Couldn't have said any of this better myself! Everything you said was spot on....everything! They definitely didn't play this long ball garbage in the past, especially in WC 2006. Now, let me start by saying: Brazil was faster, quicker, stronger, and more endured than Italy and it showed. But I have to look toward Mr. Lippi in tactics and squad selection. The partnership of Toni and Iaquinta up front baffles me. They're the exact same type of player!!! You have to partner one of those guys with a Cassano, Del Piero, Di Natale, Rossi type player!!!! Football 101. I said it about 3 dozen times and I'll repeat Tone_E's words....TONI is DONE!!! SLOW, CLUMSY, etc.. Lippi has got to be the only one who doesn't see it. Did I miss something with Dosenna and no Grosso? Did Grosso pick up an injury? If not, then someone please tell me why? Grosso was one of the few players that always plays well. One of the few players that will create opportunities going forward...............WHY? If this was a test for Dosenna for WC 2010, then he failed. Italy better find Grosso's replacement when he gets too old.....MOTTA where are you?! Ok, I'm done. This team has a lot of work to do for 2010. Here's to hoping that some studs shine in 09-10 and Lippi recovers his senses.
Congrats to the US. Italy was outmatched plain and simple. They need to recover before they face Ireland or they might be the first defending champ not to make it back to the World Cup This has been a good tourney with all teams trying to win, which is not what I thought at the beginning Maybe US will surprise but it should be a dandy of a final between Spain and Brazil
Wow, I can't believe the US advanced. Unbelievable. That was an exciting group round, as all teams put in quality play.
I don't see it happening in 2010. In '06 they had youth on their side. All their guys were around 28. They had a large core of guys that were at the perfect age (not too young to be inexperienced, but not too old to have lost their way). Now they're pretty much trying to go into 2010 with the same team, only now those 7 or so guys are over 30. That's not gonna get it done. I have a feeling they're gonna flop in 2010 and rebuild for the ensuing Euro with youth. This is pretty much the same thing they did after they flopped in World Cup 2002. They tried to go into Euro 2004 with that same '02 team, flopped and then introduced Pirlo, Gattuso, De Rossi, Camoranesi, etc. into the midfield. It wasn't until then that they succeeded. I think this is the cycle that we're seeing. The guys that this team succeeded with are too old and it's time to start the new cycle after 2010. Here's to hoping guys like Giovinco, Balotelli, Lanzafame, Montolivo, and Motta excel
GIVE ME SOME LOVE!! USA USA USA USA... This will be a great experience going up against Spain in a FIFA semi. I just had a feeling this was going to happen. I am really sorry that I missed watching the game though. Damnit! Just too much going on today with Father's day and the US Open. Anyone know where I can catch a replay of the game?
Great photo from the USA Egypt match: http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/gallery...th_africa_egypt_us_confed_cup_soccer_cfc326:1
I was struggling so much watching those 2 games. I mean, I love me some USA but I'm an Italy fan at heart. Still, it's good that its the US and not Egypt that made it I suppose. Always nice to see an underdog win too... only to be crushed by Spain next round.. ah well. Maybe I'm being, for lack of a better word, dumb, but the thing holding back italy from advancing over the US was just total goals scored right? Couldn't they have the entire second half just left their goal (heck, their entire defensive side of the field) open in the attempt to score just one goal? Even if they had lost 10-1, they still would have advanced with the US only scoring 3, right? Maybe they weren't thinking like that, as it could have been even more humiliating had they done it and not had it work (10-0 yikes). I'm sure i'm not original in this thought, just wondering if it had been discussed?
Thats if you make it Italy's performance over this competition has given me alot of confidence about our upcoming WC qualifier in Dublin this Autumn. But I have a feeling this competition would have ran home a couple of home truths for Lippi and I think there will be a marked improvement in the Italian side come September and October.
I think it went to goals scored because a tie in the goal difference. So if they did that their goal difference wouldve been what like -8 compared to USAs -2 and Egypts -3.....At least thats the way i think it goes. And for the US fans, am i the only one that thinks Jose Torres and Robbie Rogers need to see more time? I love Beasly, but over the past 2years he has been a real liability.
