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EJ likens Saturday to a war

June 16th, 2006 | By: Jay | 29 Comments »

Oh dear. Eddy Johnson of the US team has likened Saturday’s match to a war. It’s a tired and pathetic analogy, and his youthful exuberance is understandable, but here is my point:

The last thing the US needed to do was motivate Italy even more. Thanks for giving Gli Azzurri another reason to pin their ears back. I’m sure Bruce Arena will be happy that you’ve given the media this fodder to run with (tongue planted firmly in cheek).

Tags: Azzurri, Italy, USA

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Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 29 comments.

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By NAPOLI | June 16th, 2006 at 5:38 pm

sorry but i feal scared for you usa supports, your not in us italians league itll be like a seria team playing a seric team 2-0 comfortable easy win,

Posted from United Kingdom

By Nick | June 16th, 2006 at 5:45 pm

I like how everyone from europe thinks their team will win…just because they are from Europe.

Posted from United States

By Jodido | June 16th, 2006 at 5:46 pm

Gulp - I shall be watching the match with one eye closed. I’m going to need a lot of beer to get through it, I’m sure.

Posted from United States

By Paul | June 16th, 2006 at 5:51 pm

While gli Azzurri are the favorites, I think Lippi has done well to make sure the team does not believe all the hype. In calcio, any team can beat any other team on any given day. The US will surely come out with more passion than they did against the Czechs, so we must be weary. This does not mean the team must sit back and allow the Americans to dictate play, they just can’t be thinking about Brazil or Croatia. If the game was played by matching talent man for man, of course Italy wins, but its played down on the pitch. Lets take this one game at a time, much like Lippi has decided to do. FORZA AZZURRI!

Posted from United States

By Paul | June 16th, 2006 at 5:55 pm

And when you actually see and hear the EJ press conference, its not as bad as when you read it. I think he meant they were deriving the spirit from the soldiers they were visiting rather than actually equating it to a war. Besides, he’s a kid, we all say stupid things. Even Gilardino had a bit of a laugh about it.

Posted from United States

By Vin | June 16th, 2006 at 6:59 pm

To the US supporters… I think SOME of the Italy fans are more arrogant than the players.

Don’t listen to the guys on this board predicting blowouts, etc. That’s not what the Azzurri players are thinking. They KNOW the U.S. will come out wanting to redeem themselves, and they KNOW it will be tough from that regard.

I do think gli Azzurri will win, but it’s not like the U.S. doesn’t have a chance.

That said, they should just duct tape the entire U.S. squad’s mouths, because I haven’t heard a sensible thing from a single one of them.

Posted from United States

By Zero | June 16th, 2006 at 8:21 pm

Uhm, Us players have been accused to play without personality (and without heart) after the game against czechs, so probably EJ just tried to say that they will put everithing they have in the game against Italy. Onestly it seems to me just an usual “trash talking” before an important game, nothing more…

By justin | June 16th, 2006 at 8:54 pm

Italia is gonna send a message to the US, after they dragged them into Iraq

Posted from Canada

By justin | June 16th, 2006 at 8:54 pm

i predict 4-1

Posted from Canada

By Kevin | June 16th, 2006 at 9:04 pm

justin,

What the hell does Iraq have to do with the World Cup? Maybe the U.S. will send Italy a message after getting abandoned in Iraq. GO CANADA

Posted from United States

By Troglodyte | June 16th, 2006 at 11:08 pm

“Nick: I like how everyone from europe thinks their team will win…just because they are from Europe.”

Actually I think it’s because the Azzuri are far, far superior to the American squad.

As far as American hunger goes, from the looks of things I imagine they’ll come out hungry, and then collapse as soon as the Italians score.

Posted from United States

By Jono | June 17th, 2006 at 2:05 am

I hope the rest of the US players are as eager as Johnson. I don’t expect a win, I just want to see them go all out and take risks! Either way, the game will be an interesting one to watch, whether they lose or win. If they get scored upon right away they need to remember the Aussie opening game.

By forza | June 17th, 2006 at 3:25 am

I dont think Italia will crush the USA, the azzurri dont play that way. A 1 goal lead will do. We think that way, 1-0 or 10-0 is the same, 3 points are 3 points, but I hope they do get them!

