the Confederations Cup thread

let's go iraq!

Confederations Cup match schedule

Group A:
South Africa v Iraq (14 June, 1500 BST)
New Zealand v Spain (14 June, 1930 BST)
Spain v Iraq (17 June, 1500 BST)
South Africa v New Zealand (17 June, 1930 BST)
Iraq v New Zealand (20 June, 1930 BST)
Spain v South Africa (20 June, 1930 BST)

Group B:
Brazil v Egypt (15 June, 1500 BST)
USA v Italy (15 June, 1930 BST)
USA v Brazil (18 June, 1500 BST)
Egypt v Italy (18 June, 1930 BST)
Italy v Brazil (21 June, 1930 BST)
Egypt v USA (21 June, 1930 BST)

Semi-finals:
Winner Group A v Runner-up Group B (24 June, 1930 BST)
Winner Group B v Runner-up Group A (25 June, 1930 BST)

Third-placed play-off:
Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg (28 June, 1400 BST)

Confederations Cup final:
Ellis Park, Johannesburg (28 June, 1930 BST)

Group B looks like essential viewing. Group A looks like "oh my, I have now seen Xavi and Iniesta in that final and must watch again."

Iniesta's not in the squad cos of injury, but there might be some Cesc.

Quite looking forward to this!

good luck usa

welcome back football, i slept through your first half.

and now you don't have any between half coverage, so i'm still sat in silence.

<3 Nando and his crazy shoulders.

guess i'm the only person actually watching these then.

Those horns are the most annoying shit ever...worse than the cow bell.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8099735.stm

heavy lols

ha, that's great. Had totally forgotten this was starting today.

This is gonna be 10 Beautiful Goals - 0.

ha, seriously. nando hatrick in under 20 minutes.

Aye, turned on to see 2 & 3, imagine 4-10 aren't far away. Poor wee New Zealand.

4 just came. :)

Aw, poor Egypt

fucking Brazil

glad BBC are covering this. always a goal fest or 5 if not always exhibition football.

Great 2nd half! And yet another sly use of intant reply tho' they 'officially' don't use it by the officials. Howard Webb gave a corner at first before after quite a delay someone had a word in his shell like.Still, was a defo pen. If USA-Italy is as good as WCup '06 game then should be a cracker!

Shit! "instant replay" obv.

if USA gets any points at all out of this group it will be a miracle

draw w/ egypt? hard to imagine any more than that

I've barely seen any Serie A this season. Anyone wanna explain why this is still all just the same boring team from Euro 08? Other than Balotelli, is there anyone actually coming through? Any new Nesta or new Pirlo etc.?

and once again my hatred for Brazil is confirmed.

Italy still sucks, i think USA will draw tonight.

well they just missed a big opportunity.. (Italy that is)

Africans must be big fans of drones or mosquitoes bzzzzzzzz.

lol altidore

good luck usa

lol altidore

Pretty sure it's pronounced "altar door".

damn it rico clark is such a hack, I don't know what he's doing on this roster

lol football.

holy shit

what did he do to get a straight red?

v late challenge

cmooooon halftime

never let south africa host a football tournament again. this crowd noise is maddening.

oh wait.

I was saying it's just like a game at Azteca but with a slightly lower pitched constant drone.

i love it

It might be a mistake for me to watch this at work -- I keep muttering things under my breath but I have headphones on so I can't quite tell how loud I am....

lol Rossi

geez an American scores..

nice goal though

oh man Rossi scores and the usa soccer internets implodes

anybody have a decent stream? i'm having a hell of a time

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/kdtv

!!thanx!!perfect!!

Onyewu has to be the worst defender for an international "World Cup Second Round Potential" team, right?

HOW DID THAT JUST HAPPEN? Didn't the first US player in front of that shot twist OUT of the way? Or was he avoiding a handball or something?!??!

rossi: grew up in NJ, scores tying goal
de rossi: broke mcbride's face in 2006, scores go-ahead goal

xp oh no we have way worse defenders than gooch

His performance against Ghana in 06 lives on long in the memory... I seem to remember him being made the bitch of a then 73-year-old Jan Koller in the same tournament as well.

Anyone remember the point of Luca Toni?

omg this noise

omg <3 u andrea

that was a sweet pass.

good goal.

and the butthurt begins: "Americans score three goals, still lose the game."

His performance against Ghana in 06 lives on long in the memory...

That was abysmal.

What I learned today: will have to watch next year's WC matches on mute.

Nah, South Africans won't be able to afford tickets to the real tournament.

What I learned today: will have to watch next year's WC matches on mute.

You 'enjoyed' the ESPN anchors as much as I did, I see.

No, I watched the game in Spanish on an internet feed. But I will murder someone if those air horns are a constant throughout the entire competition.

can't remember where I saw the pic of some dudes at a game with those horns duct-taped to the nozzle of a bike pump. Genius?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/Vuvuzela_red.jpg/800px-Vuvuzela_red.jpg

"...after the South African Football Association, SAFA, made a presentation that the vuvuzelas were essential for an authentic South African football experience, in July 2008 FIFA decided to drop the ban and vuvuzelas will be allowed at matches during World Cup 2010 in South Africa."

Dear god...

Like I said upthread that is some annoyingly inane shit - worse than Pompey's cow bell.

What was wrong with a manly round of applause and a rattle, eh?

it's on dutch tv text too. (horns annoy viewers, they can't concentrate on the game anymore)

i predict the ban will make a comeback though, they can't allow the tv ratings to drop.

Almost as annoying a noise as Mark Bright's summarizing

TV viewers need to mtfu imo

Is that Zulu or Xhosa?

