Confederations Cup and of course AFA

Dude/troll now you’re just spamming. Stop it.

Posted from  United States

Congrats to the U.S

Posted from  United States

wow.. i put 100 pounds on spain to win.. and this is what happens… 160 bucks down the drain.. spain u disgust me

Posted from  United Kingdom

john – sweetheart — I’m American. Live in the US. Pay my taxes. I have the right to badmouth my country as much as anyone else.

But, of course, you don’t really care about that. You probably just haven’t gotten your fix yet today. Poor boy.

Posted from  United States

Just so everyone’s clear about what’s happening: If you are a known troll, or if you are impersonating other commenters, then your comments will be deleted – Daryl.

I would not get too upset by this defeat. Spain’s players have been through a very long and gruelling season from last summer whereas the vast majority of the American team are comparitively fresher and fitter having just strated their ML season.

Nonetheless still a surprise and no Brazil Spain final then.

Good if di Santo goes to lead the line at Blackburn at a critical stage in his development he needs full games and being an Argentine version of Santa Cruz in some ways ie close control, link up play, aerial prowess a chance to compare himself to this wonderful player .

As a contender for 2014 he needs this rather than spending time on a substitutes bench.

man, i am dissapionted spain lost. i think their the only team in the world who could beat brazil. it looks like brazil will have another trophy in its case. while we sit at home and watch. i really hate brazil.

this doesnt make USA a great team,it just simply makes Spain a team that is not in the top five at the moment.
On that note, Argentina could whip Spain’s ass. But first lets put together a team and never lose to the Bolivia’s and Ecuadors…although Ecuaddor is a greater team than USA.

It’s actually amazing that the US fought the way that they did. They always have a lot of pride and belief in themselves becuase they are perennial leaders of concacaf. Also, no team likes playing the US. They HATE playing the US because its a lose lose situation for them. Spain obviously was thinking about Brazil already. They didn’t seem focused, and then they panicked when they realized that it wasn’t going to be easy. But that’s what the world cup is ABOUT. This sort of game is more proof that the World Cup is a million times more difficult than the Euro Cup. Italy had a hard time with the US in the wWorld Cup as well. It’s very difficult beating different styles and personalities. I think that Brazil is the best equipped to deal with those sort of obstacles. Arg does well also in that setting. THey just usually destroy themselves.

Anyway, Spain is sort of reverting back to form. They’ve always been twitchy. I said after they won the Euros that they wouldn’t have done so without Marcos Senna, without that strnegth.

But make no mistake about it. Spain is still one of the top team sin the world. They have the best passing game of any team out there.

I’m bummed that we won’t see the Brazil – Spain showdown. It would have been incredibly instructional. I’d say that Brazil could probably have destroyed them, but now we won’t know.

malik — thanks for saying that ecuador is a better team than the us I think the difference is that the US, being perennial winners of concacaf, have a lot of belief in themselves. But the Ecuadorian team, if I may say so myself, are more talented.

I wasn’t really surprised by the result of the match.
First off, like Alexa said, the Euro is no where close to the competitive level of the World Cup. That is why in the world cup only 7(3 South American the 4 European) nations have won in 19 finals while 9 European countries(including relatively football no names such as Greece and Denmark) have won in just 13 UEFA Euro finals. From what i have witnessed this competition I can say with little doubt that Spanish players are vastly overrated.
Spain utilized the same formation/tactics thought the competition regardless of opposition. That is exactly what Basile did in Copa America and you all know what happened when Argentina faced a tactically astute Brazil.
USA played smart and pressed not from the midfield but 1/4 down the pitch which prevented Spain from executing any clear chances and exploiting gaps behind the midfielders which is the best way to play against faster and more technical teams. Spain desperation later became their demise as it led to the second USA goal and now Brazil has the chance for their 2nd confederation cup in a row, 3rd overall.
Of course I’m going to be rooting for the US but miracles don’t happen twice, or thrice if their Egypt match is taken into consideration.

Posted from  United States

The reason why the u.s won was because they showed the more heart, I never seen a team play with more heart. This is why international football is always better the club.

Posted from  United States

well put, golazo.

That is true Golazo but some teams can show all the heart of the world and still lose. The USA made best of the few chances they had and were tactically superior to Spain. The USA was lucky on some occasions but they didn’t succumb to pressure which also means that they were mentally superior to the Spanish side in that occasion.