I'm well aware of the standings in the group, but its not impossible considering you have'nt excatly been setting the world alight with your performances in the group or confed's cup. Looking at your fixtures, you still have work to do. Georgia (A) Bulgaria (H) Ireland (A) Cyprus (H) I mean, who would have expected you to get eliminated in the confed's cup this early? I still think Italy top the group, but not by much.
Italy losing the way we did in the Confed cup is EXACTLY what we needed. The purpose of the tournament was to gauge our team for the ’10 WC. It was also intended to gauge our youngsters, but unfortunately, the Euro Cup Under 21s were taking place. If not, we would have seen even more youth. Whether or not Lippi would have played them now is a different story. In the end, he thought he had the same team he did in ’06. He has been proven wrong and he now knows what has to be done – and publicly admitted that. The future of Italian football is bright, and Lippi will be bringing that to light on a world wide stage. People will look at our performance in the Confed Cup and assume that is how we will play in the future, and that Italy’s run is over, etc. Let them think that. We will now be changing at least 6 players. The likes of Pazzini, Foggia, Aquilani, and Cassano all have a good chance of being called up, and that infusion of youth (and we even have more potential stars coming up in Aquafresca and Paloschi referencing forwards alone) will add a whole new dynamic to what the world thinks is an over the hill, non threatening Italian football team. I am not worried, not one bit. Not now, and not in ’10. I’m actually VERY excited looking at all the players we have coming up. In hindsight, I’m glad that we had an early exit in the Confed Cup, perfect reason for us to showcase our future team. As Sparano once said, “The Time is Now!”. Those teams you listed have a lot of work to do – more so than Italy.
GO USA!! Spain, very talented team... can they return to their pre Euro cup form by struggling in games they should win??
still 0-0 25 minutes in but the Americans have played very well Just as i type this 1-0 USA This will be the biggest win in USA history IMO Spain is the class of the world with there unbeaten streak in the 30's and their winning streak at 15
USA playing some very nice football tonight. Impressed my the goal scorer Im off to do some research into the players as I know nothing about them
We are gonna need another goal to hold of these fools. it is gonna be an onslaught in the second half. USA! USA!
played well in the first... Spain showed signs of an equalizer late, but the US has done a nice job in the middle of the field... wait for the red card... it always seems to happen...
What an upset, who thought it would happen Colin Cowherd will get killed tomorrow by soccer fans, he has been saying USA has no chance!
Wow. Confederations cup or not, Spain came in flat. That was disturbing to watch. Where the hell was the centre backs on defense?
Watching their teammates. This was absolutely beautiful. a perfect example of a counterattack style being effective.
Yeah, the US played well. Spain had so many opportunities but nothing came out of them. Btw, since when you a soccer fan? lol.
wow!!! I'm tingly all over! This ranks up there with one of the biggest wins ever for the United States. Amazing defense, sliding all over the place to get a block shot, or blocked pass. Onyewu and DeMerit very solid... Just amazing heart. Howard was very good. I have to say he is the best keeper the US has ever had. Dempsey and Donovan are very good on the ball. Certainly two goals that were the result of some lucky bounces but give the uS credit, years past they would have not been in the position to finish those lucky bounces, today they were. Can South Africa upset Brasil???
Their defense looked dead in the second half. They're lucky that Tim Howard was stopping everything that came his way. They were allowing crosses left and right and then left huge gaps in the middle for the Spain mid to attack. IMO, that was all Howard in the second half. Donovan played well and should have received more of the ball IMO. I like Dempsey, I usually don't like US players but I like him. I think the US still has a lot of work to do though, specifically on the defensive side of the ball and their pacing. And I'm not saying anything about South Africa and the Brazil game, lol. But I'll say this, if US and Brazil meet in the final, it'll be an interesting rematch.
I can actually tell you the exact day. Argentina and Maradonna beating England 2-1 in the quarters of the WC with the "hand of god" goal. so basically..I have been a fan since 1986. and yeah...I hated maradonna with a passion.
I know very little about soc-cer, but I do know that Spain's attempts at going wide were not effective because it gave the US time to regroup in the middle. Plus, the Spain corners were garbage the entire game.
I am a fan of every sport...I just talk more about the sports in these forums that I actually support with $$$$$$...like the NFL and NBA.