Yeah but massed horns don't really add anything to the atmosphere beyond the first couple of minutes. Particularly when it is just an endless drone that doesn't vary at all over the entire course of the game.

basically they're trying to kill us. (wikipedia)
Adding to the appeal is the African folklore that "a baboon is killed by a lot of noise", so the last quarter of a game sees even more frantic blowing of vuvuzelas as supporters try to "kill off" their opponents.[9][10]

Adding to the appeal is the African folklore that "a baboon is killed by a lot of noise"

So Lippi was wise to substitute Gattuso when he did

man, these horns plus tyldesley next summer...

Dan, someone in ESC has an air horn taped to a bike pump. I hate it, it's pushing me away from the center of the section where the drums and singing are. Unfortunately, those who are nominally in charge think it's a good idea, and until someone disappears it between games, we're stuck with the noise.

Onyewu has to be the worst defender for an international "World Cup Second Round Potential" team, right?

really? i thought he played well last night. very solid. it was looking like an intriguing battle before the sending off. bastard ref, you could argue that he was right in sending him off but it kinda went against the spirit of the game. US were impressive, two decent centre backs and the striker looked lively upfront (although bad miss in the 1st half). i mean its more than ireland have right now.

yeah those horns bug me. seems a strange way to celebrate a game. i dont get it.

I believe I just heard a snippet that FIFA too is fed up with the noise making devices and want to ban it again. But sadly, knowing FIFA, this could mean they will be banned from 2018 on.

If you guys hate the horns you would really hate games in Mexico. They not only have even more horns, but they have these things

http://www.instructables.com/files/deriv/FJ5/6TW4/FUF3AOYI/FJ56TW4FUF3AOYI.MEDIUM.jpg

Also none of this comes close to the car battery-powered train whistle they set off when Cruz Azul is in the attacking third.

The sending off was pretty harsh but unfortunately it is not at all a surprise to anyone who has seen Ricardo Clark play regularly. Dude makes some good defensive/holding plays (he was great in the qualifier against Honduras) but he is a safe bet for a red every few games, too.

PS: Our air horn is like the high-pitched ones that use cans of compressed air, or maybe a bike horn. It's not like the vuvuzelas.

What was wrong with a manly round of applause and a rattle, eh?

Mexicans keeping up the old traditions I see

http://www.instructables.com/files/deriv/FJ5/6TW4/FUF3AOYI/FJ56TW4FUF3AOYI.MEDIUM.jpg

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/03_03/082fans_468x337.jpg

DAILY MAU

Martin Keown's heavy breathing worse than the horns.

i hadn't watched much of football for a couple of months but it would seem that steven pienaar has since become the world's greatest football player from the way the commentators are jizzing

nah, it's just the only one they know.

you think??????

you forget that also he plays in the BEST LEAGUE IN THE WORLD that everyone else can only hope to look up to

I didn't realize how many MLSers play for NZ.

Plus, his name makes me lol.

USA look kind of tired already v. Brazil.

Check out the optimistic bit of Wiki vandalism. (Scroll down to fixtures/results)

Bah, it's already gone.

I'm coming round the constant airhorning - nice exotic touch, just what a world cup needs

If only it wasn't so maddening

it sounds like the stadium is surrounded by mosquitos the size of blue whales, it's fucking horrible.

Is it that were tolerate thuggishness or are just a bit inept?

'we', that is, meaning the US National Team.

It's kind of telling that the two reds have been to MLS midfielders. There is definitely a higher thug tolerance there compared to other leagues.

That said Kljestan isn't a thug, he's just not very good.

that was a statement from Busacca (the referee) giving that red card after watching the replay on screen..

i like Egypt, they'll probably lose but some nice technical skills.

yeah Zidan reminds me of that old, skilled french mf playmaker, Djorkaeff.

starting to love these drones

yay!

Ooh, nice arse.

damn, I meant miss (p)ass.

way to fuck up the punchline, ned.

NICE (P)ASS!

(i cannot type for crap today)

lol @ commentators plugging the USA's mathematical chances of getting to the next round if Egypt wins

Interesting game

Yes Homos

http://theoffsiderules.blogspot.com/2009/06/eric-wynalda-x-booze-x-facebook.html

former USA international is another casualty of the wider internet meltdown surrounding the national team

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that's why celebrities shouldn't be on Facebook. (i am suddenly wondering what's Tony Meola been up to lately) Lalas probably still being The Dude. (oh i remember, he had something to do with LA Galaxy) ahh World Cup '94 :)

Italy getting humiliated here

indeed. must admit, Brazil playing really well those last 2 games, looks like they're gonna take that World Cup title next year.

It's not that Brazil are playing that amazingly, it's just Italy have offered nothing going forward and looked extremely frail defensively. Luca Toni's scoring record at club level continues to baffle me considering everytime i've seen him for Italy he's looked physically incable of scoring or even controlling the ball.

Contrast that with Luis Fabiano. Not the most heralded striker around but looks dangerous every time he has the ball and has a fantastic record at international level.

Amazing to think Egypt will go through (as the scores stand) as they are pretty awful, apart from the goalkeeper who has made some excellent saves. The USA should really be two or three ahead.

update:
2-0 USA! One more and they're (possibly) through!

3-0 good luck usa

OMG USA

3-0 - GO USA!"

I can't believe Dempsey has finally done something, he's been mostly useless in this tournament and in qualifiers.

oops - xps

Good goal as well. They are all over Egypt.

lol

srsly where has this team been

lol italy

Brazil pretty much gave up second half too.

time to start playing the lottery, boys

Yea USA!

BBC commentator losing his shit.

shock

"Forget Huckleberry Finn, forget Moby Dick, Mickey Mouse...this is American fiction coming to life" (or something like that)

lol everything

Italy are so poor they will probably win the world cup again, this time with a bunch of 40yr olds.

Gripping game between USA-Egypt, I gave up on the Brazil-Italy game pretty early on tbh.

wow i can't believe USA go thru

I don't think anyone can!

I'm wondering if two European teams have ever even met in this competition (Italy would've played Spain had they gone thru).

