BOUNCHING CZECHS END AMERICAN DREAM

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Group E Results

America fell at their first Pop World Cup hurdle last night, despite getting the win they needed over a shambolic Italy side, as results elsewhere refused to go their way. Coach alexmacpherson's faith in youth now seems foolishly misplaced after the USA team - many pundits' favourites to go all the way in this final - crashed out in the group stage. Recriminations will no doubt follow though the supporters can at least take home the memory of promising individual performances, and this win against Italy showed the developing side to have plenty of midfield sparkle. The defence that let them down against Ghana and the Czechs held firm, though in truth they won't find much easier opponents than this. The Italian press has been open for calling for boyofbadgers head, though some neutral observers have suggested that his side were unfairly judged by commentators expecting more traditional Italian tactics.


A USA fan...or was it one of their strikers?

A draw in the other game, between the Czech Republic and Ghana, was enough to send both teams through. The Czechs were raw but busy; the Ghanaians content to stroke the ball around without really pressuring, and the result suited both sides. For the Ghanaians this campaign has been an unqualified success so far and julietk will be looking to continue that winning streak. The managerless Czechs meanwhile are in dreamland, and a succession of bosses have been linked with the post - mostlyconnect and awesomewells are the names most often in the frame. Cynical observers have pointed to the lack of interest in pop back home, and the weakness of the group the Czechs came through: no matter who they appoint, they will be underdogs up against the big names of Group F.

Results In Full
GHANA - 142 points (Qualify as winners)
CZECH REPUBLIC - 134 points (Qualify)
USA - 126 points
ITALY - 98 points

Comments

[mostlyconnect.livejournal.com]

Ronald Reagan! Tom Cruise! Liza Minelli! Cat Power! Dave Eggers! Pocahontas! Your boys took, etc.

All the 'unmusical' taunts will only serve to get the lads more fired up for the knockout rounds - if we can sweep the field with the first whoosy pop ballad our caretaker found on the internet, Japan/Brazil won't know what hit them when our full-strength team roars out.

[mostlyconnect.livejournal.com]

(mdc should probably still have first dibs if he missed the draw by minutes though)

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

OK job's yours!

[mostlyconnect.livejournal.com]

awesome! that's the next eight weeks sorted, then.