World Cup Update, April 20, 2006

Czech Republic's Pavel Nedved does the hustle
Group of Death News:

US: We're No. 4, a ridiculous ranking:

U.S. Moves Up to Fourth in FIFA Rankings

US midfielder Damarcus Beasley arrested for DUI in Holland (hat tip Du Nord). ESPN story. Is it the chicken or the egg? Beasley hasn't been playing well for PSV this year, presumably because of injuries. He also hasn't been starting regularly. Is he drinking because he's not playing, or not playing well, or is he not playing well, or not playing, because of drinking? His older brother Jamar has already washed out of MLS because of his addictions. Let's hope it was just one bad decision. Trouble is, surrounded by alcoholics as I am, I know there's a slim chance that it was a one-time or a first-time thing.

Jonathan Spector of Charlton has a shoulder separation, which will hurt his chances of being Man #23 on our squad.

The John O'Brien Health Watch continues.

Speaking of bubble players, I wish defender Jimmy Conrad would make the US squad, because his posts on ESPN are great.

SportsFan Magazine's USA World Cup preview.

Italy:

Totti is training again. Drat.

No word on Christian Vieri's recovery from the injury he suffered at the end of last month, other than that he will be out at least a month.

Italy has scheduled a tune-up game v. Switzerland next month.

Italy has already determined who is to blame if they fail to emerge from the Group of Death: Italian team all set for war with the press

SportsFan Magazine's Italy World Cup preview.

Czech Republic:

Injured Czech Republic striker Jan Koller is back in training.

SportsFan Magazine's Czech Republic World Cup preview.

Ghana:

Lots of scheduling news, little player news. Are the Black Stars Flying under the radar?

Ghana striker Ibrahim Salou has broken his jaw playing for his club team, KSV Waregem, but hopes to return for the Belgian Cup final on May 13th.

Ghana has scheduled a friendly match with Bundesliga club VFB Stuttgart in Wurzburg on April 26th.

Friendlies against Russian teams in Russia on May 8th and May 11th.

Has scheduled a friendly v. Jamaica in England for May 29th, although the site is not yet set.

A letter writer laments, what could have been? All these players were eligible to play for Ghana, but play for other countries: Gerald Asamoah, Germany; George Boateng, Holland; Marcel Desailly, France; and Freddy Adu, USA.