Better Than Italy?

People always say US and Mexico are overrated but they aren’t. Both are good teams that are among the top 10 in the world. I hope that the Europeans continue to diminish the US. If so, Italy and Czech Republic will learn like Portugal did last time that the US is one of the elite teams in the world.

Posted from  United States

Let’s hope so. It works both ways though and we should be careful not to underestimate Ghana.

Posted from  United States

Why does everyong say that we should be concerned about Ghana? Seriously, Ghana is an average team at best. The only team I am worried about is Czech. Italy always has a bad first round game and is overconfident against the US. Ghana has no experience at the World Cup and outside of Eissen there are few of their players who would even make the US team. We are going to get through the first round because we are one of the two top teams in the group.

Posted from  United States

Oho my friend, I think you will soon see about Ghana! There is more to the Black Stars than meets the eye, and those who question that will do so at their peril.

Don’t say you weren’t warned.

Posted from  United States

I will fear Ghana when they have to qualify against someone other than Burkina Faso, Cape Verde Islands and Uganda.

Posted from  United States

How can you even compare the United States to Italy. To that person who isn’t nervous about Italy. I guess theres nothing to be nervous about because everyone knows who’s going to win. The Americans will be crushed. As for Ghana, and underestimating them. Ghana are probably on an equal level as the United States so its not about underestimating, America should see them as their only chance to even score

Posted from  United States

Why are Americans so arrogant at everything but soccer? Our team is good, we should have confidence and think we are going to win. Of course Italy has a better history, but look at their team. They aren’t playing great and their lineup is very unsettled. The core US guys have been together for more than four years now. They have gotten a lot better than they were in 2002. No one thought we’d beat Portugal. We did and we will beat Italy.

Posted from  United States

I’m not sure where all this US confidence comes from. Yes, they are extremely improved and WC 2002 was a success, but they don’t have nearly the depth of a team like Italy. The reason the Italy lineup is unsettled (which it really isn’t) is because Lippi wants to give everyone an opportunity so he can pick the best players (maybe Sven should try this). The US plays in a weak qualifying region with only Mexico as a legitimate threat. Yes, Italy always starts slow, but don’t forget that the US lost to Italy about two years ago with an experimental Italian side and the US has a horrible record when playing in Europe. The US will be good, but don’t punch their second round card yet. And beware of Ghana, they have been a dominant African team (4 time winner and 3 time runner up at African Cup of Nations) and have actually beaten South Africa twice in qualifying. Forza Azzurri!

Posted from  United States

I think most people in England think the US has got the toughest group by far and will do really well to get through.
An African team always comes flying out of the blocks at a World Cup and it could be Ghana, they’ll have fantastic support because there are hundreds of thousands of Ghanians living in Germany and England.

The USA are 20 years away from being contenders for winning the world cup. Italy are proven on the big stage, have a good coach and will be very hard to beat. Ghana have a quailty midfield and full of pace and energy. Czech are on paper the strongest in the group. My prediction would be the group finishes like this:
1) Czech (above Italy on goal difference)
2) Italy
3) Ghana
4) Usa

Italy and Czech will battle hard to top the group as whoever finishes 2nd will meet Brazil.

Posted from  United Kingdom

People look at italy and the the new look team inform toni and gillardino have been running riot just ask the netherlands no answers for either of them, new coach and faces the will be hard to stop no matter what side you put in front of them.

Posted from  Australia

Simon casts shady predictions for USA. The funny opinion is that he seems to be sure whoever finishes 2nd will meet Brazil. All I can say is that very few Brazilians show this kind of confidence.

I don’t understand why the Czechs would be the favorites. They are an ageing team and they barely finished second in their qualifying group-they scored only one goal against Romania and Holland combined and took only three points out of twelve. Plus, their best sriker, Jan Koller, probably won’t even be playing. It has to be Italy.

Posted from  United States

i think though teams like the usa do not produce much fun in watching, teams like England, Spain, germany, SWeden and of course Brazil to me are the ‘a’ teams

Posted from  United Kingdom

i think the usa have a good future but will not win the world cup in the next 10 years, they have good foundations but are no way near as good as teams like england brazil etc who, lets face it are contenders, however football is a beautiful game and has surprises so they may go far !! good luck to them

Posted from  United Kingdom

I dream of the day when America wakes up and sets its sights on the global stage which is soccer. So much talent is waiting to be introduced to this beautiful game. And when the fever catches on- Watch Out! But for now, I feel like we are just average. The greatest players in America are yet to be discovered because they have no interest in the game. I agree, in 20 years we will rule the world stage. Italy 3 USA 1

Posted from  United States