Confederations Cup 2009

[The Macabees]

This thread is for many purposes:

1. Predictions.

2. News

3. Any other purpose you can think of.


______________________________________

Some Spain related news »»

1. Iniesta will not be playing, due to the injury suffered during the Barça vs. Manchester United, Champions League final game (well, that was just another injury on his prior injury).

[Lunatic Goofballs]

This is one of those weird sports, isn't it?

[Valipac]

I'd love to see the USA take it, and if a few of their players step up (Adu, Altidore) they have a chance. It's Spain and Brazil's tournament to lose, however.

[Starblaydia]

It's Spain and Brazil's tournament to lose, however.

They should meet each other in the final and from there it's anyone's guess.

[The Animal Union]

Hell, the USA isn't gonna win ANYTHING. It's either Brasil or Spain, but I'd think it would be Spain.

[Valipac]

Hell, the USA isn't gonna win ANYTHING. It's either Brasil or Spain, but I'd think it would be Spain.

I take it you haven't payed any attention to the USA during its CONCACAF qualifiers. US soccer is definitely looking up, and a wealth of young talent is just starting to show up. Yes, the US lost its last match to Costa Rica, but Costa Rica is a good team and their home stadium is an extremely tough venue. It all depends on the continued development of the young players. Altidore is 23. Adu is 20. They still have their entire careers in front of them, and they are already contributing in a major way on the international stage. We'll hopefully beat Brazil and Egypt and draw Italy. Brazil's been having a down qualification so far (as far as Brazil is concerned).

[The Macabees]

I think in terms of organization, Spain is a better team than Brazil. I'm not sure about raw talent, although I hold that Spain overall has better midfielders (although, Iniesta makes up a large fraction of Spain's powerful midfield).

Had the United States been put in Spain's group, it would have likely had a chance to make it to the semi-finals. But, both Italy and Brazil are superior teams. And Gattusso is available again for the Italian team.

[Franberry]

Spain or Brazil

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I hope Spain wins. The US still sucks, and they're too much in diapers to play and win to the likes of Brazil and Spain. We're big boys.

[Kadagai]

I hope Spain wins. The US still sucks, and they're too much in diapers to play and win to the likes of Brazil and Spain. We're big boys.

HEY AMERICA RULEZ!!!!

Oh wait......what is the Confederations Cup?

Soccer? Oh, who cares?

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I hope Spain wins. The US still sucks, and they're too much in diapers to play and win to the likes of Brazil and Spain. We're big boys.

HEY AMERICA RULEZ!!!!

Oh wait......what is the Confederations Cup?

Soccer? Oh, who cares?

[Valanora]

I think that you are underestimating the USA just a tad. Remember that this same USA squad held Spain to a 0-1 scoreline in Spain just a few months ago. It is not then a stretch of the imagination to say that they could get the upset on a neutral venue. The problem is however getting out of the group. If it is a Brazil that in hungry to redeem itself after a poor showing last World Cup, then I really can't see the USA even nabbing a point. Italy on the other hand did draw with the USA last World Cup, and has not looked particularly impressive since. A draw, or even a win is very manageable. The real trick will be Egypt though. African football is on the rise, and the Yanks should do well to remember their Ghana lesson. That match could very well determine if the Yanks advance or not.

My money is on Spain though, too many player that are good or excellent footballers.

[Fson]

I think in terms of organization, Spain is a better team than Brazil. I'm not sure about raw talent, although I hold that Spain overall has better midfielders (although, Iniesta makes up a large fraction of Spain's powerful midfield).

Had the United States been put in Spain's group, it would have likely had a chance to make it to the semi-finals. But, both Italy and Brazil are superior teams. And Gattusso is available again for the Italian team.

hmm the Italian Team is WAY overrated.

[Valanora]

Hell, the USA isn't gonna win ANYTHING. It's either Brasil or Spain, but I'd think it would be Spain.

I take it you haven't payed any attention to the USA during its CONCACAF qualifiers. US soccer is definitely looking up, and a wealth of young talent is just starting to show up. Yes, the US lost its last match to Costa Rica, but Costa Rica is a good team and their home stadium is an extremely tough venue. It all depends on the continued development of the young players. Altidore is 23. Adu is 20. They still have their entire careers in front of them, and they are already contributing in a major way on the international stage. We'll hopefully beat Brazil and Egypt and draw Italy. Brazil's been having a down qualification so far (as far as Brazil is concerned).

That Costa Rica game was a disaster and it can be totally placed at Bradley's feet. I don't mind experimentation, but routinely putting players out of position (Donovan, Dempsey, and Beasley) is inexcusable. He is far too conservative and relies too much on his favorites while not even giving other players a shot. Cooper and J. Johnson should have been called up for these two qualifiers. It's a shame we have to suffer poor results because of an inept manager.

