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U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

Frayed Knot Jun 24 2010 06:46 AM

We never got a Ghana KTE in the Group D thread. Anyone here who actually knows what they're talking in this sport (thus eliminating myself) want to take a crack at it before Saturday's match?

metirish Jun 24 2010 06:58 AM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2 Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jun 24 2010 08:02 AM

I'll have a KTE up within the hour. Country: Ghana Nickname: “Black Stars” Ghana and America were in the same group at the 2006 WC in Germany. A disappointing affair for the Americans saw them finish last in the group with Ghana sealing their fate with a 2-1 beating, Ghana advanced from the group with eventual Cup winners Italy. Here is where it gets murky, there has been speculation that Ghana threw there Rd16 game against Brazil , they got hammered 3-0. Ghana has long been considered a place where league matches are often fixed , very corrupt. Here is a book worth reading about corruption in world football, in it Declan Hill argues that the fix was in on that game. http://www.howtofixasoccergame.com/ His Blog http://www.howtofixasoccergame.com/blog/ PAST WORLD CUP SUCCESS This is the second time they have reached the WC and they surely figure they have as good a chance as any of going to the Quarter-finals.....unless the fix is in DOMESTIC LEAGUE One of the better leagues in Africa , 16 team league with promotion and relegation. Check out these brilliant team names. 2010/11 teams Aduana Stars (Dormaa) All Stars (Wa) Asante Kotoko (Kumasi) AshantiGold (Obuasi) Bechem Chelsea (Bechem) Berekum Arsenal (Berekum) BA Stars (Brong-Ahafo Region) Ebusua Dwarfs (Cape Coast) Heart of Lions (Kpandu) Hearts of Oak (Accra) Kessben (Prempeh) King Faisal Babes (Kumasi) Liberty Professionals (Accra) Mighty Jets (Accra) New Edubiase United (New Edubiase) Real Tamale United (Tamale) KEY PLAYERS Michael Essien - missed the WC , yet his country marches on John Mensah (Sunderland) and John Pantsil (Fulham,below) Stephen Appiah (Bologna) and Sulley Muntari (Inter) I worked for four years with a Pulmonary Fellow from Ghana , he's now working in Baltimore, great guy. His father was President of the 3rd Republic of Ghana from 1979-1981 and then deposed in a coup d'état, very interesting guy, great Doctor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilla_Limann

Willets Point Jun 24 2010 07:24 AM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

All I know is that after meeting the USA on Saturday, they will be Ghannas.

MFS62 Jun 24 2010 09:53 AM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

Before the WC, my wife told me she'd be rooting for Ghana. And when I asked her why, I got the typical wife answer, "I don't know. I just am." I couldn't argue with that logic. Later

Frayed Knot Jun 24 2010 10:06 AM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

'Black Stars' is a great nickname.

Willets Point Jun 24 2010 10:21 AM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

[quote="metirish":3rqhr8jg] Here is where it gets murky, there has been speculation that Ghana threw there Rd16 game against Brazil , they got hammered 3-0. Ghana has long been considered a place where league matches are often fixed , very corrupt. [/quote:3rqhr8jg] I remember watching that game. Ghana outplayed Brazil most of the time but just couldn't get a goal and the Brazil goals were all quick and out of nowhere. I chalked it up to Brazil's experience at the time.

A Boy Named Seo Jun 24 2010 10:28 AM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

Essien's the player I've seen the most, I guess, and he's pretty fantastic, so we're fortunate he won't be playing. Some funny names in their domestic league. The Babes? The Dwarves? The Hearts of Oak??

MFS62 Jun 24 2010 10:31 AM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

[quote="A Boy Named Seo":14z2ruvk]Essien's the player I've seen the most, I guess, and he's pretty fantastic, so we're fortunate he won't be playing. Some funny names in their domestic league. The Babes? The Dwarves? The Hearts of Oak??[/quote:14z2ruvk] And I wonder where you can get a good Tamale over there. Later

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 24 2010 11:02 AM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

[quote="Frayed Knot"]We never got a Ghana KTE in the Group D thread. Anyone here who actually knows what they're talking in this sport (thus eliminating myself) want to take a crack at it before Saturday's match?

I just realized... I think this was supposed to be me.

Frig.

German-born Kevin-Prince Boateng (who switched national allegiances after playing for the German youth teams... and getting passed over for the Mannschaft proper as a young'un) has been a bull in the midfield during the group stage. He's the dude with the neck and arm tats you'll see taking potshots at Donovan and Bradley (his dirty-ass tackle in FA Cup is the reason why Michael Ballack isn't playing for the Germans this WC).