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/6429/1245619200243.png

“Five players have reported a case of theft, with the total sums lost amounting to US$2,400. The period when the money could have disappeared is from the time they left the hotel for the match [against Italy] until this morning when we were notified. All the players had a safe in their rooms and were given information on how to operate those services, but for one reason or other they did not follow the instructions.” - Thembi Nkhwashu, a spokesperson for the Gauteng South African Police Services, June 19, 2009.

“We have confirmed that some of the [Egyptian] players brought prostitutes [after beating Italy], whom they picked up on Oxford Road [in Rosebank], to their hotel rooms and we have strong suspicions that they were cleaned out by those ladies of the night.” - a police officer as quoted by the Sunday World, June 21, 2009.

“They could have come up with the robbery claims to avoid being caught out or embarrassed by their spouses and girlfriends back home in Egypt. No money was taken from the safe, but we have heard that they had been drinking and womanising, and the same women later robbed them. We have reason to believe that they brought the women on to the premises and were celebrating with them before they were robbed of their money.” - a senior policeman as quoted by IOL.co.za, June 21, 2009.

BBC not put the highlights from yesterday up yet feh

Nine minutes or so here...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8109905.stm

cheers ned

Is this getting any coverage in the States I wonder?

Depends on where you look. I saw a 30-second blurb on Sportscenter last night, but ESPN is also the network carrying the games so they recap everything they show. Outside of that, lol no.

The best coverage of USA soccer culture is almost exclusively online, if it needed to be said. If you want news and know where to look, there is a lot there. If you're just passively watching/reading you might come across something as an afterthought or one one of the back pages.

Ha, after mulling it over a little, I realized that the best coverage is probably in the Spanish-language media.

How do you rate the US's chances in the semis?

can't see Spain losing their record-breaking streak to a side this ropey, however buoyed they now be.

3rd seems like a genuine possibility for the u.s. now, wow

Yeah, Spain should walk it but...ahem...it's funny old game.

I almost felt for the Egyptian keeper who bounced in the first US point -- does that qualify as an own-goal? Jk but...man. Then when there was no call on that US shot that was blocked by a HANDBALL, I got a little discouraged. Luckily we didn't need that stinkin point anyway.

Obviously they don't have much of a shot.

That being said, they played Spain in a friendly about a year ago with a squad not quite as strong (lol) as the one they sent to South Africa, and managed to only lose 1-0. I think the main things will be not conceding an early goal (as in the first two games & previous qualifiers), not getting pointless cards (if Sacha and/or Clark start, I'm going to be worried), and (most importantly imo) playing with some real creativity in the midfield. One of the great debates in the US community is about how much, if at all, Freddy Adu needs to be playing. Last year vs. Spain he started and was the best US player on the field. The other creative midfielder who hasn't figured at all in the Confeds Cup yet is Jose "El Gringo" Torres, who is more of a possession player that can provide a spark for the fast forwards.

But yeah, I'm not too confident. Just being in the semis is surprising enough. Still would have liked to have beaten Italy though...

xp that handball was a bad reminder of '02

Donovan is USA's Iniesta!

"it sounds like the stadium is surrounded by mosquitos the size of blue whales, it's fucking horrible."

I maybe the only person who has enjoyed those vuvuzelas - its like some of the quaint academic electronic music from the 60s and 70s has come back into fashion, except it had never anything to do with fashion in the first place!

i enjoy the word way more than the noise

People had real ones in Nevada's yesterday. They're not so bad when each person can only blow it for a few seconds. It's the combined overlapping noise of a whole stadium full that kills kittens.

So what about that flurry of excitement we had around Jozy Altidore a few months ago?

See my ears really like the surround sound quality of it, on its own it doesn't amount to much - kinda like Master Musicians of Jojouka (which I happened to see in a concert last night) processed by an electronic composer, hence the roughness of it.

I like kittens but I've a funny way of showing it, I guess. xp

The noise is horrible. Isn't there talk of banning them next year? Perhaps it's a bit culturally insensitive or something, but BAN THEM.

The U.S. beat up on a tired Egypt team, but they looked really terrible against Italy and Brazil. Disorganized and uninspired.

Altidore has shown flashes of promise for sure. He'll develop into a good player, I'd bet, but he's not there yet.

Onyewu has played really well.

i've been tipping Egypt to go the furthest out of the African teams next year (well either them or Cote d'Ivoire), albeit as much in the flukey horse/surprise package type way than thru mad skills alone. their performances against Brazil and Italy were encouraging in this regard and it's too early in the actual qualifying to judge either way but they've got that Turkey-ness about them.

Cote d'Ivoire - depends on Kolo/Drogba fitness and how they are coping as a national side to all the tragedy etc. Could do very well.
Egypt - If they get an easy group/Zaki sorts himself out, could do reasonably well.
Cameroon - Gonna make it the furthest on account of people forgetting Eto'o as the continents best player.
Ghana - Does Essien win matches? He certainly means you don't lose them.

That said, have no idea how qualifying is going, this is just based on the last ANC and players from around Europe.

The U.S. beat up on a tired Egypt team, but they looked really terrible against Italy and Brazil. Disorganized and uninspired.

I totally agree this was the case with Egypt and Brazil, but I honestly thought they held their own with Italy for a good while, and would have had a real chance at a result without the red card. Unfortunately, the game isn't only 70 minutes long. The Brazil game was the worst game I've seen them play since 2006.

ok I'm actually pretty excited

good luck...USA

Lord knows we'll need it.

great quote from del Bosque. "Luis left me the toy with the batteries in."

dempsey lookin baked like always

sooo hoping USA will win this, preferablly with some Spanish red cards.

Wonder how long they can keep this up.

