FIFA World Cup: USA vs Ghana (Round of 16)

[TexasTerror]

Round of 16: United States vs Ghana
June 26th · 1:30 p.m CT · Royal Bafokeng Stadium · Rustenberg
ABC, MobileTV

Previous Results at 2010 World Cup
USA 1-1 England (June 12), USA 2-2 Slovenia (June 18), USA 1-0 Algeria (June 23)
Ghana 1-0 Serbia (June 13), Ghana 1-1 Australia (June 19), Germany 1-0 Ghana (June 23)

Notable Players - USA

Tim Howard, GK
Started three games, 10 saves, three goals allowed

Landon Donovan, MF
Three starts, two goals, two shots on goal, six shots

Clint Dempsey, MF/Forward
Three starts, one goal, five shots on goal, 15 shots

Jozy Altidore, Forward
Three starts, three shots on goal, six shots, 12 fouls suffered

Notable Players - Ghana

Richard Kingson, GK (Wigan Athletic)
Three starts, 10 saves, two goals allowed

Asamoah Gyan, Forward (Stade Rennes)
Three starts, two goals, five shots on goal, 18 shots

Kevin-Prince Boateng, MF (Portsmouth)
Three starts, nine shots on goal

[bkrownd]

It would have rocked to have faced Ghana in the final. I'll be sad to see one of these teams exit too early.

[SonuvaHenx2]

Winner faces the Uruguay/South Korea winner

USA has a good chance to make it through to the semifinal

[TexasTerror]

Winner faces the Uruguay/South Korea winner

USA has a good chance to make it through to the semifinal

One match at a time... xnodx

Let's hope the energy and enthusiasm of the US carries over to Ghana, but does not let them have an early slip-up because they are too worked up.

[Rob Iola]

Ghana instead of Germany?!? After overcoming the nonsense calls to advance the Soccer Gods have granted us a winnable 1st rounder - not a gimme, and certainly one we'll lose if we come out flat and spot them a couple early on, but much better than England's match...

Best possible scenario! Now just win baby!

[TexasTerror]

FYI - you can find a 'watch party' in your area at this link...

http://www.gousabid.com/page/event/search_simple

[PaladinFan]

USA sitting pretty. They have, I think, one of the easier roads to the Semi Finals. It looks a lot better than being in the foursome with Argentina, Germany, Mexico, and England

[darell1976]

USA sitting pretty. They have, I think, one of the easier roads to the Semi Finals. It looks a lot better than being in the foursome with Argentina, Germany, Mexico, and England

Is there draws in the second round? Or do they have a shootout.

[bkrownd]

Is there draws in the second round? Or do they have a shootout.

Extra time first, then "penalty kicks" shootout. Let us hope it doesn't come to that.... :/

[bkrownd]

World Cup commercials and Hyundai slogans: FAR MORE REPETITIVE AND ANNOYING THAN VUVUZELAS!!! The current adidas commercial is not as bad since it's such an indecipherable blur I hardly notice it, but the rest are driving me up the wall.

[tribe_pride]

I don't remember. Are overtimes golden goal or not?

For those who don't know OTs are 2 15 minute halves

[TheValleyRaider]

No golden goals. You play 30 minutes (two 15 mintue halves), and whoever leads, whatever the score, wins. If still tied, then comes the shootout

[TexasTerror]

Andres Cantor call of the Donovan goal...

http://www.fanaticos.com/2010/06/23/asi-narro-andres-cantor-el-gol-de-landon-donovan/?sms_ss=facebook

And our culprit tomorrow...


REFEREE - VICTOR KASSAI: The referee for the Round of 16 clash is Viktor Kassai from Hungary. This will be his third assignment of the World Cup, the 34-year-old having run the middle for Brazil's 2-1 win against North Korea and Uruguay's 1-0 win against Mexico. U.S. fans may remember Kassai from the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup, when he refereed the USA's 2-1 loss to Spain. A UEFA Elite Category referee, he has been working European competitions at the club and international level since 2003.

http://blogs.chron.com/soccer/archives/2010/06/looking_ahead_t_2.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+houstonchronicle%2Fsoccer+%28 Soccer+y+Futbol%29

[bkrownd]

USA sitting pretty. They have, I think, one of the easier roads to the Semi Finals. It looks a lot better than being in the foursome with Argentina, Germany, Mexico, and England

Ghana is hard to predict - on paper an easier opponent than Germany, but the game isn't played on paper.

After that we got (likely) Uruguay instead of (likely) Argentina. Not much difference there.

After that we've got the (likely) Brazil/Netherlands winner instead of Spain/Portugal/Paraguay - this is where our side of the bracket is much harder.

After that game we are a lock to win the Cup! xhurrayx ;)

[TheValleyRaider]

Ghana appears to be very tough defensively, a rarity for an African team. The biggest advantange we have coming in is our ability to actually score goals in the run of play (if you can believe we'd actually have an advantage in that category), as Ghana's only goals of the tournament have come from penalties so far

The Black Stars are tough, disciplined and physical, similar to Slovenia, I suppose. We're going to need a big game from the midfield, controlling play and not allowing good counterattacking opportunities. As always, avoiding the early deficit if we can will be most helpful

GO USA!

[LacesOut]

Uuugggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

[ngineer]

Ghana is hard to predict - on paper an easier opponent than Germany, but the game isn't played on paper.

After that we got (likely) Uruguay instead of (likely) Argentina. Not much difference there.

After that we've got the (likely) Brazil/Netherlands winner instead of Spain/Portugal/Paraguay - this is where our side of the bracket is much harder.

After that game we are a lock to win the Cup! xhurrayx ;)

One game at a time, one game at a time, one game at a time, one game at a time, one game at a time, one game at a time, one game at a time........:(

[PaladinFan]

Tough one to watch. Really thought we had a chance in the second half to go ahead with Ghana apparently on their heels.

Hat tip to the US team. Not sure if soccer will become instantly popular in the US, but I sure as heck enjoyed watching the games be played. Now if the MLS will put a team in Atlanta I might really be into it.

[bkrownd]

Tonight most of the world is breathes a sigh of relief - the US might dominate everything else on Earth, but not The World's Game.

[Rob Iola]

Tonight most of the world is breathes a sigh of relief - the US might dominate everything else on Earth, but not The World's Game.
We let them win, because we care...

xcoffeex

[bkrownd]

Tough one to watch. Really thought we had a chance in the second half to go ahead with Ghana apparently on their heels.

Several excellent opportunities, but no finishes and their keeper was very good.
I was particularly frustrated with the soft crosses played in apparently only looking
for a lucky header. Those are a weak choice - the defense eat them up.


Hat tip to the US team. Not sure if soccer will become instantly popular in the US, but I sure as heck enjoyed watching the games be played. Now if the MLS will put a team in Atlanta I might really be into it.

Dude. Who needs mercenary teams? There are oodles of college teams playing for pride, not money.