Asamoah Gyan, who shone for the Black Stars in the African championships this year (3 goals) has been their most dangerous frontline weapon, putting a bunch of shots on target and scoring their two penalties.

They've got a bunch of dudes who play or have played for Italian squad Udinese, too... so I guess the Italians can root for them now? (Hee.)

The Second Spitter Jun 24 2010 04:52 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

[quote="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr":2a9bzixp] Asamoah Gyan, who shone for the Black Stars in the African championships this year (3 goals) has been their most dangerous frontline weapon, putting a bunch of shots on target and scoring their two penalties.)[/quote:2a9bzixp] According to OPTA stats, if you take away his two penalty kicks, he has the worst shooting accuracy of any striker in the tournament with 5 or more shots at goal.

Nymr83 Jun 24 2010 06:40 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

Here is a book worth reading about corruption in world football, in it Declan Hill argues that the fix was in on that game. The upside-down fooseball player has to be one of the top-ten coolest book covers ever.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 25 2010 08:39 AM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

Gets a little repetitive after the first three minutes but some cool scenes [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbn3rOPmR9w

Ashie62 Jun 25 2010 12:20 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

U.S.A 21 Ghana 2

The Second Spitter Jun 26 2010 04:10 AM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

Guys, good luck in today's game -- I won't be with you (game starts 0430 local time), but I'll be cheering for the US in my sleep. In fact, since my 3 teams didn't make it past the first round (yes, all three of them), I'll be rooting for the Sepos for the rest of the tournament (along with whichever team England's playing).

A Boy Named Seo Jun 26 2010 10:25 AM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

On weekends, I can always tape the Arsenal game & watch the Met game live, knowing I'll never find out the score of the soccer game before I can watch. Bet I can't get away with that shit today. Gonna watch the Mets til kick-off, pause the game, watch the "footy", and then finish off the baseball. Sports Saturday. USA! USA! USA!

Nymr83 Jun 26 2010 12:05 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

Arsenal has an awesome logo. Who is ready???

metirish Jun 26 2010 12:17 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

I'm ready , pretty cool that the Mets scoreboard has it up .

Nymr83 Jun 26 2010 12:28 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

Wheres Onyewu?

Nymr83 Jun 26 2010 12:36 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

oh hell, that didnt take long

metirish Jun 26 2010 12:37 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

Two things....terrible giveawy but you can't keep backing up when the guy is running at you.... a goalie should never getting beaten at the near post....

Nymr83 Jun 26 2010 12:49 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

two guys with yellows already too, not looking good

Ashie62 Jun 26 2010 12:51 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

Ghana will play four corners defense for 64 minutes

Nymr83 Jun 26 2010 12:51 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

why no card there? the guy raised his leg to trip Dempsey...

metirish Jun 26 2010 12:52 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

I wish Harkes would stop sounding all doomsday, plenty of time felt and this team knows about fighting back, plenty of heart in there.

A Boy Named Seo Jun 26 2010 01:06 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

Ghana looks great but I'm not sure how much credit to give them for the US looking so uninspired and crappy so far. Big chance by Findley. That was a bummer.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 26 2010 01:18 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

At least in the Algeria game they were making good runs and coming up empty. They're gonna need a very good second half.

Frayed Knot Jun 26 2010 01:29 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

Giving it up early and then not scoring ... who do they think they are, the Mets w/Santana pitching?!?

Nymr83 Jun 26 2010 01:33 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

blowing chances

metirish Jun 26 2010 01:37 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

Lets's give the goalie credit there though, made himself big. A very positive change for the US with the halftime change.

Nymr83 Jun 26 2010 01:47 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

PENALTY SHOT!!!

metirish Jun 26 2010 01:48 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

Good call, 1-1, deserved

Nymr83 Jun 26 2010 01:48 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2 Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jun 26 2010 01:50 PM

that felt exactly like a field goal attempt (the nervousness and reluctance to watch) Bill Clinton couldn't find anyone better than Mick Jagger to watch with? You'd think every politician in Africa would have begged for a seat next to him

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 26 2010 01:49 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

Wow, that change made a big diff. Suck it, Findley!

Frayed Knot Jun 26 2010 01:52 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

[quote="Nymr83":1rfqbndh]Bill Clinton couldn't find anyone better than Mick Jagger to watch with? [/quote:1rfqbndh] And here I am thinking that couldn't Jagger find anyone better to sit with?

