The New Group of Death
I spoke about unpredictability in sport yesterday and it occured yet again - just one you least expected it as usual. The people were complaining about the lack of big upsets this world cup. There has been Ecuador but they aren’t in that strong a group or that big a threat in the over all picture. More importantly, they haven’t displaced any team that’s big.
Then, there was Ivory Coast. An extremely talented team which played an exciting and attacking football which can cause problems for any team. Sadly, talent alone does not win you world cups. You need defense. More importantly, you need experience and toughness which strides over the unpredctiability of sport - more so in a game like football.
Ghana has the same attacking streak in them and they upset a Czech team which looked so good in game 1. US drew their game which makes things all the more interesting. So it is all down to the last game now. Despite a round robin existing, it is always perilous when you are defeated in even one game. It can mean that you leave your fortune in the hands of other teams. It is not easy to win the world cup - even a moment of slip up leading to a goal and a game lost can mean an exit.
This has been a superb world cup so far and it now has an upset it needed to keep the excitement factor at a high level. I am still backing the Czech to reach round 2 but it will be down to one goal here or there now! On a different note, it is good that the US also drew a game. Apart from giving them a bleak hope, it also means out of the many who were excited about the world cup in the US this time around, at least some will stick on to following football which is so vital for the development of any sport.
Tags: FIFA World Cup 2006.
June 18th, 2006 at 2:04 pm
I wrote this six months ago in my blog, right after the draws were made: “Featuring Italy, Czech Republic, the USA and Ghana, Group E is, I think, the toughest… Italy should realise that they cannot expect to win every single game 1-0.”
June 19th, 2006 at 12:38 am
i think the czechs r in danger of goin out. koller n baros’ absence will hurt them as we saw vs USA
June 19th, 2006 at 2:52 am
Indeed Ghana has created a scramble for places in their group. The World Cup opening up is the best news for people who always love to see new teams with fresh ideas going further into the tournament.
June 19th, 2006 at 6:19 pm
Good one Vijay! On Italy, fair point. You don’t win big tournaments with that strategy - seen by the history of Italy’s lack of big wins.
Maverick, there is a chance USA can qualify as well! I am backing on the Czech to go through but they do not seem the same with players absent.
Agreed as usually I do with you Angshu..
June 19th, 2006 at 7:22 pm
I agree that this is the group of death seeing the situation that the teams are in.
My guess is that Italy and Ghana will go through but I am quite skeptic about leaving out USA … Ghana Vs USA will be a good game to watch. Too bad its at the same time as Italy’s game. I’d rather watch the Azzurri …
June 19th, 2006 at 8:19 pm
Well, here in Italy everything seems to be very easy… probably there’s a very lack of measure: either too good or too bad. The players felt like they were already in the finals, and the match against US had been an actual proof of that: I hope that the Azzurri ahve understood that a bit of humility is always necessary if they wanna win a match. Anyway and despite everything, I think Italy would pass to the next round, of course after quite a sufference, as it always did in its history.
June 19th, 2006 at 10:50 pm
Pratyush, US definitely have a chance numerically. but ghana showed wat they can do against the czechs.
US were a bit physical against italy and ghana r more than capable of giving some back. i think US lacks some spark. they rely more on hardwork and working as a team.
i think czech are in trouble because, if it comes to it the italians will jus shut shop and settle for a draw if thats wat they need.
June 20th, 2006 at 5:29 pm
Nello, just a pointer which you might already know. The games have to be at the same time to prevent advantage to the two teams who would have played second. Ideally, FIFA would like to have all matches at different times as more viewership = more money.
Angelo, I too have noticed - the Italians, whether in the Serie A or in the national team, always think how big studs they are and show off. A bit of humbleness, as you put it, would do the players and team as a whole loads of good long term.
Maverick, yep the Czech aren’t as easily placed but I am backing them to go through neverthless. Numerically and even practically, any 2 of the 4 teams can go through which makes it exciting.
June 24th, 2006 at 8:50 am
Indeed, I too thought that the Czech Republic were going to make it. I watched some of their game against the USA and was impressed. But more than that display, it was their showing at Euro2004 that was still fresh in mind and raised the expectation.
Anyway, I thought that they were just ‘good’ against an extra-ordinarily good Buffon the other day. Thus, OUT!!!
I was favouring them for another reason too. Thought that a Czech Rep - Brazil Round of 16 game would be one to savour. But then, Ghana - Italy was as open as a football game can get. So, if Ghana persist with that style, I don’t see them beating Brazil, but I foresee a classic.