[Fson]

Hell, the USA isn't gonna win ANYTHING. It's either Brasil or Spain, but I'd think it would be Spain.

I take it you haven't payed any attention to the USA during its CONCACAF qualifiers. US soccer is definitely looking up, and a wealth of young talent is just starting to show up. Yes, the US lost its last match to Costa Rica, but Costa Rica is a good team and their home stadium is an extremely tough venue. It all depends on the continued development of the young players. Altidore is 23. Adu is 20. They still have their entire careers in front of them, and they are already contributing in a major way on the international stage. We'll hopefully beat Brazil and Egypt and draw Italy. Brazil's been having a down qualification so far (as far as Brazil is concerned).

That Costa Rica game was a disaster and it can be totally placed at Bradley's feet. I don't mind experimentation, but routinely putting players out of position (Donovan, Dempsey, and Beasley) is inexcusable. He is far too conservative and relies too much on his favorites while not even giving other players a shot. Cooper and J. Johnson should have been called up for these two qualifiers. It's a shame we have to suffer poor results because of an inept manager.

Did any USL players make the team?

[Valanora]

Did any USL players make the team?

No.

[Fson]

Did any USL players make the team?

No.

ah just wondering is there many Domestic players in the team? MLS?

[Valanora]

Did any USL players make the team?

No.

ah just wondering is there many Domestic players in the team? MLS?

Quite a few of them.

[Fson]

ah just wondering is there many Domestic players in the team? MLS?[/quote]
Quite a few of them.[/quote]

nice im just wondering is all. ive started watching mls because the seasons here in europe are nearly all over.

[Valanora]

nice im just wondering is all. ive started watching mls because the seasons here in europe are nearly all over.

To be perfectly honest, the MLS while growing and indeed getting better, is still hard to watch compared to Spain, England, or even Germany. It's a tad like the Serie A, but without an Inter or AC Milan or even Roma to provide at least a match or two that can be exciting every weekend. Once in a blue moon you do get a great game (FC Dallas v LA Galaxy '07 and New York Red Bull v LA Galaxy '07 come to mind) but they are few and far between. While there are indeed some good footballers here in the league, many of them have been overcoached and have lost that flair that makes football beautiful.

[Starblaydia]

nice im just wondering is all. ive started watching mls because the seasons here in europe are nearly all over.

To be perfectly honest, the MLS while growing and indeed getting better, is still hard to watch compared to Spain, England, or even Germany. It's a tad like the Serie A, but without an Inter or AC Milan or even Roma to provide at least a match or two that can be exciting every weekend. Once in a blue moon you do get a great game (FC Dallas v LA Galaxy '07 and New York Red Bull v LA Galaxy '07 come to mind) but they are few and far between. While there are indeed some good footballers here in the league, many of them have been overcoached and have lost that flair that makes football beautiful.

You mean it's hard to watch because there are a lot of useless journeyman players that make a past-it Abel Xavier look good.

The Confederations Cup will depend on which teams Spain and Bazil send to the Final, unless something insane happens to put a different team in there.

[Fson]

nice im just wondering is all. ive started watching mls because the seasons here in europe are nearly all over.

To be perfectly honest, the MLS while growing and indeed getting better, is still hard to watch compared to Spain, England, or even Germany. It's a tad like the Serie A, but without an Inter or AC Milan or even Roma to provide at least a match or two that can be exciting every weekend. Once in a blue moon you do get a great game (FC Dallas v LA Galaxy '07 and New York Red Bull v LA Galaxy '07 come to mind) but they are few and far between. While there are indeed some good footballers here in the league, many of them have been overcoached and have lost that flair that makes football beautiful.

well as a N.Ireland fan i know you don't need flair, flair is for pussys and you get very few players who have great skill with the ball that dont dive. (not all dive i know) but we don't have any really flairey footballer and we beat Spain 3-2 in the WC qualifiers and they had their first team out.

[The Macabees]

Remember that this same USA squad held Spain to a 0-1 scoreline in Spain just a few months ago.

I don't think you can compare a friendly to a competitive match. Furthermore, that doesn't really give the game justice, given that it was, more or less, controlled by Spain. It's like saying that Germany held Spain 1-0 in the European Champions final, although it could have easily been 2-0 or 3-0.

[Starblaydia]

well as a N.Ireland fan i know you don't need flair, flair is for pussys...

Woooo!

[Valanora]

Remember that this same USA squad held Spain to a 0-1 scoreline in Spain just a few months ago.

I don't think you can compare a friendly to a competitive match. Furthermore, that doesn't really give the game justice, given that it was, more or less, controlled by Spain. It's like saying that Germany held Spain 1-0 in the European Champions final, although it could have easily been 2-0 or 3-0.

I'm just trying to point out that a break here or there, and an upset could happen. Will it? I doubt it, but there is the possibility.