The New Group of Death
Argentina, Netherlands, Ivory Coast and Serbia and Montenegro – before the World Cup kicked off Group C was tapped by most of the football world as the Group of Death. But death came quickly to two of the four teams with Ivory Coast giving a good showing and Serbia and Montenegro’s vaunted defense proving to be anything but vaunted. Now that we’ve seen the games another Group of Death has emerged and that is Group E.
Saturday’s games involving Ghana-Czech Republic and United States-Italy threw the group into a maelstrom and have left us with a pair of group ending matches on June 22 that will be nothing less than a battle with all four teams still holding hope that they will advance to see another round.
The images from this group will include the bloody and battered American forward Brian McBride, the lightening pace of Ghana’s forward trying to crack the impenetrable wall that is Peter Cech, the wonderful combination play of Pavel Nedved and Tomas Rosicky, and the ruggedness of the Azzurri.
Argentina’s performances to date have been nothing short of masterful. The Dutch have more than held their own and have gotten the job done. The success of both teams has taken some of the luster off of their upcoming match and as a neutral fan that is a shame.
What isn’t a shame is the drama in Group E, the new Group of Death.
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Comments
By Trent | June 19th, 2006 at 5:36 am 
No doubt this is the best group. In their defense, much of the North American press called this group the Group of Death, which was ridiculed by many .
But so it is. The final day should be supah sweet.
By Dave The Hat | June 19th, 2006 at 5:53 am Agreed. After starting so brightly, it could well be the Czech Republic that loses out…Ghana look in great form. Indeed, given only one African team has won so far in the cup, all the teams participating have looked in good touch.
Posted from 
Australia
By diego | June 19th, 2006 at 6:15 am Debating which one was the true group of death after the fact is a moot point. Nobody expected Argentina to be so good and S&M to suck so bad. Sadly the Argentina vs. Netherlands game, which should have been a real classic, will not carry that much weight now.
As an impartial fan, I am very excited that all group E teams are still in the race. It will be high drama on Thursday. Thats what World Cup football is all about. 
Posted from 
United States
By diego | June 19th, 2006 at 6:23 am BTW, that picture of Brian McBride’s bloodied face will be an instant classic WC moment for years to come!
I think he is the first US player to ever make the front page of the Sunday Sports Section of ALL newspapers in South America at the same time.
Posted from United States
By Rory W. | June 19th, 2006 at 6:28 am Yep, this is most def. the Group of Death, changing froma TUFF group after that Italy match.
I am now carrying Czech, my orginal was only USA and England, but after Czech first match, I picked them up .
This is hard, group there are 3 team that I really like and want to go through.
USA : orginal
Czech: new after USA match
GHANA: after Czech match
Italy: no Italy around here, not after that de Rossi incident. Anyone hear anymore updates on that?
Posted from 
Jamaica
By HurrikaneDIABLO | June 19th, 2006 at 6:46 am Simply stating what was already stated by Bob. I orginally had Group C as the group of Death because i thought S&M would prove to be a lot better, and i mean a LOT better, team defensive. What a joke that was and it was a joke on us. No team has gotten whupped so bad yet.
Anyway, after watching Group E’s day, it instantly hit me, “This is the true group of Death.” I didn’t even have to wait till the U.S. – Italy game to get that result. No one who isn’t Ghanaian (is that what you call ‘em?) would have guess at a 2-0 whipjob of the Czechs especially after the Czech kicked the crap out of the Americans. AND THEN… who woulda guessed at a courageous gameplay by the Americans against a WC favorite to win the whole thing Italians, after they beat up on Ghana a little. of course, the ref f*cked that whole game for everyone.
In my opinion, I think Italy and Ghana will get out of this group, but then again, who friggin knows.
By the way, in my opinion, this has proven to be the most entertaing of all the groups as well.
Posted from United States
By Tom | June 19th, 2006 at 7:16 am ‘Group of death’ means the toughest group to qualify from, and given Ivory Coast are going home after losing 2-1 to two of the best teams in the tournament I think its fair to say Group C is still the group of death.
But Group E is definitely more interesting. Particularly because there is such an advantage in finishing first and avoiding Brazil in the second round.
Posted from Australia
By GroupE | June 19th, 2006 at 9:20 am Group E vs. C.;
Ghana, USA, Serb/Mont, and CIV. Who advances? This indicates quality of Group E against C. Peace.
Posted from United States
By GroupE | June 19th, 2006 at 9:28 am Put the bottom 2 from E and C together and determine the ‘G.O.Most Quality’. The bottom of E would beat the bottom of all other groups.
