FIFA Confederations Cup 2009

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

I doubt it. Skilled guys tend to dive. They really aren't sending any this time. Its a pretty grinder team this year, which is sad.

Personally I prefer the grinder style, but that's my preference in all sports. I remember watching Gattusso play and thinking how great it was to see that style of play.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by Locke

Nope, I trust the Italians will pick up the slack, but for them its a group effort, not just one guy. I'll never forget the Euro Cup with Figo emphatically motioning for Ronaldo to 'get up' when they were getting smoked by Germany.

"smoked" is a bit strong.......they had it to within one and Pepe missed an open header inside the 6 yard box about 5 minutes before Germany made it 3-1......Germany capitalized on their chances in that game, but it's not like they had an abundance of them....the game wasn't one sided by any stretch. Germany was better, but that game could have easily gone to extra time........Portugal's main weakness was in net and their vulnerability on crosses and set plays, and Germany exposed it in spades in that game. All three goals, all directly from crosses, 2 from set plays.

Back to the divin, there's really no point to debate any more.....you have your opinion, I have mine.....we've been here before.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

To be fair, most top teams have relatively easy runs until deep into the knockout (when they start to face each other) just because the WC is so watered down. (South Korea's Ref scandal with Spain, Italy and Portugal notwithstanding).

Italy was the best team in the world in 2006. They had the perfect balance. Problem is, its now 2009. The team proved to be way over the hill in 2008 with an inept coach and shocking call-ups. Lippi has not really proven to be the magic elixir, but at least he knows the writing is on the wall and is scrambling to find new key parts. Trouble is, a lot of these guys are in their late 20s-early 30s, while the future stars are watching the games on TV like us.

I mostly agree with that with the exception of France in 06 having to go thru Spain, Brazil then Portugal to get to the final.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by cSpooge

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/FIFA.../schedule.html


there is schedule

That schedule blows. There's too much CBC Bold on it. There's only 5? games on CBC?
All replays on CBC at midnight! ARGH!

If they show the World Cup like this next year there's going to be a riot.

Originally Posted by Thunderball

To be fair, most top teams have relatively easy runs until deep into the knockout (when they start to face each other) just because the WC is so watered down. (South Korea's Ref scandal with Spain, Italy and Portugal notwithstanding).

Italy was the best team in the world in 2006. They had the perfect balance. Problem is, its now 2009. The team proved to be way over the hill in 2008 with an inept coach and shocking call-ups. Lippi has not really proven to be the magic elixir, but at least he knows the writing is on the wall and is scrambling to find new key parts. Trouble is, a lot of these guys are in their late 20s-early 30s, while the future stars are watching the games on TV like us.

Yup Brazil had easy routes in both their world cup wins in 1994 and 2002
That's how World Cups are. It's a long month and the easier the road the better. Finishing 1st in the Group usually ensures an easier path. You'll find that almost all World Cup winners finished 1st in the group stage.

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

I mostly agree with that with the exception of France in 06 having to go thru Spain, Brazil then Portugal to get to the final.

That was their penalty for finishing 2nd in Group G. They didn't have much left in the final. They should have slaughtered Italy who played overtime against Germany.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

I mostly agree with that with the exception of France in 06 having to go thru Spain, Brazil then Portugal to get to the final.

Yep, of course, France kind of screwed the pooch in their Group, limping into the knockout stage one point ahead of Korea. End up second and expect a long road, which they did well.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by valo403

Personally I prefer the grinder style, but that's my preference in all sports. I remember watching Gattusso play and thinking how great it was to see that style of play.

Nothing wrong with grinders at all, some of my favorite players are the hard workers that rely on speed, strength and power. I just don't think you can field a team of players like that and expect to win.

Every top team has a creative force in it that makes the difference. That was Totti/Del Piero/Baggio, etc. in years past, but there's no one in that position anymore.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

Nothing wrong with grinders at all, some of my favorite players are the hard workers that rely on speed, strength and power. I just don't think you can field a team of players like that and expect to win.

Every top team has a creative force in it that makes the difference. That was Totti/Del Piero/Baggio, etc. in years past, but there's no one in that position anymore.

Agreed, Keane was one of the all time great grinders/ball winners (and one hell of a dirty player) but his area of expertise is useless without guys like Giggs, Scholes, Cantona etc. around to make use of the ball.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by valo403

Agreed, Keane was one of the all time great grinders/ball winners (and one hell of a dirty player) but his area of expertise is useless without guys like Giggs, Scholes, Cantona etc. around to make use of the ball.

