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Italy and Czech's show they're a class above.
Group E matches overnight showed this croup may not be as close as first thought with Italy beating Ghana 2-0 and the Czech Republic dominating the USA 3-0.
In the opening group E encounter Jan Koller got the Czech Repulic off to the best start when he rose up to head home Zdenek Grygera's cross after just five short minutes.
The USA created a few quality chances after ten minutes, the best in teh 28th minute when captain Claudio Reyna got on the end of a low cross from Bobby Convey. His shot from outside the area struck the left post to deny the USA. Unfortunatly for Reyna's side however the Czech's struck again in the 36th minue. Tomas Rosicky hit one of the world cup's now trademark goals, shooting from 25 metres out to score the second for the Europeans. It was just the second shot of the game for the Czech's, producing two goals.
Minutes later however Koller suffered a bad hamstring injury, forcing an early substitution. It didn't seem to phase them too much in the second half though as they came out firing. Rosicky peppered the USA goal, keeping Kasey Keller on his toes all half. The best effort in the 68th minute, hitting the crossbar when Rosicky fired from 25 metres.
However Rosicky would get his second in the 76th minute, sealing the points when he broke free down the middle of the pitch and easily beat Keller to score.
Overall the game proved the gulf between the two sides and the fact the FIFA World Rankings can't be used as a guide to a teams ability as the number two Czech's still shouldn't have beaten fifth ranked side by three.
In the night match Italy took on an enthusiastic Ghana as they made their World Cup debut. Ghana, a four time Afican Cup of Nations champion, were looking to translate that success in Africa onto the world stage. however three time world champion Italy needed a good start to the tornament themselves as second place is likely to face brazil in the knockout stages.
Italy made all the running in the opening ten minutes but the best effort they could muster was Fabio Cannavaro heading over the crossbar. On eleven minutes a poor free kick from Stephen Appiah lead to an Italian counter attack. Luca Toni missed an easy chance but the ball broke free for Gilardino who struck the upright with his effort.
Italy wouldn't stop their raids into Ghana's half as attack after attack kept keeper Richard Kingson on his game. Michael Essien however did breakaway into the Italian penalty area, unleashing a shot which shaved Gianluigi Buffon right post.
The breakthrough came on 40 minutes when Andrea Pirlo shot through a sea of people to find the far bottom corner of Kingson's goal after a short corner kick set-piece came together.
The second half saw Ghana pick the pace up with Essien firing a 20 metre drive at goal, forcing Buffon into a full strech diving save to deny Ghana. Unfortuantly Ghana's hard work to stay in the match was undone in the 83rd minute when defender Samuel Kuffour played a softly hit backpass to Kingson. Vincenzo Iaquinta sprinted towards the loose ball and rounded the keeper to push the ball into an open net and seal the points for Italy.
A brave showing from Ghana but Italy proved to strong in the opening encounter.
13 June, 2006 |