I maybe the only person who has enjoyed those vuvuzelas - its like some of the quaint academic electronic music from the 60s and 70s has come back into fashion

I knew you'd like it! It's like that John Cage quote about noise - when we try and ignore it, it's irritating, when we really pay attention to it, it becomes fascinating.

JOZY!!!

fucking hell!

a powerful goal like Nigeria's Amokachi

love u jozy

Spain fucked up oh so many times there.

i really don't see why the guy has to remove his shirt. useless yellow card, you'll see he'll get another one for a simple foul.

oooho that was his teammate he turned on

(from Villareal)

I know USA are playing well and I am complaining to a bunch of Americans... AND we've had this discussion too many times but it's been a while since I watched FUCKING ANTI-FOOTBALL. 11 men in one half = eurgh. Can't wait for Xavi and Cesc to start imposing themselves.

Ok, stopped being an Arsenal fan and back to just enjoying this.

ANTI-FOOTBALL

fwiw plenty of USA fans bitch about this too

what are we going to do though, it's fucking Spain!

Pass to Puyol, wait for him to cock up and score 12?

there's nothing more beautiful than anti-football winning. :)

(especially because it usually pisses of the bigger teams, with the stars)

i v. much doubt Spain will NOT score at least once though. i think 1-1 + penalties is Team USA's biggest chance to advance.

I was kind of looking away but did Donavon just do a Rivaldo when they didn't get that free kick?

more or less

Wooh!

that was great! i just shouted out YES stupidly loudly

DEUCE!

howzaaaaaa!!0

fucking hell!

― b!tchass, birdchested bastard sees a dude bigger than he (a hoy hoy), Wednesday, 24 June 2009 19:57 (1 hour ago) Bookmark

FUUUUCK

Donovan is a great player, he's everywhere

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6Di8QT98Zk

What?

Crazy times.

This is so, so unexpected and such fun, regardless of the 'quality' of our team.

I CAN'T YELL, I'M AT WORK!! SO I'M JUST WHISPERING VERY LOUDLY.

Even Gooch hasn't been all bad.

well they're lookin pretty good right now xp

I CAN'T YELL, I'M AT WORK!!

Same here, I'm all 'must...keep...quiet.'

call yrself a patriot

Demerit's play has been good and semi-surprising as well.

x-post -- A contemplative patriot.

Demerit has been a rock so far.

Putting Bocanegra at left back is a great move too imo.

oh for fucks sake

Spain: normal service is resumed.

I went to poop, what happened?

If they spend the next two minutes entirely in the US penalty box, I may have a heart attack.

The spirit of Joe Gaetjens

lol

srsly can't believe this

Oh my scrappy little USA team, I love you guys.

i could see a sneaky 1-0 for the US, just because, but not this uncontroversially. the only thing bugging me is that Brazil will now pull that same result on them (ah reverse psychology pessimism).

I only saw the second half, but I thought the US were good value for the win - seen Arsenal lose many a match to teams playing like that

way to go usa!

So nuts. The LAST thing I expected.

u-s-a

Who say they'll be playing Brazil xp?

Pretty freakin cool!

I'd like to discuss the pros and cons/pluses and minuses of Jay Demerit

Howard clean sheet vs Torres. You gotta love that.

Pro: He co-owns a cool bar in Chicago xp

Local Garda, it was a good performance from Demerit, who usually looks a little slow-footed to me. For once, our defense looked almost solid.

I was attempting a (seemingly terrible) joke on pluses/minuses/pros/cons/merits/demerits!

Ah, yes! Subtlety is lost on me right now, alas.

I know USA are playing well and I am complaining to a bunch of Americans... AND we've had this discussion too many times but it's been a while since I watched FUCKING ANTI-FOOTBALL. 11 men in one half = eurgh. Can't wait for Xavi and Cesc to start imposing themselves.

― b!tchass, birdchested bastard sees a dude bigger than he (a hoy hoy), Wednesday, 24 June 2009 20:03 (1 hour ago) Bookmark

told

this was amazing!!

and i'm ok with that. it was a momentary outburst and the better team won. i might not have enjoyed their tactics but pleasing some guy on the internet, luckily, is not what sport is about.

If USA actually win this thing, will there be any cultural impact?

usa are actually vile to watch, it's true. they're all such big strong loafers.

it annoyed the shit out of me, watching jozy stand there with his hands on his hips, not chasing stuff down

I actually enjoyed all the flinging themselves at the ball the American players did. Also Ramos really is terrible.

I don't think the US were vile - it was a proper defensive display, Spain only broke them open a couple of times, and they were still pushing three or four men up on the counter until that poor lad got sent off

I just feel a great deal of warmth towards the US team, I don't know why. They seem quite ego-free

lol bruce arena

If USA actually win this thing, will there be any cultural impact?

Winning a tournament outright is what it is going to take to bring the game into the next level of prominence. Of course, it being "only" the Confederations Cup doesn't help. There will always be people who think of it as a lazy diving commie socialist non-sport.

I just feel a great deal of warmth towards the US team, I don't know why.

Yeah me too. But then I always go for the underdog.

One thing I'm wondering now is will any of this effect the transfer prospects of players like Onyewu and Demerit (both out of contract afaik) or Davies and Feilhaber who play in Scandinavia.

i could def see gooch getting signed by fulham or somebody based on this tournament.

i guess the rumours have him going to fenerbache.

Replace Altidore with Bobby Z and Timmy H with Schwarz and it just looks like it should be Fulham's team next season.

Not surprisingly the underdog aspect of the story is being played up big time here.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/25/sports/soccer/25vecsey1.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

The No. 14 team in the world — a rating that looked quite generous — has now beaten the No. 1 team in the world. For loyal American fans, it feels so good precisely because it was an upset.

No one else takes the country rankings totally seriously, do they?