Absolutely, and looking at Lippi's roster, the team is still too old, and the "skilled" guys he picked either just came off poor seasons, or are quite long in the tooth and will be yet another year older for WC2010:

Confederations Cup squad:

Goalkeepers: Marco Amelia (Palermo), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Galatasaray) -Makes sense, seeing as Abbiati is hurt. Still, De Sanctis is useless, why not a young guy like Curci.

Defenders: Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Nicola Legrottaglie (Juventus), Andrea Dossena (Liverpool), Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentina), Fabio Grosso (Lyon), Davide Santon (Inter), Gianluca Zambrotta (Milan) -What a fall from grace. Italy used to boast the best defenders bar none on the planet. The only one I would consider currently at that level here is Chiellini. Cannavaro, Zambrotta and Grosso are past it. (Well, Juve is hoping Cannavaro has a year or two left, but even if he is finished, he's back from Real for free). Dossena has been meh at Pool, Gamberini and Legrottaglie are good depth, but not really NT level players. Santon is 18 and totally unproven. He has ONE U-21 cap. I would have taken a chance on a guy like Criscito, who had a great season with Genoa, is 22, has a lot of U-21 experience and looks ready for the next level.

Midfielders: Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Gennaro Gattuso (Milan), Andrea Pirlo (Milan), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria) -At least there's no Ambrosini or Perrotta, but really, Italy should be doing better than this. Pirlo and De Rossi are no brainers, but Camoranesi has been both well below average and frequently injured for Juventus. Montolivo has not come close to his potential yet, and Palombo is essentially a weaker version of Gattuso and De Rossi. Gattuso makes sense as experienced depth. Why Pirlo's heir apparent, D'Agostino and Juve product Marchisio are on the outside, I don't know.

Strikers: Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Simone Pepe (Udinese), Fabio Quagliarella (Napoli), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal), Luca Toni (Bayern Munich) Pepe? Toni? WTF? Pepe is the third best striker in midtable Udinese. Luca Toni is lazy and useless. Euro 2008 should have taught Lippi a lesson. The secret is out on Toni, and if you keep the passes from hitting him directly, he's a total non-factor. Iaquinta is a hard worker, but without a flashy sidekick like the oddly missing Cassano, he's a lot of energy wasted. I'd also advocate Del Piero. He's not getting any younger, but he's got that flash of game breaking talent that none of these selected guys do, Cassano too, but he seems to be tainted. Giovinco should have been picked too, but his absence is understandable, seeing as he rotted on the bench most of the season. Chelsea fans can tell you how scary that little guy is.

Personally, I'm not impressed. They are the third best team going in, and that shouldn't be good enough for Italy.

[GirlySports]

Hehehehe That's not Azzurri blue!

Haven't seen Brazil's squad yet.. just know for a fact that Ronaldinho will not be on it.

As for Italy the squad is ok. This is an experiemental tournament. Not one for Del Piero. Giovinco and Marchisio should have made it.

[GirlySports]

Even the refs are hurting themselves

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...068/index.html

[ricoFlame]

Azzurri!!!!!

[Locke]

Originally Posted by ricoFlame

Azzurri!!!!!

Absolutely, is there any way they could get me some lasagna pronto??

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

Absolutely, and looking at Lippi's roster, the team is still too old, and the "skilled" guys he picked either just came off poor seasons, or are quite long in the tooth and will be yet another year older for WC2010:

Confederations Cup squad:

Goalkeepers: Marco Amelia (Palermo), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Galatasaray) -Makes sense, seeing as Abbiati is hurt. Still, De Sanctis is useless, why not a young guy like Curci.

Defenders: Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Nicola Legrottaglie (Juventus), Andrea Dossena (Liverpool), Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentina), Fabio Grosso (Lyon), Davide Santon (Inter), Gianluca Zambrotta (Milan) -What a fall from grace. Italy used to boast the best defenders bar none on the planet. The only one I would consider currently at that level here is Chiellini. Cannavaro, Zambrotta and Grosso are past it. (Well, Juve is hoping Cannavaro has a year or two left, but even if he is finished, he's back from Real for free). Dossena has been meh at Pool, Gamberini and Legrottaglie are good depth, but not really NT level players. Santon is 18 and totally unproven. He has ONE U-21 cap. I would have taken a chance on a guy like Criscito, who had a great season with Genoa, is 22, has a lot of U-21 experience and looks ready for the next level.

