Wonderful matches.
So appealing in fixture and situation that I was skipped my Gym to watch it
Italy v/s Czech and Ghana v/s USA
I wish i had two TV at home !
Italy needed a Draw to go thru, While it was a do or die situation for their opponents.
Similar situation in the other match with Ghana needing Just a draw, provided Italy comes through in other match, and USA desperately wanted to win. So you think everyone wanted Italy to win ? No. Czechs dint. almost all other did.
And I dint want them to win too. :)
I wanted to see the Czech republic win and go through after their first show against USA, and another best-side-so-far contestant Ghana go though to the quarters.
After seeing hte Italian line up, i was sure they will be presenting the same old story. Ten men walking with the ball in their own half. And it proved to be. it was a setpiece, rather than an expected counter attack that gave them the first goal. a good header from the corner , perfectly placed.
And the best player so far nominee Nedved tried all tricks but Buffon was too smart for him on this day. After reducing to 10 men is 1st half, Czechs chances were out.
Ther ewere few more interesting moments
- Baros had to do a bit more to control hte ross from Nedved, had he , the opener would have been his.
- Inziagi coming on as sub to prove himself and heading out an open chance from 6 yards and goal keeper in awkward postion.
- Inziagi with another chance wasted when he shots across the far post.
- Again the same man under the hammer, running out in open from the touch line with the ball and just the goal keeper to beat, no defernders , no pressure .. he was accompanied by a team mate , but never bothered to pass (typical of him), takes on the keeper and beats Peter Czech. Had that gone out, it would have been his last international cap.
- Gattuso runs on to the bench and grabs the Italian Coach's neck while the italians were celebrating the goal. (May be for getting Inziagi onto the field )
2-0 RIP to Czech worldcup. I am sorry. I believed they would make it to the quarters
Well Same time a better match was on hte other side. Frequent swapping was needed to ensure i dint miss all actions.
Reyna gave away the ball, and the goal. well finished.
Good cross from Johnson after a rare ghanan defence error, a powerful blow that the goal keeper was lucky to get out of hte way. 1 -1
But too little time to celebrate for the US as Ghana won a penalty, 2-1 end of an american story.
Now wat. Ghana taking on Brazil. wil the safari end there ? Hope not and hte lackluster Brazilians with out of sync samba tunes humming waywardly give way to the spirited Ghanas working well as team and fighting hard. That would be better for the game.
Happy for Ghana, sad for Czechs.
Italians need to do more.
Without Robhinho in starting lineup , u expect out of form Ronaldo to score ? Last match ball was bouncing off him! It couldnt guide the ball, not he couldnt connect a shot.
Good fixtures to look forward to :
Argentina - Mexico
Brazil - Ghana
Holland playing Portugal
and more on way
