the biggest upsets in history. I don't think they have the defensive talent needed to keep Brazil 0-0 through extra time. If they can steal an early goal they might have a chance, but it's a very small chance.

[Maruti]

Australia isn't an easy opponent for anyone. Italy is a much better team, but I think they'll be looking at another early exit if they undestimate the opposition.

I actually think that Autralia - Italy is the most probable upset in the 1/8 final. Australias physical game will be a great weapon against Italy. It all depends on how Pirlo plays.

[Azzurri_in_U.S.A]

Essien can't play against Brazil!!!! Aw man, I was looking forward to that game, without Essien Ghana loses a very prominant figure both as a leader and as a player. Ghana fans, Addo is good, but nowhere close to how relentless and tough Essien is; I'm afraid the chances are bleak without Essien, hopefully the protest works so that he may be able to play against Brazil.

Regarding Italy-Australia, we're in for a tough game, but you're not going to win any WC's by beating Saudi Arabia, Togo, etc, this is the big time, to be the best you have to beat the best. Australia is very talented; the strange twist to all of this is that Australia has 2 players of Italian descent in Alouisi and Bresciano. Australia is relentless and will claw, scratch, and fight to win the game....I honestly don't know what will come of that game; especially without Nesta.

[The Prophet]

The Africans dont have a chance!!!!! Brazil will let you play for awhile then they will bring down the hammer and its all over.


Brazil 3

ghana 0


Italy always fines a way to win and they will beat australia

2-0

[BlackStars]

The Africans dont have a chance!!!!! Brazil will let you play for awhile then they will bring down the hammer and its all over.


Brazil 3

ghana 0


Italy always fines a way to win and they will beat australia

2-0


Shut the F UP.....why are you so over-confident, i mean we are in the round of 16 for a reason, dont be surprised if the game is close and definitely do not be surprised if Ghana takes this one.....Essien isn't playing but we still have Appiah, Muntari, Both Addo's, Boateng and Dramani( goal scorer against USA ) we have our top striker back and two solid central defenders ( with sammy kuffour as sub and im sure ronaldo remembers him ) and a good goalkeeper.....all im gonna say is that its gonna be a very good game, but i dont see the score being that lop sided.

[ilbaasha]

Italy has a decent chance to advance to the quarter-final, Ghana don't.

Italy has to bear in mind that they are playing against the very same manager who has sent them home from the same round in WC2002, a manager who has turned the result in his favour twice in the first round. So, in my opinion the "let's score one and defend it" strategy is not a clever idea... South Korea came from behind too in 2002, remember?

Italy's opponent in the quarter-final is going to be one of the following; France, Switzerland, South Korea, Ukraine, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia... on paper, Italy is a semi-finalist this year:) Hopefully WC champions;)

[Maruti]

Italy's opponent in the quarter-final is going to be one of the following; France, Switzerland, South Korea, Ukraine, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia... on paper, Italy is a semi-finalist this year:) Hopefully WC champions;)

I actually predict the Australia game to be a real tough one. But on the other hand Australia will be without many first team players due to yellow cards.

[AmericanBlackStarFan]

Essien can't play against Brazil!!!! Aw man, I was looking forward to that game, without Essien Ghana loses a very prominant figure both as a leader and as a player. Ghana fans, Addo is good, but nowhere close to how relentless and tough Essien is; I'm afraid the chances are bleak without Essien, hopefully the protest works so that he may be able to play against Brazil.

The yellow card was a load of bull...but I'm not gonna make a fit about it. It will most definently be protested, but I wouldn't count on FIFA turning it over.

[Ragnarok14]

I actually predict the Australia game to be a real tough one. But on the other hand Australia will be without many first team players due to yellow cards.

Huh? Pretty sure we are only going to be missing emerton, a wingback who leaves us a little exposed at the back when he makes his normally pointless runs forward (although he hasn't been to bad lately).

[kjksccr]

Shut the F UP.....why are you so over-confident, i mean we are in the round of 16 for a reason, dont be surprised if the game is close and definitely do not be surprised if Ghana takes this one.....Essien isn't playing but we still have Appiah, Muntari, Both Addo's, Boateng and Dramani( goal scorer against USA ) we have our top striker back and two solid central defenders ( with sammy kuffour as sub and im sure ronaldo remembers him ) and a good goalkeeper.....all im gonna say is that its gonna be a very good game, but i dont see the score being that lop sided.

Dude, there were two many mistakes made by Ghana today against a second-tier team. How many free headers were there in Ghana's box? Adriano won't miss those. Brazil will just wear you down and they are too deep, especially without Essien.

[Arid_Torpor]

Ghana have an outside chance. I would give more of a chance if they had a full squad, but unfortunately they will be missing two key players: Laryea Kingston (I bet Doya now wishes he had taken him now cuz both Derek Boateng and Otto Addo have been below par... for those who don't know Kingston had a three match ban that would have ended in 1/8 final) and Micheal Essien.

What happened with Kingson's suspension? I hadn't heard about that. What'd he do (other than stall the heck out of the second half).

[Guinho]

Let's not make the same mistake we made against the United States. I feel Australia is the easier of the two for us to beat. However we can't afford to walk in there thinking we already won. They are extremelly aggressive. It's like Brazil's coach said "Don't go out there and fight them" ... we need to control the pace and expose thier weakness.

I can see the Australia match playing out in the same fashion as the USA match.

We need to up our attack to ... bench Gilardino and start Toni if you want to play 4-4-2. Bring Inzaghi on in the second half.


I don't konw about that. Australia is a better team than the US and they are motivated. They'll play the game much the way the US did, but they'll do a better job. If Italy does'nt show up, they'll be in danger. maybe not a lot of danger, but danger nonetheless.