Midfielders: Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Gennaro Gattuso (Milan), Andrea Pirlo (Milan), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria) -At least there's no Ambrosini or Perrotta, but really, Italy should be doing better than this. Pirlo and De Rossi are no brainers, but Camoranesi has been both well below average and frequently injured for Juventus. Montolivo has not come close to his potential yet, and Palombo is essentially a weaker version of Gattuso and De Rossi. Gattuso makes sense as experienced depth. Why Pirlo's heir apparent, D'Agostino and Juve product Marchisio are on the outside, I don't know.

Strikers: Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Simone Pepe (Udinese), Fabio Quagliarella (Napoli), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal), Luca Toni (Bayern Munich) Pepe? Toni? WTF? Pepe is the third best striker in midtable Udinese. Luca Toni is lazy and useless. Euro 2008 should have taught Lippi a lesson. The secret is out on Toni, and if you keep the passes from hitting him directly, he's a total non-factor. Iaquinta is a hard worker, but without a flashy sidekick like the oddly missing Cassano, he's a lot of energy wasted. I'd also advocate Del Piero. He's not getting any younger, but he's got that flash of game breaking talent that none of these selected guys do, Cassano too, but he seems to be tainted. Giovinco should have been picked too, but his absence is understandable, seeing as he rotted on the bench most of the season. Chelsea fans can tell you how scary that little guy is.

Personally, I'm not impressed. They are the third best team going in, and that shouldn't be good enough for Italy.

I am also disappointed that Lippi has decided to go with a more veteran team, especially since he has been preaching that the team needs to change in order to succeed.

However the reason for some of the younger players such as Giovinco, Marchisio, Criscito, Acquafresca, De Ceglie, etc, being left out, is that the UEFA U-21 Championship starts June 16 so they are tied to that tournament already.

I have a feeling that Lippi is going to use the confederations cup to see which of the old guard is still able to perform at this level and gauge if they will be useful to him at 2010, while keeping a close eye on the kids at the U-21. I think he will then blend the teams and use a good mix of the veterans and the kids in the last set of WC qualifiers.

[Locke]

All of the Squads are now set, no Ronaldinho for Brazil, but thats no surprise, but it still looks like a pretty solid squad especially seeing as how Robinho, Kaka and Pato arent exactly slouches.

http://www.fifa.com/confederationscu...924/index.html

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Locke

All of the Squads are now set, no Ronaldinho for Brazil, but thats no surprise, but it still looks like a pretty solid squad especially seeing as how Robinho, Kaka and Pato arent exactly slouches.

http://www.fifa.com/confederationscu...924/index.html

Not sure Pato is starting. Dunga plays a one striker system these days and that striker is Luis Fabiano with Robinho a little bit withdrawn on the left and Kaka on the right.

[Cactus Jack]

Vamos Brasil!

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Cactus Jack

Vamos Brasil!

Do they say "vamos" in portuguese?

[Cactus Jack]

Originally Posted by troutman

Do they say "vamos" in portuguese?

Yes but as a chant it's more likely Vai Brasil, Vai! I used the second person plural instead of the third person singular. This may be nerdy but in Brazil as slang people like to use "The people" instead of "we' a lot of the time. I come from a Spanish speaking background were you use we even informally so I don't necessarily use "the people" instead of "we" in Portuguese. That's probably too much info but hey, why not?

[GirlySports]

I'm pretty excited the tournament starts tomorrow.

Opening match is the Miss Teen South Carolina match: South Africa against Iraq

[GirlySports]

Scoreless at the half of the first match.

There's about 40 thousand airhorns in South Africa. Sounds like a beehive. I'm not sure I could stomach listening to that sound for a month next year.

South Africa are absolutely awful. They can barely control the ball. Iraq looked the tidier side but were a bit rusty.

It's pretty cold too. 15 degrees at kickoff for an afternoon match. They said it might rain and be below 10 degrees for the night match. Next year will be interesting as it'll be the first ever winter World Cup with all sorts of weather possible.

EDIT: 0-0 FT... the pitch was bad, the ball was bad, both teams were bad and the airhorns gave me a headache. I should go take a nap :P