BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Prays from the Italians must have been missed by the God as the Azzurri again find the fates againstthem when they vow to end the streak of bad lucks at their 16th appearance in the sport's premier event in Germany.

    Forget about the Group C's Argentina, Netherlands, Serbia and Montenegro and Cote d'Ivoire, the real Group of Death is Italy's Group E which also features Czech Republic, the United States and Ghana.

    "It's a tricky group," Italian coach Marcello Lippi said. "Our group is difficult but at the same time fascinating."

    In the latest released FIFA world rankings, both Czech Republicand the United States went above Italy respectively. And Ghana, inLippi's words, is one of the most underestimated team in the WorldCup.

    With a lucky qualifying campaign, the Czech Republic, who needed two narrow 1-0 wins against Norway for the berth at the World Cup, could make a similar impact in this World Cup like theydid two years ago in Portugal where they reached the semifinals ofthe Euro 2004.

    With the towering Jan Koller and Milan Baros in front, the peerless Pavel Nedved returning to line up the midfield alongside Tomas Rosicky, and the classy goalkeeper Petr Cech to amend the inexperienced back-line, the Czechs have all the ingredients to make a dangerous outsider later on in the tournament.

    The intelligence of coach Bruckner and a team that youth and experience go hand in hand boost the Czechs' chance for glory.

    Czech team's weakness is the lack of consistency, but if only the key players are kept injury-free, their talent could spirit them to advance from the group.

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