I think this match only goes to prove the importance of at least a decent tactician who can manipulate the outcome of a match even against huge adversity. That is what Argentina desperately needs, and I am almost certain that if Argentina had a half decent manager/tactician it would still currently be #1(or close to)team in the world.
One of the traits that the USA possesses that surprises me the most is how some if not most of their players perform better for their NT than their clubs, that probably goes alongside your heart argument Golazo.
Argentina currently has no such players, maybe Mascherano in rare occasions but I have no memory of such NT performers.

Posted from  United States

Hearing Bob Bradly called “tactically superior” is mind boggling! But you’re right, in the sense that Bradly actually prepared for Spain, and Del Bosque didn’t seem to think that he had to prepare for the US.

The other comment — players who perform better for their countries compared to their teams– that’s why I wouldn’t be opposed to choosing lesser lights to maybe play for Arg, if they play better for coutnry rather than team. i always thought that Maxi Rodriquez was like that.

I find most of the comments regarding the USA victory over Spain very patronising. What exactly does the USA have to do to be accorded the respect it deserves. The USA has made a lot of progress over the last 10 years yet its achievements are constantly devalued. The USA beat Portugal in 2002 and drew with Italy in 2006. The Italians were even fortunate to escape with a draw as the USA had 2 goals disallowed.

Spain are the champions of Europe and are ranked No1 by FIFA. In the last couple of years they have beaten Argentina, England, Italy, Russia, Germany and Chile. They are an excellent team and the fact that they lost to USA does not change this fact. The USA was immense and deserves credit for a historic win instead of the sniping. The USA beat Egypt 3-0, there are those who might snigger about this victory but they should remember that Egypt are back to back African champions. Egypt also breached Brasil’s defence thrice which very few teams have done.They also defeated Italy who are the current WC champions.

USA are current Concaf champions and that is the reason they are competing in South Africa. They have also dislodged Mexico as the dominant team in that region. The same Mexico that won bronze at the Copa America. It is also incorrect to claim that Spain’s players are tired after a demanding season and that USA’S players are fresher. The vast majority of the USA players ply their trade in Europe and not in the MLS as claimed. Tim Howard plays for Everton, Spector plays for West Ham, De Merritt plays for Watford, Clint Dempsey plays for Fulham, Onyenwu plays for Standard Liege and Altidore plays for Villarel.

It is also incorrect to claim that Ecuador are better than the USA. Ecuador are not champions of their continent and what exactly have Ecuador done outside Quito. How many of Ecuador’s players have excelled in Europe and what scalp have they ever taken. So please stop hating and learn to appreciate. The USA is on the rise.

Posted from  United Kingdom

Well Gee wiz Anthony Taylor- you really told us.

No one criticized the US — we were just talking about the facts. YOu can say that the US did this and that — but they also lost to Costa Rica 3-0, got spanked by Brazil 3-0, got their asses handed to them in that smae Copa America that Mexico placed 3rd.

The US played a great game, and I’m proud of them. But — in concacaf — they are the tallest pygmies in the village. This gives them an inflated ego, a sense of greatness that isn’t really justified, but that, when used well, gives them strength for games such as yesterday.

And about Ecuador — Ecuador, with a size and population not much bigger than the state of Virgina, did better than the US in the last world Cup. And I’d say that if the US were ever in a division with Brazil and Argentina, they probably would never have won anything either. It’s not that hard to look big against island nations.

The US and Spain have played each other 100 times, and Spain has won 99 of those times. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves with coronating the US for anything. They deserved to win yesterday, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that they – as a team — are well behind what they can be.

Posted from  United States

“Next year I will continue to play football, and I will be where my children want me to be. I can’t predict the future and I don’t know what will happen in one year’s time,” said Riquelme.

Alexa

Costa Rica are not a mickey mouse team They qualified for the WC in 2002 and 2006. They are very diificult to beat at home as their players seem inspired. USA may have lost to Costa Rica but they are stii second in their group. Costa Rica are top of the standings. The USA are also back to back Gold Cup champions. You may sneer at this fact but the truth is that Concaf games are competitive as the teams are at a similar level. Contrast with this Europe where major teams like England, Holland, Germany play teams like Andorra, San Marino, Luxemburg for points. These teams are on a lower level than the island nations you sneer at.

The USA lost 3-0 to Brasil so did Italy. Argentina lost 4-1 to Brasil in 2005, 3-0 in 2006 and 3-0 in 2007. Brasil also thrashed Portugal 6=2. USA flopped at the Copa America because they fielded an experimental team. This is a fact check the squad it was full of fringe players. The emphasis was on the Gold Cup. Mexico may have come 3rd but they are in decline as they have lost to Honduras, El Salvador and Jamaica. Anyway Mexico are invited to take part in the Copa for commercial rather than football reasons.

