Here is the thread to know a little more about each country in Group E. Let's Start: ITALY Flag: Location: Capital: Rome Language: Italian Population: 58,462,375 Currency: Euro National Anthem: L'Inno Di Mamelli (Fratelli D'Italia) http://ingeb.org/songs/fratelli.mid Italy (Italian: Repubblica Italiana or Italia) is a country in southern Europe. It comprises the boot-shaped Italian peninsula, the Po River valley, and two large islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia, and shares its northern alpine boundary with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. The independent countries of San Marino and the Vatican City are enclaves within Italian territory. For more than 3,000 years Italy witnessed many migrations and invasions from Germanic, Greek, Celtic, Franks, Byzantines, Normans, and the French Angevins, and Lombard peoples. Italy was also home to many well-known and influential civilisations, including the Etruscans and the Romans. Italy has shaped the cultural and social development of the whole Mediterranean area, deeply influencing European culture as well. Important cultures and civilizations have existed there since prehistoric times. After Magna Graecia, the Etruscan civilization and especially the Roman Republic and Empire that dominated this part of the world for many centuries, Italy was central to European philosophy, science and art during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Modern Italy became a nation-state belatedly — on March 17, 1861, when most of the states of the peninsula were united under king Victor Emmanuel II of the Savoy dynasty, which ruled over Sardinia and Piedmont. The architects of Italian unification were Count Camillo Benso di Cavour, the Chief Minister of Victor Emmanuel, and Giuseppe Garibaldi, a general and national hero. Rome itself remained for a decade under the Papacy, and became part of the Kingdom of Italy only on September 20, 1870. The Vatican is now an independent enclave surrounded by Rome. Soccer Federation: Federazione Italiana Gioco Calcio Founded: 1898 FIFA Affiliation: 1905 www.figc.it
United States of America Flag: Location: Capital: Washington, D.C. Language: English Population: 297,700,000 Currency: US Dollar National Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner http://wilstar.com/holidays/ssbanner.htm The United States of America is a federal democratic republic situated primarily in North America. It comprises 50 states and one federal district, and has several territories. It is also referred to, with varying formality, as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., the States, or simply and most commonly, America.The country celebrates its founding date as July 4, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress — representing thirteen British colonies — adopted the Declaration of Independence. However, the structure of the government was profoundly changed in 1789, when the states replaced the Articles of Confederation with the United States Constitution. The date on which each of the fifty states adopted the Constitution is typically regarded as the date that state "entered the Union" (became part of the United States). Since the mid-20th century, following World War II, the United States has emerged as a dominant global influence in economic, political, military, scientific, technological, and cultural affairs. Because of its influence, the U.S. is considered a superpower and, particularly after the Cold War, a hyperpower by some. Soccer Federation: US Soccer Federation Founded: 1913 FIFA Affiliation: 1914 www.ussoccer.com
Czech Republic Flag: Location: Capital: Prague Language: Czech Population: 10,241,138 Currency: Czech koruna National Anthem: Kde domov můj http://www.republika.pl/cepolsite/info/hymna.mp3 The Czech Republic (Czech: Česká republika) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country has borders with Poland to the north, Germany to the northwest and west, Austria to the south, and Slovakia to the east. Historic Prague (Czech: Praha), a major tourist attraction, is its capital and largest city. Other major cities include Brno, Ostrava, Zlín, Plzeň, Pardubice, Hradec Králové, České Budějovice, Liberec, Olomouc, and Ústí nad Labem. The country is composed of two older regions, Bohemia and Moravia, and part of a third one, Silesia. As of May 1, 2004, it is a member state of the European Union. The country was originally Czechoslovakia, but in 1993 was split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Soccer Federation: Founded: 1901 FIFA Affiliation: 1907 (Czechoslovakia), 1994 (Czech Republic) http://www.fotbal.cz
Ghana Flag: Location: Capital: Accra Language: English (official), Twi, Ewe, Dagbani, Fante Population: 21,029,853 Currency: Cedi National Anthem: God Bless Our Homeland, Ghana http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/8106/Anthems/ghana.htm The Republic of Ghana is a nation in West Africa. It borders Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso in the north, Togo to the east, with the Gulf of Guinea on its southern coastline. Formerly the Gold Coast, the name Ghana is derived from the Ghana Empire (although its territory never reached present-day Ghana). Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the British Togoland trust territory after fraudulent so called plebiscite divised by the permanent members of the UN britain and France and going against the will of the people, Ghana in 1957 became the first "black" country in colonial Africa to gain its independence. In 1956 Sudan gained its independence, but it was actually considered "Arab," even though it is part of "Black Africa." Therefore, Sudan was actually the first to achieve independence from colonial powers, but Ghana is considered the first "black" African country to gain independence. A long series of coups ended with the ascension to power of Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings in 1981. His changes resulted in the suspension of the constitution in 1981 and the banning of political parties. A new constitution, restoring multiparty politics, was approved in 1992, and Rawlings was elected in free elections of that year and also in 1996. The constitution prohibited him from running for a third term. John Kufour, the current president, is now in his second term. Soccer Federation: Ghana Football Association Founded: 1957 FIFA Affiliation: 1958 http://www.ghanafa.org
Unstuck to make room for the pre-match threads. A link to this thread has been added to the new Group E "read me" thread.