England vs. Algeria has ended in a scoreless draw, following up the controversial USA vs. Slovenia draw, which means that the USA soccer team now controls its own destiny. It's very simple right now for the USA,
grab a victory and the full three points in the USA vs. Algeria match-up, and you advance into the Round of 16 and the knockout stages of the 2010 World Cup.
USA Soccer In Control Prior to Algeria Match
The USA vs. Algeria preview can all be boiled down to this: win the game, and keep on advancing. Regardless of what happens elsewhere in Group C, the USA will be one of the advancing teams if they win.
If the USA only ties Algeria, they'll need a bit of help. They will need Slovenia to beat England, or Slovenia to tie England in a low scoring game that allows the USA to retain its goals scored advantage (see below, or see World Cup Tie Breaker Rules).
If the USA loses to Algeria, they're out!
The USA vs. Algeria match won't be easy however. Algeria proved against England and Slovenia that they are a high quality club, and offer a stern defensive challenge. 19 of their 23 players play in high level European clubs, so they aren't overmatched. The USA certainly cannot afford to go down early once again, as they have in each of their first two matches.
USA vs. Algeria Game Time
The USA vs. Algeria kickoff time is 10 am Eastern on Wednesday, June 23. The game will be broadcast on ESPN. At the same time, the England vs. Slovenia match will be airing on ESPN2, wrapping up Group C action. Both matches will determine the fate for all four of the Group C 2010 World Cup teams.
Group C World Cup Standings
After all of the Group C teams have played two games, the standings in the group are:
Slovenia - 1 win, 1 draw - 4 points - +1 goal differential - 3 goals scored
USA - 2 draws - 2 points - 0 goal differential - 3 goals scored
England - 2 draws - 2 points - 0 goal differential - 1 goals scored
Algeria - 1 draw, 1 loss - 1 point - -1 goal differential - 0 goals scored
Showing posts with label U.S Soccer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label U.S Soccer. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
World Cup Day 2: United States V. England Preview
Saturday is the first three-a-day during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, with one match being a close call, the other a free-wheeling affair, and the third, if ESPN’s marketing machine is to be believed, possessing the potential to rewrite the outcome of the American Revolutionary War.
Group B: South Korea v. Greece, 7:30 a.m. ESPN
The day’s first game has all the earmarks of a close encounter. This is a scrappy Asian team taking on a scrappy European team, and while the match may not be high scoring, it will be spirited. Greece is still largely the tightly compact, counterattacking squad that stunned the world by winning UEFA Euro 2004. However, they have never won a World Cup match, and, excluding Euro ’04, they have lost 10 of their 12 international games by an aggregate score of 23-2. The Taeguk Warriors are a disciplined, fit team who won their opening match in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. A draw would be the logical result for two teams vying for second place in their group (behind presumptive top-rung Argentina) and afraid to lose their first match.
Players to watch:
Theofanis Gekas, Greece: The veteran striker rose to the occasion during European World Cup qualifying, leading the region with ten goals, outpacing Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, and David Villa.
Park Si-Yung, South Korea: The versatile Manchester United winger is team captain and playing in his third World Cup. He is a consistent offensive and defensive force.
Prediction: 1-1 draw
Group B: Argentina v. Nigeria, 10:00 a.m. ESPN
Expect fireworks. Nigeria is representing their continent against one of the elite national teams in the world. Both teams are fast, athletic, and offensive minded. And, both are notorious for a lack of discipline (Coach Maradona?). It should be one of the more entertaining matches of the first round. The bad news for Nigeria starts with the knee injury that befell John Obi Mikel, their standout midfielder. Moreover, the Super Eagles have never beaten a non-European side at the World Cup, while the Argentines have lost only one of their nine group stage matches over the last three World Cups.
Players to watch:
Lionel Messi, Argentina: The only man who might be able to stop the best player in the world is his own coach, as it is an open question whether Maradona will switch formations to accommodate Messi’s roaming, creative style.
Obafemi Martins, Nigeria: Although playing in his first World Cup match, the 25-year-old striker has played in Serie A, the Premiere League, and currently the Bundesliga. His two second-half goals versus Kenya secured the Super Eagles’ World Cup spot.