Ecuador did better than the USA at the World Cup because their group was weaker. USA was in the toughest group with Italy, Ghana and the Czech Republic.

Ecuador have not won anything because they have not been good enough. Uruguay have a small poulation and they constantly reach the latter stages of Copa America. In the last Copa they were a penalty kick away from knocking out Brasil.

Prior to yesterday’s game everyone was waxing lyrical about how good the Spainish midfied and attack is. Spain have excellent players but the US defensive display was awesome. If Italy had defended like that there would be non stop praise about how they were masters of the art of defending. The Confederations Cup is for champions of continents. USA are there on merit and not for marketing reasons. They defeated the European champions and the No1 ranked team in the world. Please give credit where its due.

Posted from  United Kingdom

lets face it, there are 3 average teams at best in Concacaf- USA, Mexico, and Costa Rico. All three of these teams in companrison to the rest of the world stink. I always said that they should consolidate concacaf and south america into one main continental qualifaction cluster. Then teams like Ecuador and Uruaguay will make it to the cup more often. then teams like USA and Costa Rico will not make it very often.
USA’s fitness level is usually beter than most countries because of the money put into their training facilities. give these facilities to Mexico, then you will never ever ever ever see USA beat Mexico again.
also, USA has a player from Ghana, Mexico, El-salvado, etc. etc. etc. USA is similar to France in the fact that none of their players are from the country, just naturalised. France is always made up of the best Africans and arabs in the world.
Anthony Taylor: to conclude: I wil never ever respect USA as a futbol world power until either theymake north and south america one main qualifications group, or they win the world cup, or they get rid of sorry ass biased John Harkes and the other loser commentator that I am tired of listening too, and get rid of sorry as Donovan. I would rather listen to those vuvuzelas in every single world cup the rest of my life then to hear John Harkes or Landon Donavan speak.
matter of fact, if i ever see Landon Donovan in the street, i will smack MF’ing fire out his pussy diving faking ass.

Posted from  United States

Anthony – you have a lot lot lot lot of excuses.

Posted from  United States

Again – about Ecuador. And the US.

The US have only won tournaments on their home soil. Never anywhere else. And only in their own federation. Against Island teams.

Ecuador played the games that they had to play, and advanced. In Germany. At sea level. Your excuse of ‘group of death” is pathetic. The group of death was the one with Argentina.

More and more excuses. Why can’t you just be happy that the US won, and leave it at that? They have to earn respect. They are doing so. You’re not helping.

Posted from  United States

Alexa and Malik

Will you still consider the USA an average team if they beat Brasil to win the Confederations Cup. South Africa which is an average African team frustrated Brasil and prevented them from expressing themselves. Mexico and USA are not average teams. Mexico have beaten both Brasil and Argentina in competitive games. Mexico also reached the last 4 of the last Copa America. USA have beaten Spain, Egypt,drawn with Argentina and are in finals of a major competition on merit.

I doubt if there will ever be one unified qualifying group for the Americas as the respective federations have vested interests. However i do think that there should be a Pan American Cup between the top teams of North, South and Central America on a regular basis.This will lend weight to your claim that Concaf teams are average or give credence to my argument that they are not. The size of this competition can be streamlined to prevent meaningless games. So rather than have 4 groups of 4. Why not have 2 groups of 4 which will include the top 4 South American teams and top 3 Concaf teams with a place reserved for the hosts.

Until there is a competition like this there is no way of proving that Uruguay and Ecuador are better than the USA or Mexico. Its all just a matter of personal opinions. I have provided evidence that they are not but which you have overlooked.

Posted from  United Kingdom

Anthony,

i understand what you are feeling. But unfortunatly USA still has about 10-15 years to becoming a well develped above average team. You did not provide evidence.
Any team can beat any team on any given day, that is part of the beauty of this game. But here in the states, the kids dont play street ball, they play basketball, they dont play soccer on thanksgiving, they go and emulate John Elway.
They might have endurance and strength, but no individual skill, no skill on the dribble, no finesse, no touch, nimbleness isnt present, and for sure attitude is wack. USA should continue to naturalise players from Africa and south america if they want to be a better team. that is bottum line, but that also takes the fun out of a world cup where you want to see players repping their countries on the team.
I want to respect USA as a soccer team, but until they fix their arrogance and bad attitudes and learn how to play then they dont get respect. Paraguay and Chile is also better than USA by the way.

Posted from  United States

and half the countries in Europe and Africa are better.

Posted from  United States