WHY DID I SLEEP THRU THIS GAME

(a: finals)

i had an alarm set and everything :(

altidore's goal looked like a spanish error :-/ but dempsey's was pretty nice

n/m i take it back, jozy's was nice, too

It's being rebroadcast at 10 central time on espn2!

holy scheisse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So glad Spain got beat, so we don't have to listen to any more waffle about how great they are

not sure this is gonna stop it

no one takes the country rankings seriously (i.e. u.s. team is #14?? hahahaha) but surely spain have a legitimate argument to be either at or near the very top? there is something just so totally in control about them - i am frankly shocked and delighted that the us have beaten them - and 2-0!! unbelievable

this does make england look rather poor does it not

Not denying that Spain are the best team in the world right now, just fed up hearing about how they are

how so? xp

Because Spain made them look like East Stirling?

Best possible result for Spain imo

By which I mean, I could totally see them cruising to win that cup and everybody expecting them to steamroll everything in front of them (which was getting annoying) and then get battered in the world cup to everyone's shock; better to get a proper slap in the face now and pull together to ensure that doesnt happen again. Could go either way but you'd imagine they'd regroup, tighten up and be even better than before.

USA were very good, though. Really enjoyed that match (did feel very Fulham beating Arsenal tho).

Bit sad there'll be no Brazil Spain tho, am very curious to see them play each other.

the FIFA rankings is just a good guide to who is losing least often.

Bit sad there'll be no Brazil Spain tho

think there's a 3rd place match. come on south africa!

laurel how do you feel about landon donovan

better to get a proper slap in the face now and pull together to ensure that doesnt happen again

I know what you mean, except that Spain have been getting slapped in the face for the last fifty years and it only ever seems to set them up for another at the next tourney. Results like last night or South Korea in 2002 seem kind of inevitable - whereas Germany or even England would mount a comeback (or at least go down in flames), Spain accept their fate. Euro 2008 was very much the exception.

Thats true, they were very Arsenal in that respect. But I imagine their new tag of 'best in the wooooorld' is kind of difficult to live up to (like Brazil not living up to being Brazil, at least most recently) and this most recent slap in the face could really go either way. I kind of hope they dont revert to previous type and can consolidate their position as one of the best. Their strengths sometimes become their undoings, you dont see them going down in flames because they're patient and stick to their game, they still had chances and should have had a penalty etc (Donovan was pretty shameful with diving and tackling tbh, and I kind of want to like him!) Seems like this sort of game is inevitable every now and then for this sort of team, like how recently Barcelona Chelsea could have gone this way very easily.

If they'd had a marksman as clinical as Jozy, for example, Chelsea would have won. Hahaha.

"'Meanwhile, the United States had been 1-7-1 against No. 1 teams, beating Brazil in the 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup and tying Argentina last summer in an exhibition at Giants Stadium"

Has there ever been a more unthinkable route to a final in any tournament, anywhere?

liverpool, CL, every year.

Greece in 2004

Exactly what I thought. Anyway, the only reason anyone's bothering with the Confederations Cup is that there's no other football on, it's like water to a dying man in a desert.

What is the USA going on about? The Socceroos once made a Confederations Cup final! We lost 5-0 to Brazil too!

But who had ever watched the Confederations Cup before?

Did Greece have a ridiculous 6 goal swing? I mean there was no point where people just considered those teams already out of the tournament, did they? Although Greece won a proper tournament, of course.

But then it's not like this is Spain first competitive team in history, it's La Furia, being ranked as one of the best teams and not living up to it is their specialty

Anyway i just saw the goals and Ramos managed to fuck up everythign twice in the second goal

Think people are reading a bit too much into this Spain performance. It's the Confederations Cup ffs. Also no Senna and Iniesta

yeah, Senna was maybe the player of the tournament Euro 2008.

i haven't read much about Iraq during this. the reason they were in this at all is because their route to winning the Asian Cup was such a remarkable shock. they are crap tho yes.

I had a Football Manager game where China won the World Cup by scoring three times in the entire tournament (a 1-0 win, a 2-1 loss and a goalless draw in the group stages, then a 1-0 win and a couple of penalty shootouts in the knockout stages). Does that count?

That sounds like Rangers' run to the UEFA cup final last year.

Except with more goals and excitement

Anyway, the only reason anyone's bothering with the Confederations Cup is that there's no other football on, it's like water to a dying man in a desert.

Not true! Or if it is, I'm spending my weekends all wrong.

Donovan: bit of a diving nuisance lately but otherwise not hateable (and considering the calls that have gone against the US lately, maybe understandable), remarkably little ego in evidence despite having been a golden boy for a decade now. Still, not really likeable, either. Should probably start cutting his hair shorter before it gets ridiculous.

I didn't even realise its the Conkercaff Gold Cup like next week - won't the USA be exhausted going into that? with that and Mexico in disarray maybe Gaudeloupe can storm to victory.

Sorry, a postscript: Donovan's been quite gracious about being overshadowed by Beckham in LA, as far as I know. But it kind of seems like you could chalk his being a team player and never complaining up to just not having any more complicated thoughts about the matter.

usa usa usa

People here took the day off work to watch the USA match, then went downtown for a charity game in Chinatown starring Steve Nash, Claudio Reyna (may he die in a natural disaster), Henry, Zanetti, et al, then came back uptown to watch the Metros lose to Canuckistan.

The replay of US/Spain was on at the same time as our Toronto match, but let's be honest: no one thought we weren't going to lose to Toronto. US game much better value.

i want to like landon donovan but he looks like such a schmuck i dont think i ever will

Claudio Reyna (may he die in a natural disaster)

But how do you REALLY feel.

Somehow I have never been able to like Donovan much.

i like him now that he's kicked some spanish ass

At one point towards the end of the match Donovan actually ran into David Villa, fell over and got a free kick for it.

If USA actually win this thing, will there be any cultural impact?

