FIFA Confederations Cup 2009

[Locke]

Thats pretty embarrassing for the Spanish.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Cactus Jack

Brazil, Argentina and, the way they've played the last couple years, Chile and Paraguay are the top 4 teams in the Americas. I'd say the US is on par with Uruguay for 5th/6th.

Mexico?

[Cactus Jack]

Originally Posted by troutman

Mexico?

They may not even make the World Cup.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Cactus Jack

They may not even make the World Cup.

Maybe, but aren't they a lot better than they have shown?

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/ranking/index.html

[Locke]

Originally Posted by troutman

Mexico?

Originally Posted by Cactus Jack

They may not even make the World Cup.

Originally Posted by troutman

Maybe, but aren't they a lot better than they have shown?

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/ranking/index.html

Mexico is also very talented but they're in an off year and they're having a lot of trouble in management. They need a solid manager and I thought they had on in Eriksson but they canned him before he really got a chance.

Yes, they are currently crapping the bed.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Cactus Jack

Brazil, Argentina and, the way they've played the last couple years, Chile and Paraguay are the top 4 teams in the Americas. I'd say the US is on par with Uruguay for 5th/6th.

I tend to side with the FIFA rankings, where the US and Paraguay are roughly even. Uruguay and Chile are a step down, about equivalent with Mexico in its current state.

South American teams aside from Brazil and Argentina are very overrated.

Good on the US for making the finals.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Locke

Thats pretty embarrassing for the Spanish.

And people laughed at my comparison to the Canucks.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

I tend to side with the FIFA rankings, where the US and Paraguay are roughly even. Uruguay and Chile are a step down, about equivalent with Mexico in its current state.

South American teams aside from Brazil and Argentina are very overrated.

Good on the US for making the finals.

Hmmm....I'd tend to disagree somewhat. I'd agree with the fact that other SA teams are undoubtedly second class citizens in footballing terms. No argument there.

However, I find that they mitigate that with consistency. Brazil and Argentine are unquestionably very inconsistent at their level. One day Brazil lights it up and then they flounder. The other SA teams are generally of a fairly high quality that they maintain. As such they beat or draw, or at least gain results from teams such as Brazil and Argentina during qualifying. Hell, wasnt Paraguay first in qualifying for a few months in Conmebol?

Right now Chile is a solid 4 points ahead of Argentina in qualifying and both they and Paraguay lead Argentina.

[ricoFlame]

wow. that's great for US Soccer.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Locke

Hmmm....I'd tend to disagree somewhat. I'd agree with the fact that other SA teams are undoubtedly second class citizens in footballing terms. No argument there.

However, I find that they mitigate that with consistency. Brazil and Argentine are unquestionably very inconsistent at their level. One day Brazil lights it up and then they flounder. The other SA teams are generally of a fairly high quality that they maintain. As such they beat or draw, or at least gain results from teams such as Brazil and Argentina during qualifying. Hell, wasnt Paraguay first in qualifying for a few months in Conmebol?

Right now Chile is a solid 4 points ahead of Argentina in qualifying and both they and Paraguay lead Argentina.

I think teams like Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay and Ecuador have a huge home advantage when they play World Cup qualifers. The US doesn't have this advantage.

The US produce better results abroad on neutral fields. They have a World Cup quarterfinal appearance in 2002 and now a Confederations Cup final appearance. This is an amazing tournament for the US playing Italy, Brazil, Egypt, Spain and probably Brazil again.. doesn't get much better than that.

What have any South American team not named Brazil or Argentina done on neutral ground?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I think teams like Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay and Ecuador have a huge home advantage when they play World Cup qualifers. The US doesn't have this advantage.

The US produce better results abroad on neutral fields. They have a World Cup quarterfinal appearance in 2002 and now a Confederations Cup final appearance. This is an amazing tournament for the US playing Italy, Brazil, Egypt, Spain and probably Brazil again.. doesn't get much better than that.

What have any South American team not named Brazil or Argentina done on neutral ground?

When have they had an opportunity? The way tournaments are structured they generally live in the shadows of the big 2.

[moon]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

The US produce better results abroad on neutral fields. They have a World Cup quarterfinal appearance in 2002 and now a Confederations Cup final appearance. This is an amazing tournament for the US playing Italy, Brazil, Egypt, Spain and probably Brazil again.. doesn't get much better than that.

Its an amazing tournament and yet they will likely finish 2-3.

