Comments for Confederations Cup circus at http://www.wsc.co.uk , comment 0 to 6 out of 6 comments http://www.wsc.co.uk Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:36:54 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/3534/38/#pc_721 The Confederations cup in general,and the USA involvement in particular is much Adu about nothing i reckon - Dalef65 Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:04:55 +0100 http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/3534/38/#pc_648 I have mixed feelings about the Confederations Cup. Although the games are boring to death, I believe that they're really useful for the squads. Just as an example, after Copa America, the Confederations Cup is the only time when Brazil have all the players together. There's always something going on between the teams and CBF during the season that avoids some players being in the squad. On the other hand, many of those players are tired because of the end of the European season, and don't show their best. So, what's the point? I believe that, after all, this celebration works just for the managers, who can test and improve the tactical side of their teams. But then again, our manager is Dunga. There's no tactical planning, not to mention any improvement. - fbrazolin Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:27:23 +0100 http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/3534/38/#pc_646 Have to agree the plastic horns drive me nuts. Then again without them you could hear a pin drop. Fair go NZ. At least they're trying in both senses. - geoff Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:37:30 +0100 http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/3534/38/#pc_642 What did we learn after the first round of games in the Confederations Cup? Though you should always be careful not to take much away from a single game by a team, we didn’t see much that we haven’t seen before. 1. Spain are still the best team in the world. Top to bottom, back to front, the Spanish have the most complete and most successful team of the last two years. From Iker Casillas on goal to Fernando Torres and David Villa up front, past a stellar midfield with amazing depth (Xavi, Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Xabi Alonso, Santi Cazorla, David Silva … wow) and a solid defence, this team seems unstoppable at the moment. Then again, beating New Zealand 5-0 isn’t a testament to anyone’s strength right now. 2. Brazil are soft at the back and lose their composure too easily. Kaká is, if not the best player on the planet, at least in the top 3. Without him, Brazil does not win this game. It took a last minute penalty for the Egyptians to lose, all because the Brazilians figured they’d cruise after ending the first half up 3-1. If there’s one guy you would figure would instill mental strength in the side, it would be Dunga. Let’s see if he’s still there by the time the World Cup rolls around. I can’t see this team beating Spain. 3. The USA should’ve done everything possible to get Giuseppe Rossi playing for them. At the very least, it would saved them from receiving two goals this week. Rossi was born in Teaneck, New Jersey, of Italian parents. At 18, he chose to play for Italy’s U-21s over the US and soon made it to Italy’s senior team. His goalscoring reminded me of a certain other Rossi, name of Paolo, who roamed opposition goals for Italy more than two decades ago. I don’t see him staying at Villareal in Spain for too long. 4. South Africa may be one of the poorest hosts of the World Cup in terms of football. No host has ever failed to progress past the first round. This team may accomplish that, depending on who they get grouped with. Even worse than the USA ‘94 squad. 5. There’s no way New Zealand is winning their playoff against Asia’s 5th-placed team. I really hope I’m wrong about this one, but Iraq isn’t even in the frame for a playoff spot in Asia. It’s likely to be Iran, Saudi Arabia or North Korea. All three of those have had better qualification matches than Iraq and right now, I’d back Iraq to defeat New Zealand in their Confederations Cup match. That match will tell us more than anything whether the All Whites can get to the finals in 2010. It is an absolute must-win for them. http://foolbo.wordpress.com/2009/06/16/confederations-cup-five-first-round-findings/ - fer Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:40:58 +0100 http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/3534/38/#pc_638 "Why should the US, for example, have an advantage over regional rivals like Costa Rica and Mexico just because they won a Mickey Mouse tournament that they always host?" Well, everyone knows the rules by now. If Mexico or Canada want to host it, they can just outbid the US. Anyway, as long as were throwing out the whole "Mickey Mouse" label, then I'll bring up that Copa America is just as deserving if not moreso. For example, they always invite Mexico even though they're not part of the confederation only because they bring in a lot of sponsorship money/kickbacks. Mexico might even host the 2015 Copa America, to make up for CONMEBOL kicking them out after the whole swine flu thing. What will happen if Mexico wins the 2015 version in front of their home crowd in Azteca? - radmonkey Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:24:47 +0100 http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/3534/38/#pc_636 As a test run for the world cup, it might be useful in persuading Sepp to ban the vuvuzela, the plastic horn that creates the sound of a dying elephant attacked by a swarm of mutant killer bees. I had feared that a couple of narrow wins over Iraq and New Zealand might invite some hubris among the hosts. Happily, the opening game will have aided in retaining the status quo of low expectations. With the possible added bonus that the chancer Joel Santana will be removed as SA's coach. - G.Man wants a hyphen Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:17:48 +0100