― Samuel (a hoy hoy), Wednesday, June 24, 2009 4:44 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Donovan: bit of a diving nuisance lately but otherwise not hateable (and considering the calls that have gone against the US lately, maybe understandable), remarkably little ego in evidence despite having been a golden boy for a decade now. Still, not really likeable, either. Should probably start cutting his hair shorter before it gets ridiculous.

― But not someone who should be dead anyway (Laurel), Thursday, June 25, 2009 9:49 AM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Just to put this in perspective, there is an interview with Donovan on ESPN, and at the end the ESPN guy says "good luck in the final" and Donovan answers, "thanks, hope you guys will be watching."

Awwww!

Think people are reading a bit too much into this Spain performance. It's the Confederations Cup ffs. Also no Senna and Iniesta

― Number None, Thursday, 25 June 2009 14:36 (1 hour ago) Bookmark

Also gotta remember that Xavi really did look like a player who was having his 70th game of being kicked off the ball for the season.

When Lando is with the Nats everyone loves him.

When Lando is with the Gals he is one of the easiest players to hate.

I didn't even realise its the Conkercaff Gold Cup like next week - won't the USA be exhausted going into that? with that and Mexico in disarray maybe Gaudeloupe can storm to victory.

They just announced the roster, only 4 players are listed are in South Africa right now, and only 1 has seen any real playing time (Davies). I'm guessing that the Costa Ricans are going to make a real run at this one.

^^^btw my team is semi-fucked by this roster, considering we're losing our starting keeper and defensive mid for a month

yeah i might put a bet on Costa Rica to beat Panama in the final or sump'n

http://www.footballandmusic.co.uk/soccer-rocks/
Go to the bottom of the page to check out the musical stylings of one Jay DeMerit. Seems to crib a bit from "Heroes and Villains"

I still prefer Dempsey's DON'T TREAD rap.

goal.com is trolling

»Confederations Cup: US Basks In “Huge Win” Over Spain
»Confederations Cup: Davies: Spanish Players Were “Afraid”

BASQUE in the glory

The articles are all about Altidore, but the photos are all of Dempsey.

Ramires needs to sort it out.

My friend once said I looked like a Premiership footballer, and I correctly guessed he was talking about Clint Dempsey [/brag]

SA living the dream here. For how long...

toying with Brazil there for a moment

this is a really good game so far. just needs goals.

S. Africa playing like 11 Paul McGraths

Furious Packs of Kevin Sheedys

knew that'd go in

O_O

"one minute of stoppage time favors Brazil"

thx 4 that Tommy Smyth

Why does Dani Alves just have his own name tattooed on his chest? Nice free kick though.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2477/3660336441_5074e90ab2_o.jpg

missed all the fun

Spain 3 (Guiza 88 , 89 Alonso 107 )
South Africa 2 (Mphela 73 , 90 )

i mean COME ON, proper tournament games are never like this

Brazil and USA are both 20-1 to win on pens after extra time

i turned on the spain/south africa match at 80 minutes, expecting nothing much. then BAM. kind of sums up my attitude towards this whole tournament.

he, he, he

^^^^^^^^

Bearded Lou Jagz: Player Of The Tournament

OH MY DEMPSEY

I've decided to play up the "apparently I look lke Clint Dempsey" thing, on balance

They're not a bad counterattacking outfit at all, the US.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXD

great stuff!

like I said. Lovely goal

dunga out

sack the baord!!!111111

donovan pele

keep missing the fucking goals cos cooking

http://i.zdnet.com/blogs/nelson-muntz.gif

could still easily be 4-2 though.. but if they score ANOTHER one it's in the pocket.

fwiw brazil will boringly and inevitably swagger to a 3-2 victory

sweet finish.

that's a classy goal.

i can't believe that Donovan guy has never managed to get a decent European club career going.

Hahaha this is ridic

USA! USA!

"Klinsmann's only idea for strengthening the sqaud in January was Landon Donovan," said Uli Hoeness. "Hermann Gerland [the youth team coach] told me the guy wasn't fit to play for his reserves."

Uli Hoeness can go fly a kite Donovan is the player of the tournament.

Once upon a time, Milan Baros shook his head in your direction.

shit that was a huge chance to put donovan through

It was on again there. Great stuff USA!

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45983000/jpg/_45983664_demsey466getty.jpg

POPPAGE!

This is really great stuff. Go USA!

Oh god is there a game on now???

no man, just THE FINAL

:)

Oh he'll I better get home

Okay this is just nuts.

The only downside of having the US win would be to have Alexi Lalas' dumb mug reappear on my TV screen.

Garth Crooks.

why does he want Brazil to win so much?

the only poppage i anticipate is that of the usa's bubble :(

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/54/178678548_3dcacdc7c8.jpg?v=0

GOOD LUCK BRAZIL

The only downside of having the US win would be to have Alexi Lalas' dumb mug reappear on my TV screen.

http://metrostars.mlsnet.com/images/2006/03/08/PQWIUkPu.jpg

YOU TALKIN TO ME?

I know it's a longshot, what with them up 2-0 and all, but the US might win.

xxp

yall this is amazing - the second goal was O_O

Garth Crooks wants them to win so much so he looks less stupid, he was going on about how bonkers anyone who thought Brazil wouldnt win was before the game, but there's really no helping Garth Crooks

Gloss taken off Donovan's goal by his seemingly going 'ME ME ME ME' during his celebration. Bless im

howard is amazing

how brazil is missing all this goals ?

tastes good

That second goal was a thing of beauty.

