Group E - Real Group of Death

Before the start of this year's FIFA World Cup, the general opinion among football experts was that Group C

--Argentina, the Netherlands, Serbia-Montenegro, and Ivory Coast -- should be christened "The Group of

Death" due to the strength of its participants.

At the end of the first week of action, Argentina and the Netherlands have already qualified for the second

round, and so the attention of football fans around the world has focused on what will happen in Group E.

On June 12, Italy got its first three points by beating Ghana 2-0 in Hannover. On the same day but in

Gelsenkirchen, the Czech Republic showed impressive form as it overwhelmed the United States by 3-0.

In a surprising change of events on June 17 in Cologne, Ghana gave the Czechs some of their own medicine by

winning 2-0 (including a missed penalty). In the other match played in Kaiserslautern, the United States

had two players sent off, but even with this handicap, the Americans showed great team spirit and pride to

hold the favorites Italy to a 1-1 draw.

Now the stage is set for a thrilling climax on June 22, and both matches will be played simultaneously,

with the kickoff slated for 4 p.m. German time. In Hamburg, the Czech Republic will face Italy, while the

United States will play Ghana in Nuremberg. Italy has four points, Ghana and the Czech Republic both have 3

points, and the United States one point. The Czechs must win to assure a place in the next round, and if

Ghana defeats the United States, then Italy will have to start packing.