World Cup Group E - Italy and Ghana Advance

Czech Republic 0 - Italy 2

The Czech Republic needed a win to confirm a place in the last 16, but couldn't muster enough against the favourites Italy. They were forced to rush Milan Baros into the starting lineup after losing Koller to injury and Lokvenc to suspension.

Early in the first half, Italy was forced to make a substitution to replace the injured Nesta with Materazzi, and it was a change that literally changed the game. Materazzi scored with a header after less than 10 minutes on the pitch to give the Italians the lead.

The Czechs pushed forward looking for the equaliser, but found Cannavaro a man mountain in defence. He was everywhere and practically stopped any Czech advance. At the end of the half, Jan Polak rushed in recklessly with a 2 footed challenge on an Italian player, leaving the referee with no other choice than to send him off.

In the second half, the Czech once again found Cannavaro impossible to beat. And when they did bypass him with long shots, they found Buffon in exquisite form. In the end, as the Czechs pushed forward, they were caught out when substitute, Inzaghi, beat the offside trap and scored a second goal for the Italians to confirm what was in the end an easy victory.

Being one goal and one man down by half time proved too much of a mountain for the Czechs. They were simply no match for a tactically superior Italian team. Looking back, they could and should have performed better in the game against Ghana.

Ghana 2 - USA 1

This was a game of mistakes. Both sides knew they needed to win this game to have any chance of qualifying, and the game started with both sides showing urgency. In the 22nd minute, Claudio Reyna, who had such a good tournament, gave the ball away in a dangerous area, allowing Dramani a one on one situation with Kasey Keller, which he put away with ease. Advantage Ghana.

Then in the 43rd minute, it was the Ghanian defence's turn to make a boo boo. They sloppily gave away the ball in defence, resulting in Beasley's cross for Dempsey to equalise easily.

And just when I thought there couldn't be anymore mistakes in this half, referee Markus Merk commited the worst mistake of them all. He awarded Ghana a penalty in the injury time of the first half for what looked on the TV to be absolutely nothing. The Ghanians accepted the gift gleefully and scored via captain, Appiah. The Americans must have been the most unlucky team in this tournament. They were undone by some incredibly dubious sending offs in the last game against the Italians and were again undone by yet another incredible decision today.

After half time, USA came out with all guns blazing, and were denied by a combination of poor finishing, good goalkeeping, the post and some timely defensive intervention. The Ghanians on the other hand were a handful on the counter and threatened to increase the lead on numerous occasions.

But ultimately, the first half score stood, sending the luckless Americans home. Ghana now probably faces tournament favourites Brazil in the second round. Judging from how the second round brackets are filling up, Ghana could possibly be Brazil's toughest opponents until the finals.