If I was Dunga I'd get Ramires off immediately, I dont even know what that guy is supposed to be for

ps Pato

great stuff from the US here. brazil arent playing badly either. donovons goal was amazing. every pass had to be spot on and his touch before he slotted it was perfect.

tim howard is dope

i thought donovan's celebration was cool but then again there's no such thing as a bad celebration in soccer

yes howard is dope

i thought donovan's celebration was cool but then again there's no such thing as a bad celebration in soccer

srsly? i beg to differ

im kind of kidding (about the second part) but on the whole i think all soccer celebrations are amazing cuz they are so joyous

I wish MLS games had as much to offer as this game does, with so many good players on both sides. Enjoying this match quite a bit, regardless of the score. I like the fact that the US seems to play a lot more aggressively now than they did the last time I saw them in international play. Some of the younger guys really fight for position, and every ball seems to be contested. Not the US soccer I'm used to.

btw my soul is permanently scarred by the revelation that dempsey actually does look like louis

yeah they seem a really balanced side today

cant believe we're gonna take this

hahaha let's save the schoolin' JS on soccer celebrations until full-time imo

that second goal was rly rly rly sweet, i hafta say

still looking for an excuse to bust out "failhaber" tho

also lol next thing i'll be rappin' and yr soul won't be scarred so much as necrotic

The joyous ones, at least, are amazing for being so joyous yeah

Too much saluting of corner flags, embarrassing dancing or 'I had a baby' goin on tho. Most things involving the corner flag seem a little ill advised. There can only be so many Robbie Fowlers etc

Kind of wondering if this is the USA really figuring out what their sort of game should be, it's pretty exciting!

Is Pato on the bench? What they really need to do is bite the bullet and put Ronaldo back in the squad.

What is the point of Ramires? (xpost) Last week he was talked about as if he was a DM but he doesn't add anything defensively so then he was talked off as the Kuyt of the attacking 3, but without any of what makes him the Dirk.

Is Clint Dempsey always baked? Does anybody know? My dad thought maybe it helps him keep calm in front of goal.

howard is dope

number 5 is dope

donavan is DOPE

dempsey is lovely, and dope

I hope Brazil lose and Dunga is fired. Even when he's been successful he gets Brazil playing really ugly football and should fo.

Challops corner: This Brazil team > A fancy one with Ronaldinho, Elano, other fancy rapists etc.

welp

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL FUCK FUCK UCK FUCK UCK FUCK UCK FUCK UCK FUCK UCK FUCK

ok, maybe not.

ah.

game on

yeah 4-2

That is one classy fucking finish.

good luck usa

it starts

Anyone remember that Spurs-Utd match?

which one?

what ha-happened

The one where Spurs were 2-0 up at halftime and it looked crazily like they were gonna win and not concede 5. :)

lol I was alluding to the fact that a similar thing happened a few years back when spurs had a 3-0 lead

Robinho's really been shit so far

<3 Spurs.

blew that one

yeh, usa should have gotten in a shot there

I understand the need for a second commentator but Mark Bright is only there because everyone else wanted a holiday right? As much as I don't care for Lawro, he is nowhere near as awkward when it comes to big games on the BBC.

dude tim howard

jeez this is going to be a relentless 2nd half

i wonder if clint dempsey gets taunted about the time he jerked off another dude and then posted about it on a message board

because everyone else wanted a holiday right?

i can see Lawro turning down a trip to South Africa in favour of paddling in Blackpool bilge

oh shit tim howard

woo howard

wow uh

WHOAAA

loool xp j0

stop hating on mark bright

that's in

few dudes have been more mocked for their attempts at hip-hop than CD...i may be one of them mind

a yard behind the line

wait that was in right? got away w/ 1 there

That was a goal and I called it before the replay. I win.

Plucky church-going underdog Kaka cheated by evil lino.

jeez this is going to be a relentless 2nd half

relentless 2nd half = lions game yesterday. not sure this will come close

Mark Bright hasn't been too bad today but his love of the word "penetrate" in previous rounds and the many fucking times he has called Gilberto Silva an Arsenal player. Sure, it's still better than ITV but

americans, he is talking about badminton xp

Ok this last cross were there actually more Brazilians attacking than Americans defebding?

has US had a shot on goal before that donovan shot just a second ago?

noooo, it's the knob

at least theyre keeping their composure around the goal

has he got a cold?

good touch dani

the scarf, i mean

wkiw those 'thanks sepp blatter' guys

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2477/3660336441_5074e90ab2_o.jpg

americans, he is talking about badminton xp

― the funk soul custos (country matters), Sunday, June 28, 2009 3:53 PM (5 minutes ago)

where can i watch this badminton?

dude this guy

FUCKING HOWARD!!!!!

howard again

timmy tourette's

americans, he is talking about badminton xp

― the funk soul custos (country matters), Sunday, June 28, 2009 3:53 PM (5 minutes ago)

where can i watch this badminton?

― ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' (k3vin k.), Sunday, June 28, 2009 7:59 PM (31 seconds ago) Bookma

you need the password

Dani Alves trying his hardest to make Ibrahamovic not look like a big game choke artist.

RIP

i think that was three goals in one

:( i love badminton xxxp

OH FUCK

ok, 2

it wasn't a huge call, but a call that had to be made

ok but a part of me wants to see PKs anyway tbh

Sadness.

this is increasingly looking like a rerun of the lions game

gloves not on a goalie = sad
scarf = srsly?

we all memorialize dom in our own special ways

who?

gardnerz team USA soccer should all wear one white glove in solidarity for Michael like Iran wore green arm bands
about 1 hour ago from web

A+ tweet from surfboard dudes totally

dem bloody horns

christ almighty

oh shit

told yoooou

this is why football so often sucks imho

oh no

poor unfortunate souls

because a team comes from 2 behind and you get a 5 goal thriller? shut up

xxp

this is why football being a USA soccer supporter so often sucks imho

lj hates fun.

Oh well, been a privilege to watch this anyway. Terrific match.

