We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
Bet you never thought you'd see a live footie match between the Czech Republic and Ghana on network telly on a Saturday. Of course the downside is that ABC have added the mercurial former "Italy international" Georgio Chinaglia alongside Brent Musberger, Lexi Lalas and Eric Wynaldo in the studio. Join me for the festivities, while you fire up the grill for the big match at 3 p.m.
posted by gatorbob @ 11:52 AM
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
27 Comments:
Here are the sides:
CZECH REPUBLIC
1. Petr Cech
2. Zdenek Grygera
22. David Rozehnal
21. Tomas Ujfalusi
6. Marek Jankulovski
8. Karel Poborsky
4. Tomas Galasek
10. Tomas Rosicky
20. Jaroslav Plasil
11. Pavel Nedved
12. Vratislav Lokvenc
GHANA
22. Richard Kingston
15. John Pantsil
5. John Mensah
13. Habib Mohamed
7. Illiasu Shilla
8. Michael Essien
10. Stephen Appiah
11. Sulley Muntari
20. Otto Addo
3. Asamoah Gyan
14. Matthew Amoah
The Czech forward line is as creaky as I am after a bout of "Yogalates." Without Baros or Koller, they're starting with just one striker up front Vratislav Lokvenc who plays for Salzburg apparently. I'm predicting a draw in this one. Good news for the U.S.?
GOAL: 1-0 Ghana! Stephen Appiah plays a lovely ball to Asamoah Gyan who traps it, turns and fires low past Cech. That's set the cat amongst the pigeons!
That's the sort of start you'd love to see the U.S. have against Italy. The Czechs were caught napping for once. Now this is set up as a cracking match.
The first neat combination in the Czech midfield between Rosicky and Nedved leads to a Nedved shot straight into the keeper's arms.
Nice drive from Appiah nearly brings a second, although Cech probably had that one covered.
Shame that this Czech team didn't show up for the U.S. game full of the injuries they now obviously have. Of course, it could just be that the Ghana side are miles better than we are. We'll see in the third match on Thursday, won't we?
Dismal free kick from Nedved. They're really frustrated right now. Poborsky should've picked up a yellow for a rash two footed challenge just a moment ago. They're getting nothing up top from Lokvenc, who's as big as Koller but not as mobile, believe it or not.
Poborsky whistles one just past the post. That was their best chance so far.
Nice turn from Amoah in the box, but he hoofs it far over the bar. Shame, that would've made a nice goal. The Black Stars are looking good so far.
Laughable defensive work almost lets the Czechs in there....
Oh dear, now Lokvenc is down in a heap in the area. At this rate Vaclav Havel will be making his debut for the Czech Repub. in the second half.
Half-time: 1-0; this result would massively help out the U.S. but conversely could give Ghana confidence for their game with the U.S. Ah, a conundrum.
Nedved - or "Prague Barbie" as Gooner Steve likes to call him - nearly gets his first, but he's called back for offside.
Gyan nearly scores on a quick break if not for the excellent save by Cech.
The Ghanaians seem to be tiring. You have to wonder how long they'll be able to hold out against a withering Czech onslaught. Plasil nearly scored there but for an excellent save.
Thirty minutes left for the Czechs to pull this one out. Even if they draw it, they're almost certain to meet Brazil in the Second Round now. With the injuries they're carrying, you can't really see them progressing.
Amazing sequence of events. At first it looked as if the referee had given an offside call - now it's a penalty for Ghana...
Then the ref gives a red card to Usfalusi for the foul.
And then Amoah pots a penalty...it's called back and Amoah is given a yellow, presumably for taking the kick too early.
And then when he takes it a second time Amoah strikes the post. Incredible!
Still, 1-0, but now the Czechs are down to ten men.
Czech fans are going absolutely potty after that penalty miss, trying desperately to get their side back into this.
Another blast from Amoah is saved by Peter Cech - he's kept the Czechs in this one.
There have now been at least two red cards given in addition to penalties. I wonder if this is a new FIFA directive. It's seems excessive - a yellow and a penalty award seems enough punishment in that situation. And I'm not sure there was much contact.
Fifteen minutes left for the Czechs. It's really down to the Czech midfield to find a breakthrough. My money's on Rosicky who still seems full of money. That Arsenal move is looking better and better.
Cech saves again from his Chelski mate Essien. Ech has been immense.
Now the ABC's prats are cutting into the match with a view of the American players getting off the bus...!
And Gyan has yet another sitter that he whacks straight at Cech.
Ghana has been marvelous in this match - definitely worthy of the win. A little less profligacy from their front line and they would've won this one by two or three goals against a Czech team that's clearly out of gas.
GOAL: 2-0 Ghana! And there it is - nice combination play and Sulley Muntarri roofs one. It's all that they deserved.
Gyan is coming out to a hero's welcome. It's probably the end of his World Cup since he'll be suspended for the next match.
Full-time: 2-0 Ghana; Terrific performance from the Black Stars. This result, as the U.S. commentators are at pains to point out, means that the U.S. team cannot be knocked out today. That is, we'll have to suffer through another match of these guys claiming that the U.S. have a shot of staying in the competition even if we're tonked today.
Anyway, put away those "Honey do" lists, lock up the wife and kiddies and join me in an hour to watch our boys take on Italy, won't you?
prague barbie, you're not singing anymore!!!
also, great stuff from gabby logan who has dubbed rosicky "harry potter." she's right you know, the resemblance is uncanny.
he's had such a great world cup that we're anxiously awaiting his arrival at the arsenal. and "Hogwarts Stadium" sounds so much less corporate than "Emirates Stadium."
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