Prediction: Argentina wins 3-2
Group C: England v. United States, 2:30 p.m. ABC
Everyone hopes for this to be a great match, but wisdom says England should easily fend off the Americans. For my money, the United States’ overall World Cup success ultimately rests on coach Bob Bradley finding a way to rotate and maximize the minutes of forwards Jozy Altidore, Edson Buddle, and Herculez Gomez. However, the U.S. defense has been a sieve in the lead-up to the Cup, and while fitness has been the blame, poor organization is the real culprit. The American’s speed will create exciting chances, but it will not be enough to overcome the defensive woes and the offensive prowess of Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, and Frank Lampard. In 2005, England’s B-team (Kieran Richardson was their star that day!) easily handled the Americans at Soldier Field; in 2008, England easily bested the U.S. at Wembley. Tomorrow will not be any different.
Players to watch:
John Terry, England: The team’s former skipper (no need to delve into all that) will lineup at center back alongside the chronically unfit Ledley King, who replaces injured captain Rio Ferdinand. Terry will have to anchor England’s defense against a speedy American scoring third.
Tim Howard, U.S.A.: Howard is a world class goalkeeper, but he will have to find another gear to keep the talented and experienced English scorers at bay. Otherwise, the U.S. won’t be able to tally enough goals to keep up.
Prediction: 3-1 win for the Three Lions.
Group B: South Korea v. Greece, 7:30 a.m. ESPN
The day’s first game has all the earmarks of a close encounter. This is a scrappy Asian team taking on a scrappy European team, and while the match may not be high scoring, it will be spirited. Greece is still largely the tightly compact, counterattacking squad that stunned the world by winning UEFA Euro 2004. However, they have never won a World Cup match, and, excluding Euro ’04, they have lost 10 of their 12 international games by an aggregate score of 23-2. The Taeguk Warriors are a disciplined, fit team who won their opening match in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. A draw would be the logical result for two teams vying for second place in their group (behind presumptive top-rung Argentina) and afraid to lose their first match.
Players to watch:
Theofanis Gekas, Greece: The veteran striker rose to the occasion during European World Cup qualifying, leading the region with ten goals, outpacing Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, and David Villa.
Park Si-Yung, South Korea: The versatile Manchester United winger is team captain and playing in his third World Cup. He is a consistent offensive and defensive force.
Prediction: 1-1 draw
Group B: Argentina v. Nigeria, 10:00 a.m. ESPN
Expect fireworks. Nigeria is representing their continent against one of the elite national teams in the world. Both teams are fast, athletic, and offensive minded. And, both are notorious for a lack of discipline (Coach Maradona?). It should be one of the more entertaining matches of the first round. The bad news for Nigeria starts with the knee injury that befell John Obi Mikel, their standout midfielder. Moreover, the Super Eagles have never beaten a non-European side at the World Cup, while the Argentines have lost only one of their nine group stage matches over the last three World Cups.
Players to watch:
Lionel Messi, Argentina: The only man who might be able to stop the best player in the world is his own coach, as it is an open question whether Maradona will switch formations to accommodate Messi’s roaming, creative style.
Obafemi Martins, Nigeria: Although playing in his first World Cup match, the 25-year-old striker has played in Serie A, the Premiere League, and currently the Bundesliga. His two second-half goals versus Kenya secured the Super Eagles’ World Cup spot.
Prediction: Argentina wins 3-2
Group C: England v. United States, 2:30 p.m. ABC
Everyone hopes for this to be a great match, but wisdom says England should easily fend off the Americans. For my money, the United States’ overall World Cup success ultimately rests on coach Bob Bradley finding a way to rotate and maximize the minutes of forwards Jozy Altidore, Edson Buddle, and Herculez Gomez. However, the U.S. defense has been a sieve in the lead-up to the Cup, and while fitness has been the blame, poor organization is the real culprit. The American’s speed will create exciting chances, but it will not be enough to overcome the defensive woes and the offensive prowess of Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, and Frank Lampard. In 2005, England’s B-team (Kieran Richardson was their star that day!) easily handled the Americans at Soldier Field; in 2008, England easily bested the U.S. at Wembley. Tomorrow will not be any different.
Players to watch:
John Terry, England: The team’s former skipper (no need to delve into all that) will lineup at center back alongside the chronically unfit Ledley King, who replaces injured captain Rio Ferdinand. Terry will have to anchor England’s defense against a speedy American scoring third.
Tim Howard, U.S.A.: Howard is a world class goalkeeper, but he will have to find another gear to keep the talented and experienced English scorers at bay. Otherwise, the U.S. won’t be able to tally enough goals to keep up.
Prediction: 3-1 win for the Three Lions.
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