Nah. America haven't learnt from decades of teams losing leads by dropping back and letting the superior team attack them. It's not footballs fault they got their second half tactics wrong.

but it's brazil, they deserve to win everything

fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck

gloveman misses a sitter!

nearly a 6 goal thriller

they play football the RIGHT WAY

this has been anything but a thriller. brazil's march to dominance has been utterly predictable, and the manner of the goals has been unspectacular in the extreme

thriller would have been 2-1 going into the last 5 minutes

shut up Louis, it's been great

stop saying thriller SHOW SOME RESPECT

lol

lj, this is a final and there have been 5 goals and one goal that wasn't counted. This is as thrilling as finals get. Please to stfu.

if brazil were 2-1 down in last five minutes = 10 minutes injury time

it WAS a thriller until that 3rd goal, then my prediction became true and all is despair

OK Y'ALL WIN but today has been about crushed dreams

i'll back lj here, a bulldozer isn't thrilling

at least dani alves is still terrible at shooting amirite

rip usa

xposts. i don't know, have you seen the end of Lethal Weapon 3?

RE: bulldozers.

victory for football ho hum

well shit

do i espy goalkeeping legend Heurelho Gomes?

yeah this was a second-half procession, as i knew it would be

thrilling finals: try the final of the greek domestic cup this season for size

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Cyjn3xBfEE

I espy Garth Crooks again.

i despys Garth Crooks.

Featuring Blackburn youth product Matt Derbyshire in a starring role xxp

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Greek domestic cup is the footy equivalent of 'I prefer their earlier work'

Here it is again with soulful piano music:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PV81FzNNHps&feature=related

seeing Robinho's miss before that Fabiano goal again is quite hilarious. I wish that that hadn't resulted in a goal just so he could look like a total plum missing from inside the 6 yard box.

how many jesus tshirts there?

bloody Jesus freaks Brazil

brazilians are right in to this Jesus guy.

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― what up cuz? what up tupp? what up gangsta? (J0rdan S.), Sunday, 28 June 2009 21:27 (3 minutes ago) Bookmark

lol the fleeting love between a ringtone homiesexual and an ile soccer thread

also jim otm, it was an amazing miss and deserved to remain so

well now it gets to the point where people start posting youtubes of greek matches and i just kind of tail off

shouldn't you be complaining about the bad defending Louis Hansen-Jagger?

but nay, for today was a day of pluck, ground beneath a hobnailed boot

a bit like when zaki scored that wondergoal against liverpool and then pool won 3-2 in the last minute and i started that thread lol

haha jordan trust me it ain't all like this honest

bob bradley seems nice

Hey so this Confederations Cup thing was pretty fun

Although I did get confused by these people I dont recognise talking about football

Fuck you Kaká, player of the tournament my hairy arse, you god-bothering Madrid fuck.

Kaka gets player of the tournament??

It's really Tim Howard amirite? Seriously, somebody give that guy a prize I think he deserves something

I'm crying along with Clint here

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45966000/jpg/_45966038_007517454-1.jpg

Luca Toni was robbed. xpost

Fuck you Kaká, player of the tournament my hairy arse, you god-bothering Madrid fuck.

― the shock will be coupled with the need to dance (jim), Sunday, 28 June 2009 21:41 (2 minutes ago) Bookmark

this cannot be said enough imo

The US are officially my favourite team now.

Fuck you Kaká, player of the tournament my hairy arse, you god-bothering Madrid fuck.

― the shock will be coupled with the need to dance (jim), Sunday, June 28, 2009 3:41 PM (2 minutes ago) Bookmark

lol @ british

the USA and South Africa deserve some sort of hike up the world rankings

US are already like 14? sounds more than fair enough.

why lol? melo, fabiano, cesar and maicon were all better on his own team! add in howard, b-lj, pienaar, xavi...

Hey so this Confederations Cup thing was pretty fun

the last two were really good fun too (apart from Vivien-Foe death obv)

tbh jim is for me largely otm on 90% of footballing issues, just that there's a hilarious 10% where i am a bit crazy and vocal

thank you, lj. I think we do coincide more than i might have thought, yeah.

you can't give player of the tournament to a losing team right

i was loling at the britspeak not the logic

the fuck at the end undid the earlier britishness

yeah the fuck wasn't right. I erred. Should've used cunt.

scots-chilean real madrid hatin' fury

the tone was scottish but the accent on kaka was hispanic pride

lol

true, i have actually corrected folk on many occasions for stressing first syllable of Kaká instead of second. If you stress the first syllable it just sounds like you're saying caca, like shit.

kaka had a good tournament

yeah, but player of the tournament?

yeah i think so overall. who was better?

ka-kow!

^^^this will be lost on anyone who hasn't seen frisky dingo but it is what every correct pronunciation of the brazilian wizard reminds me of

I think he's the best there is, but yeah, you don't give him man-of-the-match every game

BBC headline is 'Brazil stun USA to win Confed Cup'

is hating kaka a 'hansen and other BBC pundits spunk their pants over him relentlessly thing'?

Kaká being player of the tournament, I haven't really thought seriously of who should be the player of the tournament, but I didn't even think he was the best player for Brazil. That would probably be Luis Fabiano for me, or maybe Lúcio.

I don't hate him he's a brilliant player, one of the world's best.

Kaka has been pretty rubbish compared to his usual high standards tbh. There are obvious excuses, he did alright and is genuinely very likable as a player; he just didn't deserve POTT.

damn it

this is why football being a USA soccer supporter so often sucks imho

― youcangoyourownway, Sunday, June 28, 2009 3:16 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Still, this could bode well for WC seeding, hopefully to avoid getting stuck in yet another GoD. Also good to have the big game experience for the more n00b players, to boost their transfer prices and maybe get them some playing time with better teams/leagues.

i think WC seeding is going to be almost entirely region-based e.g. all of Europe in pots 1 & 2 + Brazil and Argentina

any highlights of this online?

101 great goals should have you sorted on almost any football highlights you'll ever need.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExIB_dNwVZQ

Mexican-American Spanish commentary for maximum enjoyment