Confederations Cup 2009 (Soccer)

[510Meeze]

Oh lawd let's not take into consideration the other 194 countries in the world

Do we really need this discussion about a game that obviously the people in here watch?

FYI most latin countries call it futbol soccer, and use the words interchangeably. In Italian the word Calcio just means kick, no mention of foot or ball in the name.

PS the term soccer was coined by a brit, go figure.

[Retrieving/C.D/Searain]

I agree, but at the same time I don't think the Spanish were showing up to this game to lose. They put out their #1 squad in a Semifinal. Anyone who plays sports knows that a trophy is a trophy is a trophy once you're on the pitch. You can say the cup is worthless, but the win was very much real.

A trophy is a trophy once you get to actual playing, right, however when you've won as many as the spanish NT players (most of which belong to either Barca, Real, Villareal or Liverpool) already have, how motivated can you possibly get for a mid-summer, pointless exhibition match against an allegedly 2nd rate team?

Truth being told, the US were playing like it was a matter of life or death (and I don't feel like blaming them honestly, it has probably been the most relevant match of their respective careers), relying on the most strenuously defensive playstyle* I've ever seen in an official match (Trapattoni's infamous "catenaccio" ain't shit in comparison), with just one, phisically imposing forward to hang the ball as long and as far away from the US goal as possible in between spanish attacks, plenty of long balls thrown toward the spanish 18-yards box general direction for the hell of it and the whole team turtling within their side 24/7 and most likely dedicated a lot of time and efforts to prepare the match tactically-wise during the past few days, whereas Spain probably understimated the whole thing all along and started playing seriously halfway in the 2nd half when the situation was pretty much unrecoverable anyway since the american players would have much rather lost a limb on the field than conceded a goal at that point and were constantly outrunning and anticipating the spanish counterparts, overcoming fatigue with sheer enthusiasm.

My point is that in a regular World Cup match Spain, despite their underachieving tendencies, would've probably prevailed 99 times out of 100. Props to the yankees for putting up an impressive performance and giving them a run for their money, however those weren't the real Spain and Italy. Brazil on the other hand is a completely different story, they always play for fun and as spectacularly as possible no matter what (which sort of made them the harlem globetrotters of football throughout the years) and their playstyle happens to be extremely effective regardless.

*...and don't get me started on Donovan diving left and right and weeping like a little girl each and every time he somehow got in contact with a spanish player (something he has done against Italy as well and that americans on both BG and Big Soccer forums have always strongly despised to the point of nicknaming the game "Diveball", oftentimes calling out the italian team on such an "unsportsmanlike" behaviour...ah, the irony) or the keeper taking ages to goal-kick the ball back into play just to waste precious time...

In Italian the word Calcio just means kick, no mention of foot or ball in the name.

that is indeed correct.

[Wintermute]

or the keeper taking ages to goal-kick the ball back into play just to waste precious time...

What ever happened to the 6-Second rule?
I can't recall the last game where I saw it being enforced but I'm certain it's an official rule where if the keeper takes longer than 6 seconds to put the ball back in play it's an indirect free-kick to the opposition.

[Plow]

Amazing win. Spain is undoubtedly still the #1 team in the world, and definitely still the favorite for the World Cup. If the U.S. performs in the finals though, we could definitely move into a top 10 ranking, probably our best since we were 4 in 94.


Things should get interesting, other than a couple spots this is a verrrry young U.S. team. Nobody is going to want to play us in the World Cup, regardless of if they know they're the better team.

[EvilSid]

cut

I strongly disagree with all your whining.

In this tournament Egypt was the team having the ridicolous game you said, and not USA.

USA did a great match against Spain, and probably they made the same game the Italy would have made too, if they were not with the head to vacation and totally obliterated by Brazil.

They haven't renounced to attack Spain from the sides with 2 or more players, during the counterattacks, even with score already set on 1-0. They've created some good chances in closing the match, they've had the right malicy in the second goal and also they've got 2 absolutely wrong offside penalties with a player running alone to the goalkeeper in the last minutes.

They had a bit of luck in beating Egypt 3-0 and getting that positive result from Italy-Brazil match, but I guess they could have easily beaten or tied with Italy without that red card.

I like how their coach managed the game, and I like the new talents as Oniewu and old experienced bastards like Donovan. I really loved all the central defense's play, the run of Dempsey... Really, a strongheaded team and a worth victory. I think this finals are the best accomplishment in the USA soccer history. The Brazil is from another planet but you can never say..

I cheered for them last night, and I think it's a shame nobody cares about soccer in the USA. These guys must be supported, expecially the younger ones like Altidore, and can bring US soccer to important results on international fields.

[Retrieving/C.D/Searain]

cut

You're just arguing with me for the sake of arguing.

I was rooting for the underdog and secretly hoping for a jaw-dropping upset yesterday as well since I fucking hate those spanish faggots however disregarding completely the circumstances would be a foolish mistake I'd expect from the average US fan (who doesn't know much of anything about european football and is still pretty pumped because of the historic victory) and not from a fellow italian.

whatever.

EDIT: also, Eorzea.it, check it out Sidd.

[EvilSid]

You're just arguing with me for the sake of arguing.

