Getting through…

Joe,

It is not that I am anti USA soccer team, just anti annoying Soccer Commentator.

But it is true that the result of the game is crucial to the interests of the USA team.

I am ITALOCANADOFRANCOAMERICOQUEBECOIS a rare beast indeed, basicaly I would love to see ITALY/USA at the top of the group.

I like alot of the Italian national team come out of the woodwork every 4 years to proclaim birth given right to be a so called Soccer fan.

My favorite team is Avellino but thier fortunes have faded a little and they are now in Seria C.

As for the USA team, I would love to see them advance but I would much rather see a Canadian team qualify one day.

If Canada ever made it to the World Cup, I could break out my Canadian Flag … 15×5 feet thatis a Large Flag Baby.

The last time we did something big my Mom made a Flag ..

45feet across by 15 feet high, we had it hanging from our house to the neighbor across the street.

Forza Italia !

I believe and don’t make me Bite My Hand.

Posted from  United States

PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEE BEAT CZECH !!!

PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEE BEAT CZECH !!!

PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEE BEAT CZECH !!!

PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEE BEAT CZECH !!!

If you do, I promise we will beat Ghana! lol

“Funny how all the “U.S. Media” sucks comments come from posters from within the U.S.

Sour grapes talkin’! ”

Well, you would be a little smarter to realize that no one else outside the US is being subjected to garbage commentating, thank GOD. Where else are people going to voluntarily listen to American commentators.

Posted from  Canada

M,

Maybe you need to ship down some Molson XXX or Moosehead and then the Commentators can start sounding like Dick Irvin on Molson Hockey Night In Canada.

Posted from  United States

Its true i can only hear U.S commetary here in the u.s. I use to like the English commetary when i was in jamaica. They call the game as it is and give u facts. They dont call players by the wrong names and mess of the pronuciation. I love Italy to death but they suck on saturday. De Rossi was pissed off because the U.S was fouling to stop the counter attacks in the stupid Ref was not carding the Americans, that was annoying and he lost his temper. The first U.s red he step in Pirlo’s ankle that was a red anywhere plus all the nigling fouls they where getting away with before. Totti needs to get the ball to create he didnt get it much and when he did he was foul. Italy sat back too much as per usual. They need to start taking the game to opponents and stop playing on the counter, they got players that can dominate a game y play on the counter. When u are countering the ball goes to the forwards and totti doesnt touch it. They need to posess and play the ball through midfield before i start pulling my motherfucking hair out.
Forza Italia
P.S Ghana is way underated and they will beat the U.S. The U.S cannot match the Ghana midfield in quality man to man. Italy need to win to top the group. On the other hand the U.s might just buy out ghana.

Posted from  United States

In Euro68, the only euro Italy has ever won, they went through to the finals on ‘coin-toss’ after tying with the USSR 0-0 AET. No penalties at that time… In the finals, they tied 1-1 AET with Jugoslavia and had to go to an extra game, which they won 2-0. I know it has nothing to do with what were talking here but i thought it was interesting…

De Rossi had no excuse for what he did. He should have been sent home. Mastroeni’s foul was much less severe than several others that have only garnered a yellow card or even no booking at all. Look at Puyol’s (Spain) cleats up foul in their last game for a perfect example. The ball was literally 6 feet in front of the player he fouled, so it was clear he was not intending to win a ball. Mastroeni’s foul deserved a booking, and it was stupid on Mastroeni’s part, but a red? No way, not when so many similar (and worse) offenses are not being called.

The US played hard, and yes, fouled a lot. That + setting many offsides traps was their strategy. Can you argue with the results? Don’t whine because your side couldn’t handle the pressure and only got a point. Win against CR and it won’t even matter.

It doesnt matter if Italy beat Czech. U.S will not go through because they cant beat Ghana its that simple. Look at the quality of the Ghana midfield players and the club they play for in comparision to the U.S. Lets see if the U.S wont whine when Ghana fouls evey 2 second. I Hope they break Mcbrides 2 feet.

Totti – To answer
US Midfielders play in:
USA, Holland (1st div), EPL
GHA: Turkey, Germany, EPL

Some difference, but probably not quite as much as you were hoping for, eh?

Forget about the USA game. The US is still looking for the oval ball.

Italy will win on Thursday! Toni will get three goals!

hey mason, essien plays for Chelsea, and a couple players play in the Serie A…so give me a break

Posted from  Canada

Not the ones that have actually played for the national side. Check the match reports.

