Italy, Czech Republic seek crucial World Cup victory
Italy and the Czech Republic both look to escape the "Group of Death," but only one club might advance to the round of 16 when they face each other on Thursday in Hamburg, Germany.
Italy tops Group E with four points, while the Czechs and Ghana each
have three followed by the United States with one. Ghana and the U.S. meet in Nuremberg on Thursday at the same time the Italians and Czechs square off with the top two teams advancing from the group.
The "Azzurri" can win the group with a victory, and a tie guarantees at least a second-place finish. The Italians would be eliminated with a loss and a win by Ghana.
The Czechs will advance with a win, which could also give them the group. They can still qualify for the second round with a tie combined with goal differential from Ghana's match.
Italy is plus-2 on goal differential, the Czechs are plus-1, Ghana is even and the U.S. is minus-3. Goal differential is the first tiebreaker before moving to goals scored, head-to-head results and finally a random draw.
The Czech Republic hopes to avoid the tiebreakers and defeat Italy for the first time in tournament play since a 2-1 victory in the 1996 European Championship in England - the only neutral ground meeting between the teams. It lost both World Cup meetings in Rome as Czechoslovakia in 1990 and in the 1934 final.
Italy tops Group E with four points, while the Czechs and Ghana each
have three followed by the United States with one. Ghana and the U.S. meet in Nuremberg on Thursday at the same time the Italians and Czechs square off with the top two teams advancing from the group.The "Azzurri" can win the group with a victory, and a tie guarantees at least a second-place finish. The Italians would be eliminated with a loss and a win by Ghana.
The Czechs will advance with a win, which could also give them the group. They can still qualify for the second round with a tie combined with goal differential from Ghana's match.
Italy is plus-2 on goal differential, the Czechs are plus-1, Ghana is even and the U.S. is minus-3. Goal differential is the first tiebreaker before moving to goals scored, head-to-head results and finally a random draw.
The Czech Republic hopes to avoid the tiebreakers and defeat Italy for the first time in tournament play since a 2-1 victory in the 1996 European Championship in England - the only neutral ground meeting between the teams. It lost both World Cup meetings in Rome as Czechoslovakia in 1990 and in the 1934 final.
posted by 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany at 7:00 PM
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