I was rooting for the underdog and secretly hoping for a jaw-dropping upset yesterday as well since I fucking hate those spanish faggots however disregarding completely the circumstances would be a foolish mistake I'd expect from the average US fan (who doesn't know much of anything about european football and is still pretty pumped because of the historic victory) and not from a fellow italian.

whatever.

EDIT: also, Eorzea.it, check it out Sidd.

I'm not the only "fellow italian" who appreciated the game of USA. You can just have a look at our press or tv news.

Imho USA did the perfect match accordingly to how low their strenght was compared to Spain's one.


OT- woot there's a lot of old italian players on that site's forum, i've played with many of them since november 2003

btw, why don't you play in a server with a massive italian presence like Ragnarok or Fairy?

[Chicomagiko]

Can't wait for Sunday. Its going to be a fun match. I remember waking up last sun and watching the announcement on Univision USA vs Spain and I thought to myself "if America wins, thats gonna be one hell of an upset for Spain" my friend's dad thought i was crazy for even saying it. Guess i get to rub it in his face this weekend :D

[510Meeze]

and I think it's a shame nobody cares about soccer in the USA. These guys must be supported, expecially the younger ones like Altidore, and can bring US soccer to important results on international fields.

I think there is a misconception around the world about our fans. We have just as many (probably more) than most countries like say Croatia who has a top 10 club. The thing is, we have 300,000,000 people, so while percentage wise we have few fans, numbers wise we have a lot. I can see Fooball passing baseball in popularity, at least I hope so, because baseball is one of the dullest games to watch unless you are at a stadium.

[Rammses]

lolconfederationscup

No, it was absolutely obvious that everyone participating took this tournament seriously. Italy lost to Egypt and were outclassed by Brazil because they are a poor team; your players are old and unmotivated in general, not just for the Confederations Cup. You have young talented players, sure, but the World Cup is 11 months away and if Lippi didn't want to introduce them in the Confederations, then he didn't plan on using them in the World Cup.

[EvilSid]

No, it was absolutely obvious that everyone participating took this tournament seriously. Italy lost to Egypt and were outclassed by Brazil because they are a poor team;

^ this

your players are old and unmotivated in general, not just for the Confederations Cup.

...and not this. I guess their lack in motivation is due to the low relevance on this tournament in our contry. But this is not the main reason of an epic ph4il btw. There is also a ridicolous physical condition and some huge mistakes in roster making. A lot of promising young players are now playing European Cup in your contry, and they qualified to the semifinals with Germany.

You have young talented players, sure, but the World Cup is 11 months away and if Lippi didn't want to introduce them in the Confederations, then he didn't plan on using them in the World Cup.

I really hope it won't be so. We need a total refundation to win the next World Cup. The Confederation Cup failure can be a positive thing if it will lead to that.

[510Meeze]

And the young Italian talent is in Sweden right now.

[Julian]

Brasil plays today 2:30 pm :D

[Chicomagiko]

est or pdt?

[Julian]

EST

[Rammses]

...and not this. I guess their lack in motivation is due to the low relevance on this tournament in our contry. But this is not the main reason of an epic ph4il btw. There is also a ridicolous physical condition and some huge mistakes in roster making. A lot of promising young players are now playing European Cup in your contry, and they qualified to the semifinals with Germany.

I was referring only to Lippi's Confed squad; I don't think they would have been more focused, made more runs, closed down better if it had been Euro 2009 or WC 2009. I regard Italy's young talent as the best in Europe, but there are problems. Santon and Balotelli, the two greatest talents, are only 18 years old, and the latter would be a huge gamble if he doesn't mature about 10 years mentally before the World Cup. De Ceglie and Giovinco, natural replacements for Grosso and Del Piero/Totti, have not been regular starters for their club team. You will either have to play a sub-par defensive line in the World Cup, or replace 3/4 of it. It's risky business so soon before, and with Lippi it's not going to happen. I can see Marchisio and Giovinco playing, and they could solve alot of the problems, but you'd still lack a central playmaker, as Giovinco would be forced to play out wide; Piro is worthless and Montolivo was shocking in the the Confederations Cup. The one positive for Italy this tournament is the possibility that Luca Toni has made his last appearance.

[Mayareira]

I've had a sympathy towards the Spanish team ever since the mammals appeared on the earth so I was sorta wanting them to break the world record by a 35-match unbeaten run. Now that they are gone, I'll be supporting the USA(sorta neutral actually, I like watching Brazil games). They are the side that makes the tournament exciting... Saying that USA was lucky because Spain didn't care about the tournament is a little unfair since among all sides Spain were the only ones with a solid goal, the unbeaten run.

Complacent? Yes. Didn't give a fuck gave away a win? No. Nothing irritates me more than a "you won because I didn't care" argument. Howard did rock solid saves, Donovan played fairly good and Onwkeyu(sp) did crucial interceptions. Not too exciting moments for the EU/S. American watchers that are used to moves like Grégory Coupet - Worldclass save , but certainly worth mentioning.

And wow, Retrieving/C.D/Searain. Never thought I would see a SWOS player on BG forums.

[Penthesilea]

Did you guys talk about those horns that are big in SA?



Deadspin - The Tiny Plastic Horn That Will Ruin The World Cup - Vuvuzelas

[volcanicweather]

People need to stop whining about the horns... it's not the end of the world. Don't people have better things to complain about?

[Eticket]

Haven't those things been around forever?