Frayed Knot Jun 26 2010 01:53 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

What's the (approx) success rate on PKs - 80% or so?

metirish Jun 26 2010 02:00 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

[quote="Frayed Knot":2w13imqw]What's the (approx) success rate on PKs - 80% or so?[/quote:2w13imqw] Good question and I have no idea , I can't ever recall from all my years watching the game that a stat like that was put up....I guess it's just not done.... That was Jagger ? , damn but he looked old.....

Nymr83 Jun 26 2010 02:01 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

a quick googling says the % is somewhere in the low 80's depending on what study you believe. you'd think there'd be STATS but i guess Elias doesn't have a British office.

Nymr83 Jun 26 2010 02:03 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

Bradley needs a better shot than a dribbler straight at the goalie there

metirish Jun 26 2010 02:08 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

Can't Harkes not see that he slipped?

Frayed Knot Jun 26 2010 02:08 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

[quote="metirish":15u1y4t9]That was Jagger ? , damn but he looked old.....[/quote:15u1y4t9] He is!! Dempsey's getting the stuffing knocked out of him

metirish Jun 26 2010 02:21 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

ABC aren't going to go to it's scheduled programming is it? USA looked great in the second half, let's hope they stay strong.This is where subs can come into play.....

Nymr83 Jun 26 2010 02:25 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

[quote="metirish":3btkacel]ABC aren't going to go to it's scheduled programming is it?[/quote:3btkacel] some World Cup recap show was scheduled for 4:30-6pm so they are safe

Nymr83 Jun 26 2010 02:28 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

ugh.

metirish Jun 26 2010 02:29 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

Damn, great finish

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 26 2010 02:31 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

Tremendous goal for Ghana, US again puts itself in a terrible position.

Nymr83 Jun 26 2010 02:32 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

another "nice try"... i feel like the US always creates great opportunities and sucks ass at finishing them

Kong76 Jun 26 2010 02:35 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

Post headline tomorrow ... USA GONE-AH

metirish Jun 26 2010 02:36 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

[quote="Nymr83":atocpl5m]another "nice try"... i feel like the US always creates great opportunities and sucks ass at finishing them[/quote:atocpl5m] It's a good point, that's where having real top class forwards helps(to state the obvious)....look at Uruguay.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 26 2010 02:42 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

Looking gassed. Gotta strap 'em on for a last run at 'em.

Kong76 Jun 26 2010 03:00 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

I love this team ...

metirish Jun 26 2010 03:02 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

Brave till the end , a hell of an effort , the midfield looked shot and that's the strength of this team. The Ghana goalie was excellent , they'll be tough to beat.

Frayed Knot Jun 26 2010 03:04 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

Tough to keep coming from behind like that when your team gives up more 1st inning HRs than Mike Pelfrey.

G-Fafif Jun 26 2010 03:13 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

Listening to extra time on ESPN Radio as I went to pick up Mrs. Fafif from the train. After a couple of minutes of one-sided conversation, she heard the incessant buzzing and strange accents and asked, "Is that the soccer?" We may have become the last Americans to contract World Cup fever this time around. Sort of like John D. Rockefeller realizing it was time to get out of the market when shoeshne boys started offering him stock tips. Nice try, USA. Let's keep our GNP and GPA up so we win at other things.

Frayed Knot Jun 26 2010 03:44 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

[quote="metirish":2u4tz1jy][quote="Nymr83":2u4tz1jy]another "nice try"... i feel like the US always creates great opportunities and sucks ass at finishing them[/quote:2u4tz1jy] It's a good point, that's where having real top class forwards helps(to state the obvious) ... the midfield looked shot and that's the strength of this team..[/quote:2u4tz1jy] Is that the main weakness of the U.S. team at this point: not good enough at finishing up front while they hope Altidore grows into that job, but in the meantime it leaves too much of the burden on the middle men like Donavan and Dempsey?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 26 2010 03:53 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

USA don't have much to be ashamed of, they pretty much got what they deserved in the end. Plus it spares me the conflict of the next match with Uruguay

seawolf17 Jun 26 2010 05:02 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

How on earth do we have the technology to come up with a hamburger with grilled cheese sandwiches for buns, but we can't scrounge up enough world-class soccer players to average like fifteen goals a game?

Willets Point Jun 26 2010 07:37 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

You know, fuck it. Go Ghana. You did good. I hope you advance far being the last African nation and all. And USA, you have four more years to learn how to finish and score goals and not have to defense fall down on the job.

