Official World Cup thread (Day 3)

Submitted by wishitwas97 on

Today's matchup:

Algeria vs. Slovenia 7:30 AM

Serbia vs. Ghana 10:00 AM

Germany vs. Australia 2:30 PM

 

I'm hoping for at least a draw from Algeria/Slovenia game so USA have a good chance of advancing to the knockout round.  Even better, Algeria upsetting Slovenia.  As long as USA take care of business against Slovenia and Algeria, there is no reason for me to think that they won' t advance to the knockout round.

MichGreenWave

June 13th, 2010 at 7:06 AM ^

Gotta say, I'm pretty excited by todays lineup. The first game due to the implications in our group. Serbia and Ghana are both pretty solid and I have a friend whose father is from Ghana. And the Germany match simply because they are my #2 team. Can't wait

MGoShoe

June 13th, 2010 at 9:22 AM ^

...pulls out the 1-0 win.  Was rooting for a draw in this one to keep the Group even after the first two games.  Too bad the Algerian striker decided foolishly to stick out his arm on the long service into the box and pick up his second yellow card.   

casmooth

June 13th, 2010 at 9:33 AM ^

This game was played at a level nowhere near yesterday's match.  Neither of the teams look like they will be able to compete with the likes of the UK or USA.  Even in victory, Slovenia looked really flat, and their one goal came on another goalie mistake.  I like our chances of advancing having seen this match.

SpartanDan

June 13th, 2010 at 9:52 AM ^

But even a draw is probably good enough; we should beat Algeria and 5 points is close to a guarantee (only way it could fail is if Slovenia draws England as well and Algeria loses to everyone; then it's GD/GF and I like our chances of beating Slovenia there).

mfan_in_ohio

June 13th, 2010 at 10:50 AM ^

A draw against Slovenia and a win against Algeria will almost definitely get the U.S. through.   The only way this would not be enough is if the U.S. only beats Algeria 1-0, and then Slovenia ties England with a score of 2-2 or more. If Slovenia draws England 1-1, the U.S. and Slovenia (and possibly England, depending on their win over Algeria) would have to draw lots to see who advances. 

SpartanDan

June 13th, 2010 at 11:03 AM ^

But the situation isn't that desperate. A win over Slovenia and draw against Algeria guarantees it no matter what else happens. A draw against Slovenia and win by two goals against Algeria also does (5 points at worst goes to tiebreakers at 5-5-5-0, and we'd have GD on Slovenia if we win by 2).

Pai Mei

June 13th, 2010 at 10:33 AM ^

Algeria looked really bad today. Things are looking good for the us.

The Ghaha vs, Serbia game is one of the better matchups in the first round. After the WC some of the young players on Ghana will signed by major clubs. I wish Essien wasnt hurt.

formerlyanonymous

June 13th, 2010 at 12:10 PM ^

Man, as much as Serbia dominated the end of the game, that one COMPLETELY IDIOTIC play screwed themselves over. Handball in the box (or at least I think that's what it was as I watched in Arabic - too lazy to change). Penalty kick gives Ghana the win 1-0

formerlyanonymous

June 13th, 2010 at 12:52 PM ^

Yeah, once you have ESPN3 open, it specifies languages. For some reason, there were two options on the website to open it up and neither were labeled well. I'm ready for the weekdays as all three games are streamed on weekdays it seems. On weekends, certain games that are shown on ABC aren't streamed (like US vs England).

amk7

June 13th, 2010 at 12:25 PM ^

that was a good showing by ghana but they got a LOT of help for that win. serbia definitely has to be kicking themselves right now

Transatlantic Flight

June 13th, 2010 at 3:24 PM ^

Germany is swallowing Australia whole. Germany and Argentina have been the most impressive teams so far in terms of ball control, with Germany looking a bit better at creating scoring chances (and capitalizing on them). France disappointed (offense couldn't play), USA/England were decent but will probably get destroyed when (if) they get to the knockout rounds.

SpartanDan

June 13th, 2010 at 4:07 PM ^

Four points from the next two almost certainly will be enough to advance, and Slovenia and Algeria are teams we should expect to beat.

Or did you mean we're going to get slaughtered by Germany in the round of 16? Because if it's that, then yeah. But we already knew that.

antoo

June 13th, 2010 at 4:20 PM ^

Germany won their opening game 8-0 in 2002 and went on to lose to Brazil in the finals. The US was a little more than non called handball away from beating Germany in the round of 8 (Germany went on to beat Korea 1-0 in the semis and the US tied Korea in the group stages so there was a real chance that the US could have played Brazil in the finals). The USMNT is a team that starts off slow and picks up pace as tournaments go on. The next round isn't for another 2 weeks so I wouldn't write us off just yet. Besides, like others have said, we have a decent chance of finishing at the top of our group.