Regardless of what happens in the U.S.-Czech Republic match, I assume we would want Italy and Ghana to tie, to ensure that both teams lose points and neither side builds up a large goal differential. Am I right?
Re: What Result Do We Want for Italy-Ghana? No. Crushing defeat of Italy by Ghana. Nothing more, nothing less. right??
Re: What Result Do We Want for Italy-Ghana? Game abandonned due to both teams being reduced to 8 men via injuries and red cards.
Re: What Result Do We Want for Italy-Ghana? Oddly enough, neither one of you (seriously addressing the question) might be completely right. If all other factors are equal, I think in general you want the teams in the 'other' game, whenever (i.e. whatever round) that is, to draw and split two points. In certain situations, most obvious when you get to Game 3 (of 3), you might prefer one or the other (of the other teams) to win. I think if we tie or lose to CZE, we definitely want a tie in the other game, to keep the table as tight as possible. If we manage to beat CZE, then you have to decide if you want to play an over-confident Italy (having just beaten Ghana) or a demoralized/fighting mad Italy (having just been shocked by Ghana). I'll take the former, hoping for at least a draw, planning to win Game 3 v. Ghana and win the group. I favor: Group E USA W D W = 7 Italy W D D = 5 CZE L W D = 4 GHA L L L = 0 Round of 16 Italy v. Brazil USA v. Cream Puff Back to reality - maybe we should just focus on beating the Czechs and let the other game take care of itself ...
Re: What Result Do We Want for Italy-Ghana? i would hardly describe croatia and australia as creampuffs
Re: What Result Do We Want for Italy-Ghana? How about Japan? Croatia, Australia and Japan all get to play Brazil in Group games. We can only play Brazil in the knockout stages. I would rather play them in the Final than in the Round of 16. That was my underlying point - sorry if it got lost. Perhaps my use of cream puff was ill-advised. I just found: From Wikipedia: [Also] "Cream Puff" is a common expression used to mean "Top Notch", or "Elite." Does that make you feel better? Number 3, below, was more what I was thinking --- From Merriam Webster Main Entry: cream puff Function: noun 1 : a round shell of light pastry filled with whipped cream or a cream filling 2 : an ineffectual person 3 : something trifling, inconsiderable, or easily dealt with 4 : a usually used motor vehicle that is in especially good condition In contrast to Brazil, of course. I'll try to be more careful with my word choice in the future.
Re: What Result Do We Want for Italy-Ghana? i need someone to tell ME what result we want. i'm still not sure. i think we'll only truly know if it was a good result for us AFTER the group stage. but personally, i think our chances of beating Italy improve greatly if they beat Ghana 2-0, rather than lose to Ghana 2-0. and whatever the format, i'd like to have 4 pts going into the Ghana match, that way we control our own destiny. if Italy lose to the Black Stars, i think they come out for blood against the US. and as Mexico showed us in 2002, it's better to play a lackadaisical Azzurri than an out-for-blood-we-can't-go-home-if-we-lose-this Azzurri.
Re: What Result Do We Want for Italy-Ghana? Let's eliminate the weakest link (Ghana) and fight with the Czechs.
Re: What Result Do We Want for Italy-Ghana? 0-0 draw and lots of cards... lots and lots of cards... (injuries would help us too, but I can't wish for that, as that's just too evil...)
Re: What Result Do We Want for Italy-Ghana? yeah i tend to agree. that way Ghana's likely out of it after their game with the Czechs. but what happened with Poland in 2002 flies in the face of that theory. so i'm not sure about it...
Re: What Result Do We Want for Italy-Ghana? This is about right. If Italy doesn't win Game 1 v. Ghana, they have to win Games 2 & 3 to avoid Brazil (assuming Ghana doesn't win all three of their games!). I'd rather play a relaxed Italy, after the Czech/Ghana game, than a deperate Italy. Keep the winning formula in mind: Surprise the Czechs; shake hands with Italy; thump Ghana; finish first; beat a Super Great Wonderful (non-Brazilian) team in the Round of 16; and start the mad BS scramble to get to Germany however possible to watch history being made* Lastly, can we stop talking about red cards and injuries, etc., please? Isn't it enough that I am simultaneously trying to get the Italian Federation to withdraw their team and trying to foment revolution in Ghana before June 22? *If I start paddling now in a big inner tube, will I make it? Or maybe you guys could collect enough to buy me a one-way no-return-allowed ticket.
Re: What Result Do We Want for Italy-Ghana? A tie for them and a win for us and we're one foot in the round of 16. And it wouldn't hurt if every Italian player gets a yellow.
Re: What Result Do We Want for Italy-Ghana? I think we always want a tie. That way one point evaporates and is gone for ever. 2-2 Ghana Italy tie where Italy's not too ticked off afterwards.
Re: What Result Do We Want for Italy-Ghana? "You know how much I love watching you work, but I've got our Country's 500th anniversary to plan, My wife to murder, and Gilder to frame for it. I'm swamped."
Re: What Result Do We Want for Italy-Ghana? here's my scenario: we win our group, but STILL play brazil, who surprisingly comes in 2nd in theirs
Re: What Result Do We Want for Italy-Ghana? Everyone is assuming that if Italy loses or ties Ghana they will give us a harder game in game 2. I disagree with that. A confident, patient Italy is a team that will be very hard to beat. If they drop some points in game 1 however, especially given the current controversies in Italian football, they may become desperate in game 2 giving the US far more opportunities to score. I can easily envision the following scenario. Italy gets a single point from Ghana and comes out pressing against us. However they are caught out early in the second half by Eddie Johnson say, exposing the Italian defense who are playing too far up in support of the midfield. The Italians then self destruct around minute 70, earning several cards and conceding a second goal. The US wins the group, the Czechs finish second, and the Italians go home to face an irate public.
Re: What Result Do We Want for Italy-Ghana? I don't think that there is even a question here. Unless it is the last game of the group stage and you are behind on points you should ALWAYS want a draw. The logic is simple, because if one team wins a total of 3 points is given to them, whereas with a draw there are only two points to split. I think you always want to limit the number of total points AVAILABLE to the other teams in your group. Also, if there are more ties earlier in the round, it leaves more to play for throughout the group stage for everyone invovled, so you get a more level playing field whether you're playing someone in the first, second, or third game (ie no Mexico-Italy kickaround from 2002). Plus, everyone keeps talking about the US getting 4 or 5 points to advance. If thats the case you HAVE to have draws from the other teams in order to advance.
Re: What Result Do We Want for Italy-Ghana? All things being equal (which they are on the first game) you always want other teams to draw because it lowers the total number of points in the group and therefore lowers the bar for getting out of the group.
Re: What Result Do We Want for Italy-Ghana? i think, when it comes down to it, we want a draw in tthe first mattch, that way, if we lose, we aren't 3 points down to 2 tams. We are only one back to 2 teams. In match 3, you certainly want one team to win (as in the south korea portugal match in the last cup.)
Re: What Result Do We Want for Italy-Ghana? that's what everyone said after france lostt to senegal in the alst cup. In the end, i am a firm believer in controlling your own destiny. if we man up and do what we need to do, who cares about the other matches!!!!!!!