Frayed Knot Jun 27 2010 09:38 AM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

[quote="Kong76"]Post headline tomorrow ... USA GONE-AH

I saw both 'GOING ... GOING ... GHANA' and 'GHAN WITH THE WIND'
Also 'OUT OF AFRICA'

metirish Jun 28 2010 02:13 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

How do we rate the WC for the USA team?, they topped a group they were not expected to top but then went out to Ghana , did they fall short of expectations? What about Bob?

Willets Point Jun 28 2010 02:33 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

After the success of 2002 and the bomb of 2006, the reformulated 2010 USA side should have at least advanced to the quarterfinals and had every chance to do so. They won the group but were lucky to do so. Green's howler earned them a point and they shouldn't have had to play catch-up against Slovenia or wait 90 minutes to score against Algeria. The USA really needs a striker who is less timid about getting shots on goal and finishing. The defense seems to have lapses as well that really aids their opponents. The midfield is always strong but they can't count on that alone.

metirish Jun 28 2010 05:07 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

Filip Bondy who I much prefer as a soccer hack than as a Yankee hack has this today, strikers wold seem to be a priority U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley cites troubles at forward in disappointing World Cup ouster IRENE, South Africa - Bob Bradley doesn't know if he'll be offered the job again, or if he'll have any options overseas, or whether he's just coached his last World Cup match for the U.S. national team. It's an odd situation, unlike any other post-World Cup cycle for an American national coach. Usually, the tournament is cut-and-dry stuff, a grand success or a brutal failure. This time, the Americans won their group for the first time in history, yet led for a total of only three minutes in four matches and were knocked out by a non-superpower, Ghana, in the second round. That inspiring start and lackluster finish instinctively leave Bradley on the cusp, with a contract until the end of the year and waiting to sit down with U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati - who was in Cape Town Sunday for an economic summit with local business leaders and Bill Clinton. "At this moment, there've been no conversations," Bradley said Sunday at the Irene farm that has been the base press center for the Americans. "There's always a process with any situation where both sides always need time. I've always enjoyed new challenges but I also, from day one, considered coaching the national team a tremendous honor and privilege." After a night of lousy sleep, Bradley was in a contemplative mood Sunday, willing to speak at greater length about his team's failures in the opening minutes of matches and its forwards' inability to finish chances. Over the last two days, Bradley all but confirmed what others have long acknowledged: The U.S. has a crisis at the striker spot, although it is not the only national team with that glaring problem. After the 2-1 overtime loss to Ghana on Saturday, Bradley spoke of the missed opportunities and how the Americans' pure strikers had gone four matches - and two World Cups, for that matter - without scoring a single goal. Sunday, he noted the Americans had several more chances than Ghana in the Rustenburg match, but that Ghana scored on two of its three real opportunities. "It's especially important up front because goals decide matches," Bradley said. "Everyone knows that's still the greatest challenge in the game. Someone needs to score goals." This conversation would have been different, and Bradley's job security might today not be in any question, if Charlie Davies hadn't been badly injured last November in a Virginia car accident. Davies and Jozy Altidore were developing into a complementary pair of dangerous strikers last summer at the Confederations Cup. Davies was extraordinarily fast and his ball skills were on the rise. He was at a much higher technical level than Robbie Findley, who essentially took his place. "The thought was that we had two young strikers developing a good understanding on the field, that gave us a good level of athleticism that would add up at the international level," Bradley said. "That had us all excited. It doesn't mean we thought Charlie was there, but this was great. Ultimately, the accident is obviously a sad moment for all of us." As to the early deficits that dearly cost the Americans, Bradley could really shed no light on the matter, no matter how hard he tried. "One side is the maturity, the experience of knowing how to manage the game," Bradley said. "Do you play the ball forward and move up as a team? Do you start to try to connect passes? And the second part is, that just may be how the game works sometimes. "I can watch games of the best teams in the world and see the same things happen, the same decisions made," Bradley said. He wasn't coaching one of the best teams in the world here, not the fast-paced Germans or the elegant Brazilians. The Americans were just a plucky national side that persistently overcame its early defensive lapses with late attacking flourishes. Bradley now waits to hear from Gulati whether that was good enough. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/world ... z0sBxuZTJP

Willets Point Jun 28 2010 05:45 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

I have to confess that I liked Altidore a lot in this World Cup even if he didn't score. He's pretty young so I guess there's a chance for him to develop and mature for 2014.

metirish Jun 28 2010 06:19 PM Re: U.S.A. vs Ghana - Round 2

[quote="Willets Point":oi36p8ym]I have to confess that I liked Altidore a lot in this World Cup even if he didn't score. He's pretty young so I guess there's a chance for him to develop and mature for 2014.[/quote:oi36p8ym] Me too, he's only 20....lot's to look forward there.