Essien plays for Chelsea (England), ASppiah plays for Fenerbache (Turkey) he played for Juventus (Italy) for a couple of years, Muntari plays for Udinese (Italy), Eric Addo plays for PSV (Holland), Boateng plays for AIK (Sweden), Otto Addo plays for FSV Mainz (Germany).

Posted from  Italy

Pao- The point is, that’s a half dozen midfielders. There can only play four, or maybe five, at a time. The strongest four, or five, play in nearly the exact same leauges as the USA’s strongest four or five. My point is that the argument isn’t beyond reproach.

Listen, you obviously have no idea what your talking about. You can’t compare Essien to any of the US midfielders. And you can’t compare players in the Serie A to the ones in the Dutch, Swedish and Turkish leagues. If the US wins tom its cuz theyll turn it into a battle. It has nothing to do with the players’ technical abilities and their creativity.

Posted from  Canada

It really is beyond reproach. Essien is a world class player. You could have Essien and three bums off the street and it would be stronger than the US midfield. Appiah and Muntari both have Serie A experience.

Landon got his butt kicked in Germany before he came crying home to the MLS, Reyna has had a long international career but never an excellent one, and Manchester City does not compare to Chelsea or Juventus, particularly since he’s been on the sideline for so long. Convey is in the English second division, and DMB, with probably the best club experience and Eindhoven, probably will sit on the bench against Ghana.

m has it right. If USA is to win, it will need a lot of luck and another rugby match of a game. I don’t understand how the ESPN commentators are so certain of a USA victory. Ghana played almost as well as Italy, and destoroyed the Czechs. I’m betting they’ll actually win the group, beating the USA while Italy ties the Czechs.

M-
I conceed Essian. The guy is far and away better than anything the US can field. That said, a fast bulldog like Beasley could stay in his back pocket, and reduce his his impact.

I do question why you keep bring up Serie A players when GHA only has one, AND he is suspended do to yellow accumuation. The US midfield that will play is (likely) four-fifths composed of players who ply their trade in the leauges and countries that you mention. You mention Turkey?

I do take offense at your assertion that because I have a US IP4, I don’t know what I’m talking about?? It seems to me that “totti” never bothered to do the smallest amount of due dilligence before he popped off. But hey… What’s the interweb for if not for that??

M- You also cite skill and creativity as if they were some be all and end all. Prithee I don’t offend when I say that they are mere means to an end. This ain’t figure skating. Games have ended where the ugly, less creative team has won. Just ask your local German.

It will be a long 4 years Italy. Chekz will beat you 2 – 0.

Posted from  Australia

It will be a long 4 USA. Ghana will beat you 4-0

should toni play? What have he done italia ????

Ghana fields the better midfield 4 or 5. No argument. However, with Gyan and Muntari out, there will be much more offensive scoring pressure on Essien and Appiah than they’re used to. Something will have to give. If the goals don’t come from those guys pushing forward, where will they come from with Gyan and Muntari out?

I don’t believe Ghana can play a strong offensive AND defensive midfield for 90 minutes if the US brings the kind of pressure to bear that they exhibited against Italy. If they can, then Ghana deserves to move on. I really believe Donovan will be the key. If he challenges for a full 90 minutes, I think he can break down the Ghana defense and get a score or assist.

Devansh…. Heh. Just like Italia was going to beat the US 3-0. Plus, if what he says and you say happen, Italia would be headed home with the US. If you’re any sort of an Italian fan, you want the US to win, because we’re unlikely to catch up to you on GD.

And John..
I think there is, at least some argument, to that assertion. I ask you this, could the Ghanan midfield have held out for 40 minutes down a man, while still looking at least a little threatening?

These folks have been beating me over the head with the “where do they play” line of reasoning. I’ve yet to play the trump card to discredit it. It comes in the form of two questions:

Where does the Italian midfield play? What happened last Saturday?

In any case, good luck to the Italians.

The U.S is over rated and Ghana “was” underated. Brazil have there work cut out.

I’m sorry to all of you who have critized the azzurri but clearly needless to point out who won the overall tornament, Italy were seriously ripped off in korea this is there time to shine a team who has players like del piero and totti sitting on the bench for half the game and still win, they are able to still come out winners even when they have ten men and they lost nesta to injury one of the best defenders in the world and still win the world cup, that team has depth and clearly there was passion there so all i can say is forza azzurri and good luck in the next Euro, Mio Amore Cannavaro

Posted from  Australia