GHANA v USA, ITALY v CZECH REPUBLIC - THE BEAN PREVIEW

GROUP E - THE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES

We are into the penultimate day of the group matches and we will be kicking off with a barnstormer in the afternoon where all four teams from Group E could still qualify.

Italy just need a draw to progress to the last sixteen, whilst a win will guarantee top spot and a last sixteen match on Monday against the Group F runner-up.

The Czechs will need a win to guarantee a place in the next round. This will also secure top spot but if they draw they could still qualify providing Ghana do not win against the United States. If they lose they will be definitely knocked out as either Ghana or USA will overtake them, whatever the result of their game.

If Ghana win they will proceed to the last sixteen, and if Italy draws they will top the group. If Ghana draws they can still qualify providing the Italians beat the Czechs. A loss will mean a flight back home to Ghana.

The USA has to win to have any chance of making the second round. If Italy beat Czech Republic they will finish second place, if it is a draw between the two European teams the States need to win by four clear goals. If the Czechs beat Italy, then the USA needs to make up a goal difference of five.

Yes it has confused me as well!

TEAM NEWS

Italy will be without midfielder Daniele De Rossi who is suspended after being shown the red card for elbowing in the previous match against the USA.

Simone Perrotta has recovered from a leg injury from the same match and is fit for selection.

The Czech Republic only has two strikers who are fully fit in Marek Heinz and Libor Sionko. Jan Koller is out with a hamstring problem and Vratislav Lokvenc is suspended. However Milan Baros is now fit again after an injured foot and will probably have a place on the sub's bench.

USA will be without the suspended duo of Eddie Pope and Pablo Masteroni after they were sent off in an ill tempered match with Italy. Either Greg Berhalter or Jimmy Conrad will be included into the starting lineup.

The Ghanaians will be without influential striker Asamoah Gyan who has picked up a suspension, as has Sulley Muntari. Rasak Pimpong will replace Gyan, and Derek Boateng is expected to take the place of Muntari.

BETTING ODDS

Italy 21/20 - Draw 21/10 - Czech Republic 13/5 (Total Bet)

Italy are favourites for this game, but the Czech Republic have the better record against the Azzurri. They have played each other 29 times with the Czechs winning ten times, the Italians nine times and the remaining ten being drawn.

The last competitive match between the two nations was at Euro 96 at Anfield where the Czechs won 2-1, and went on to be the runners-up. For the Czechs to repeat the 2-1 scoreline you can get odds of 12/1. For a 3-1 win the odds are 33/1.

Italy will be going out full force though so they can guarantee avoiding Brazil in the last sixteen and will more than likely try to grind out a 1-0 which has odds of 11/2. A 2-1 victory has odds of 11/2.

The last time these two countries met was in a friendly two years ago and it finished in a 2-2 draw. Thee odds of that score occurring again are 14/1.

Gennaro Gattuso is now fully fit and will be raring to go this afternoon, and for him to get on the score-sheet first you can get odds of 22/1. Fiorentina striker Luca Toni has failed to hit the net as of yet and will want to break his World Cup duck today. For Toni to hit the net first you can get odds of 9/2.

The Czechs are struggling for goals at the moment and is pretty much dependant on the midfield scoring the goals. Arsenal new boy Tomas Rosicky has already scored two crackers in the tournament so far; for him to opening the scoring and bagging a third goal currently has a price of 12/1. Czech veteran Pavel Nedved has also been sniffing around the box to pounce the ball home and for him to do it first tomorrow the odds are 10/1.

My prediction - 1-1 with odds of 11/2.

USA 21/10 - Draw 12/5 - Ghana 11/10

This is a must win game for both teams if they wish to proceed to the knockout stages, so it could lead to one of two things. Each team will cancel each other out, or it will be goals galore?

I reckon it could be the latter due to Ghana's style of play. A 3-1 win to the Ghanaians has odds of 16/1 and 3-2 result has a price of 33/1.

As mentioned before, the USA may need to win by four clear goals to progress to the knockout phase. Any win for the Americans by four goals has odds of 100/1. For a 2-1 victory the price is 10/1.

Rasak Pimpong should be starting, and will want to be the man who spearheads his nation to be only the fourth African team to qualify for the second round. For Pimpong to grab the first goal you can get odds of 9/1. For Chelsea player Michael Essien to get the first goal the current price is 11/1.

A stitched up Brian McBride will be leading the Yankee charge at 3pm and will want to register the first Team USA goal by an American player in this years World Cup. His current odds of scoring first are 13/2. Middlesbrough and Reading target Oguchi Onyewu's price is currently 33/1.

My prediction - 2-1 Ghana at odds of 15/2.

Predicted table

Ghana
Italy
Czech Republic
USA

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