How great can USA soccer be when finishing with a losing record, with a win against mighty Egypt to boost the record, is considered a great tournament?

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Locke

When have they had an opportunity? The way tournaments are structured they generally live in the shadows of the big 2.

Sure they do. Outside of the big 2, two sometimes three other South american teams make the World Cup every time but never make it past the 16s. Colombia played in the Confederations Cup not so long ago and bombed.

Originally Posted by moon

Its an amazing tournament and yet they will likely finish 2-3.

How great can USA soccer be when finishing with a losing record, with a win against mighty Egypt to boost the record, is considered a great tournament?

I meant it's an amazing set of games to play in preparation for next year regardless of result. You have to play the best to become the best. Spain played NZ, Iraq, South Africa and USA.. that doesn't help them at all!

I wish Canada could play somebody, anybody.

[flip]

I would love for the US to win a WC just to see how pissy the Euro and SA nations would get.

Could you imagine a nation where basically no one cares about soccer holding the greatest honor in all of soccer?

Actually it is a moot point. I'm pretty sure if the US ever made the WC final the reffing would be so anti-US they wouldn't have a hope in hell of winning.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by flip

I would love for the US to win a WC just to see how pissy the Euro and SA nations would get.

Could you imagine a nation where basically no one cares about soccer holding the greatest honor in all of soccer?

Actually it is a moot point. I'm pretty sure if the US ever made the WC final the reffing would be so anti-US they wouldn't have a hope in hell of winning.

Oh, Europe and South America would have a total freakout if that ever happened.

However, I think America is starting to care more and more about soccer (ironically, as they get better and better at it).

I'd imagine that would be similar to when the US wins a major hockey tournament, since fewer people care about hockey than they do about soccer in the US.

[flip]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

Oh, Europe and South America would have a total freakout if that ever happened.

However, I think America is starting to care more and more about soccer (ironically, as they get better and better at it).

I'd imagine that would be similar to when the US wins a major hockey tournament, since fewer people care about hockey than they do about soccer in the US.

I've always thought it would be like the Stonecutters episode of the Simpsons. As soon as the US won the major championship all the other countries would just start a new club just like the old one and change the name slightly, only the US would be banned. Worlds Cup of soccer FTW!

[valo403]

LOL, the New York Times is calling this "The Miracle on Grass"

Someone needs to let them know that this was essentially a glorified exhibition game. Not that Spain didn't play it's top team, but let's keep a bit of perspective here.

[CrusaderPi]

Originally Posted by valo403

LOL, the New York Times is calling this "The Miracle on Grass"

Someone needs to let them know that this was essentially a glorified exhibition game. Not that Spain didn't play it's top team, but let's keep a bit of perspective here.

Still, it has to be the pinnacle of American soccer achievement (women's team notwithstanding). Off the top of my head I can't think of a better result for them in a bigger spot.

[chris_yk]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Sure they do. Outside of the big 2, two sometimes three other South american teams make the World Cup every time but never make it past the 16s. Colombia played in the Confederations Cup not so long ago and bombed.



I meant it's an amazing set of games to play in preparation for next year regardless of result. You have to play the best to become the best. Spain played NZ, Iraq, South Africa and USA.. that doesn't help them at all!

I wish Canada could play somebody, anybody.

Canada have a behind closed doors friendly with Guatemala coming up on June 30th as preparation for the Concacaf Gold Cup which starts on July 3rd. Canada are in a group with Jamaica, El Salvador and Costa Rica. Also we recently played and beat Cyprus in a friendly on May 30. Maybe not Spain but still. With the squad we've called we've got an excellent chance to at least do as well as last Gold Cup where we reached the semis before getting knocked out by the U.S. due to a terrible call. Anyways sorry for that back to the Confederations Cup...

P.S. I hope the US gets destroyed in the final, Landon Donovan is an embarassment to the game!!

[robertsfan]

[/quote]How great can USA soccer be when finishing with a losing record, with a win against mighty Egypt to boost the record, is considered a great tournament?[/quote]

Well, lets also consider who the US lost to in the tournament. They lost to Italy and Brazil. So thats 2 losses against 2 of the best teams in the world. Most any soccer powerhouse in the world could have ended with that same result.

Mighty Egypt indeed. Just ask the Italians.

Granted, the US looked terrible early in the tournament and got through to the second round with a bit of luck. But they have made the most of this luck and turned in 2 pretty solid games. Good for them.