Posted from United States
By chloe | June 19th, 2006 at 12:33 pm errrrrr dat is welll bad dont think it funny he iz only supporting his team altoughth im england byexxx:)
Posted from 
United Kingdom
By DT | June 19th, 2006 at 12:50 pm I said it before that Group E is the group of death. Serbia Montenegro and Ivory Coast are overrated.
Looks like Group G is tight too.
Tom, I think whoever comes out from Group E has no reason to be afraid of Brazil. They haven’t been playing well.
Argentina and Germany are the ones that everyone wants to avoid.
Posted from Australia
By hardy campbell | June 19th, 2006 at 3:01 pm I can’t believe what shameless “homers” Lalas, Wynalda and Balboa were about the Uruguayan ref in the Italian game. I agreed with every call and couldn’t believe how dirty (and dumb) the Americans were playing. There have been many bad calls and non-calls in this Cup so far but the blatant sliding tackle fouls on Mastroeni and Pope were entirely correct. I only hope the rest of the team gets the message that the analogy with War made by Eddie Johnson is not a license to simulate war’s most egregious sins of bodily harm. Note to the ABC commmentators; do real soccer fans a favor and park the flag-waving at the the front door.
Posted from United States
By Vin | June 19th, 2006 at 4:32 pm The American media has been calling this group the “Group of Death” since Day 1.
Posted from United States
By zico | June 19th, 2006 at 4:41 pm I watched these groups matches with great interest because Brazil will play one of these teams. Ghana have really stepped up their game but are too physical and have already lost key players. The Czech Rep have fallen apart with the loss of Koller and Boros. Italy have definitely not shown their potential yet and if they get through to the next round I fear they will be very dangerous. The USA are a confused bunch. I watched the Italy-USA game and although Italy played very badly the US have not shown they are a world-class team. I’m sorry, if you have to foul an obviously poor Italian team to stop their forward progress and only come out with a draw on an own goal, you do not even diserve to come out of the group. The US team did not show any class in that game. They were arrogant and disserved what they got. This is a sport not a war. The biggest irony of all is now they require Italy’s help to advance. It’s quite funny. If the USA do advance they will not make it through the round of sixteen.
Posted from 
Canada
By bfos | June 19th, 2006 at 4:54 pm Pope’s second tackle would have drawn a yellow card from most officials. However, I’m not sure if it would have drawn a second yellow from most officials.
There’s no way you can argue that Pablo’s tackle was worth a straight-red. No way, don’t even try.
Let’s also not forget, that if Zaccardo didn’t try to clear that ball (resulting in the own-goal) that McBride was waiting on the far post for for an easy goal. Either way, that ball is in the back of the net.
Playing down 9 vs 10 for almost an entire half is not just a result of “Italy not showing up”. I don’t care how you want to spin it.
Brian
Posted from United States
By prastuh | June 19th, 2006 at 5:14 pm italy and czech go through
Posted from 
India
By Roland | June 19th, 2006 at 5:39 pm No one knows what’s going to happen. Italy and the Czech Republic haven’t secured jack yet, so let’s wait and see. This baby is wide open.
Posted from United States
By Vin | June 19th, 2006 at 5:39 pm Zico – You, sir, are 100% correct.
Posted from United States
By Welsh | June 19th, 2006 at 5:52 pm Hardy-Campbell,
You are right, no need for over ramatization of a football game. After all the world cup however competitive, is a place for world peace and harmony. These are football players not soldiers, but again does ABC know the difference.
The boys played with heart and tried their best, all we wanted is for them to give it their best.
I hope to see the day when football commentating in this country is on par level with the rest of the world. I understand that a baseball commentator who never played football in his life can do a little research, but does not make a good commentator because he does not know what the hell is going on and how the players feel if he never experienced it. The biggest dissapointment though would be Wynalda who supposedly shoudl’ve know about the game a little, but it doesn’t seem to me that way. Shouting and more shouting does not make a good soccer commentator.
Posted from United States
By Keyser | June 19th, 2006 at 6:12 pm the last round will be a thriller. don’t bury the czechs yet, they can still deliver a surprise.
I say czech wins over italy and ghana over the US.
By Keyser | June 19th, 2006 at 7:34 pm and I forgot, the fact that the C is also a death group, is the fact that in my opinion CIV is more than UKR, or any of the team of the france group.
By Yaw | June 19th, 2006 at 8:03 pm Ghana has been known to stand up to the bigger boys and succumb to the minnows.Dont give them too much credit until they qualify from the group
By HurrikaneDIABLO | June 19th, 2006 at 9:59 pm Zico, i agree with you on one thing and one thing only, that the U.S. will most likely not make it past the 2nd round if they even make it that far.
You’re full of crap about everything else you said.
Posted from United States
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