30mins in and well... the USA haven't turned up.

Ghana are all over them, the defense seems AWOL at times and they have just brought on a sub which, unless someone is hurt, is practically unheard of this soon.

Ghana have space and time to play some nice flowing football right now which is great to watch... well, unless you are a USA supporter I guess...

If they can keep this up for 90 mins then I might have to adjust my prediction about Ghana vs Uruguay, they might give them some trouble.

edit: last 10/15mins was better from the USA but still not great

edit2: Much better opening from the USA ending in a poor challenge by a Ghana defender and a penalty which was so nearly missed and went in off the wood work. But much better attacking play and Ghana have faded a bit it seems, the football isnt' quite as sweet as it was before.

[Edited by - phantom on June 26, 2010 2:41:58 PM]

And that's the end of it!

USA 1 - 2 Ghana!

The Ghana of the first half came back in the first half of extra time to get the winner, and once again it was the problem I highlighted above; the defense leaks goals.

It was a good game, close as I said, but I think Ghana have just edged it on spirit.

Next stop; most important game of the competition [grin]

[bawling]

The US had some momentum going in the second half after the equalizers but started to go flat as time wound down. They had no juice left at all in extra time. They could have used some luck at the very end but still no joy there.


Uruguay attacks better than Ghana, even though that might not have been apparent during today's early game.

For Brazil to get to Argentina it has to go through the Netherlands and Spain or Portugal. And Argentina has to go through Germany. Nothing is guaranteed.

Honestly I wasn't surprised about USA not playing well early. It makes me sad to see it end, but it wasn't such a bad game. The ref was pretty bad but it seemed to be bad on both teams, which is what matters :)

No offense phantom, but Germany is my only hope, so I hope they defeat England ;)

De todas formas, habría sido una ironía que Ghana no ganara...

That's sports.

Quote: Original post by LessBread
[bawling]

The US had some momentum going in the second half after the equalizers but started to go flat as time wound down. They had no juice left at all in extra time. They could have used some luck at the very end but still no joy there.

Yeah, at times in the 2nd half I thought the USA could take it if not for some luck and bodies getting in the way.

Quote:
Uruguay attacks better than Ghana, even though that might not have been apparent during today's early game.

Yeah, however Ghana has shown that they can form a very solid defensive line (at one point they had a back 6 facing down a USA attack) so that might cause Uruguay some trouble. I still think Ghana will go out next round but it certainly won't be easy for them.

Quote: Original post by Crazyfool
No offense phantom, but Germany is my only hope, so I hope they defeat England ;)

heh, well as I've said above I think Germany might have the edge on England. I expect a good game but I think Germany will edge it. (I'd like to see England win of course, but well.. realism and all that)

Of course, if I get all the teams going into the next round right I'm going to be both pleased and upset as I should have listened to myself and put some cash on it [sad]
So far I'm 2/2

Full afternoon of sport tomorrow; F1 followed by World Cup [grin]

Quote: Original post by phantom
Yeah, however Ghana has shown that they can form a very solid defensive line (at one point they had a back 6 facing down a USA attack) so that might cause Uruguay some trouble. I still think Ghana will go out next round but it certainly won't be easy for them.

I think they're defense looked better than it actually was. Our offense wasn't exactly ideal, so it's not really the best test to say whether Ghana's defense is actually as good as it looked.

Amazing first half in England vs Germany. Some fantastic football by Germany, and an astonishing descision that robbed England of an equaliser.

Yeah, the first 30mins or so was horrible from England, the goals were poorly conceeded and the Germans where much better.

The first goal; defense were in the wrong location and the keeper should have come for it.

The second goal; again poor defensive position leaving a guy free on the side.

England goal; great header there.

Second England goal; great strike, clearly CLEARLY in (a good couple of feet over the line) and robbed [sad]

If we lose by a goal there will be hell to pay I'm sure...