Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia completed a strange turn of events for the four teams of Group E from the 2006 World Cup with all of them failing to pick a ticket to Russia.
In 2006, Ghana,the Czech Republic ,Italy and the USA completed one of the more exciting groups of the tournament. Italy would go on to win the tournament that year with Marcelo Lippi in charge while Ghana’s brave young team of budding superstars would exit 3-0 to Brazil in the second round of the competition.
The US showed its potential to reach great heights while the Czech Republic was at the end of a golden generation.
In the years following 2006, only the Czech Republic failed to leave a significant imprint on the most glamorous stage in world football. The Black Stars were denied a chance at history by Luis Suarez and his infamous hand ball in South Africa four years later. Going on to lose via penalty shoot out in the quarter finals.
Before that they had eliminated regular foe USA in the second round in one of the most dramatic games of the competition. At the 2014 version,it would be the USA who would do well in the tournament, going all the way to the quarter finals on the back of an mazing team effort while Ghana exited in shame on the back of player mutiny of unpaid bonuses.
2018 has been rough for these countries. Italy miss out for the first time since 1958 on the back of an ageing team and uninspired coaching from Ventura. It signified the end for many like legendary goalkeeper Buffon, Barzagli,De Rossi, Bonnuci and Chiellini.
The Czech Republic is n longer the world force it used to be,failing to produce quality footballers lie they used to in the past. The US miss out for the first time in seven editions and will look on in embarrassment as Panama take their place in Russia.
Credit: Business Insider