FORZA ITALIA SEMPRE!

By enzo | June 17th, 2006 at 5:08 am

Remember, Italy, during the forthcoming crushing defeat of the US take no prisoners.

Posted from Australia

By devansh | June 17th, 2006 at 8:03 am

italy 4 -1 usa

totti
toni
del piero
del piero

man of the match may be pirlo

By Totti delpiero toni | June 17th, 2006 at 8:10 am

Striker Francesco Totti (knee) has been passed fit and Gennaro Gattuso (leg) is making progress, so both could feature.

USA coach Bruce Arena is set to ring the changes after his side’s 3-0 opening defeat to the Czech Republic.

Italy (probable): Buffon; Zambrotta, Nesta, Cannavaro, Grosso; De Rossi, Pirlo, Perrotta; Totti; Toni, Del piero.

United States (probable): Keller; Lewis, Onyewu, Pope, Cherundolo; Convey, Reyna, Mastroeni, Beasley; Donovan, McBride.

Italy will progress to the next round if they beat the USA and the Czech Republic avoid defeat against Ghana.

Their last encounter was a friendly in 2002 which Italy won 1-0, thanks to a goal by Alessandro Del Piero.

Vincenzo Iaquinta’s close range strike against Ghana was the 11th World Cup goal scored by an Italian substitute, a figure that leads all nations in the history of the World Cup.

Daniele De Rossi, Mauro Camoranesi and Vincenzo Iaquinta will be suspended if booked.

Filippo Inzaghi (i hope to see him)can win his 50th cap for Italy. The 32-year-old striker has so far scored 21 times in 49 matches. He can also become Italy’s second oldest ever scorer at a World Cup. The record belongs to Daniele Massaro (33 years and 36 days in 1994).

Oguchi Onyewu and Claudio Reyna will be suspended if booked.
The United States have not been awarded a penalty in the World Cup since 1950 (16 matches).

By Will | June 17th, 2006 at 6:32 pm

lets get realistic here the U.S. is never going to beat italia, most of the U.S.team plays for MLS teams and the best the only players that are good enough to even leave the U.S. play for teams in Europe that are in 17 place or lower, which stands no chance to all the players that play for very high standards of the seria A players that all play on the top teams. there is just no chance that the U.S. will win this game i sayin 3 to 0 win Italia callin it right here

Posted from United States

By Stuart | June 17th, 2006 at 9:01 pm

Sad choice of words by EJ, but given all the patriotic hoo-ha at home with our “adventures” abroad, and our lack-luster effort against the Czechs, it’s understandable. He’s young, he’ll learn.

As for the match, on paper it’s a win for Italy. A betting man would put money that way.

But…the game’s not played on paper…

Posted from United States

By Lyle | June 17th, 2006 at 11:01 pm

Italy couldn’t be the US with a man up… so they don’t deserve to be World Cup Champions. The spaghetti eaters simply aren’t good enough!! Lippi’s marinara sauce just want do it this year!!! No crossing the Rubicon!!!

Couldn’t beat the US… hahaha!!!

By UC | June 18th, 2006 at 1:41 am

Johnson may have been onto something. That game was a war.

Posted from United States

By forza | June 18th, 2006 at 3:33 am

the game was really a war you are right

Posted from United States

By Roland | June 18th, 2006 at 6:42 am

Color me surprised.

Posted from United States

By george | June 18th, 2006 at 1:44 pm

The soccer played in Italy is high quality because very often Inter Milano plays with 11 foreigners the entire game. Italia of today makes me feel sorry for the millions of Italian fans. Squadra azzura is 3-4 levels below of Argentina, my favorite for this World Cup.

Posted from United States

By Chumbawumba | June 19th, 2006 at 3:16 am

heh-heh. It’s always interesting reading the comments and predictions aftrer the game is complete.

“italy 4 -1 usa

totti
toni
del piero
del piero”

Posted from United States

By mek | June 20th, 2006 at 12:11 am

de rossi… an absolute disgrace. discuss.

LMFAO!!!

If he plays again in this tournament then something is very, very wrong.

Posted from United Kingdom

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