The World of Football/Soccer.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

Should have been 2-2, anti US ?

Anti football!!

[ukhotstove]

Hows Freddie Adu doing ? He was splashed all over the papers a few years back but not heard anything about him for awhile.

[rudel.dietrich]

Brazil really stormed back in the second half. Really though I am kind of glad Brazil won. If they hadn't the won game would have forever been in doubt over that missed goal that was not called a goal.
That was very obviously even with without a replay the ball was entirely over the line. No idea how the referee did not allow that.
And all the more reason there needs to be a system in place where there is a sensor in the ball and in the framework of the net that if the ball crosses over the plane it triggers a goal.

The third place game was also fantastic to watch.

[ukhotstove]

My team of the Conferderations Cup.

GK Howard (USA)

LB Capdevila (Spain)
CB Lucio (Brazil)
CB Onyewu (USA)
RB Gaxa (South Africa)

LM Pienaar (South Africa)
CM Xavi (Spain)
CM Melo (Brazil)
RM Maicon (Brazil)

ST Torres (Spain)
ST Fabiano (Brazil)

[phightin]

I'm actually impressed and proud of the team as a whole considering how poorly they started out. Bradley has found his starting 11 for the world cup along with his formation (4-4-2 counter). Donovan and Dempsey are clearly more suited on the midfield flanks as well. The emergence of Spector, Feilhaber, and Davies is another huge positive as it's a shed of light on a rather disappointing youth movement that has failed to pan out so far. All three look like future starters for years to come hopefully. I remember seeing Spector playing center back for the u17 national team when I was at the dallas cup around 6 years ago, he's really turned into a quality player. I'm still not sold on Bradley though his subsititutions today were horrendous. He had Feilhaber taken off for Kljestan, why Feilhaber should have came off is beyond me but for him. Then he took off Altidore for Conor Casey, why? Why not put in Adu? I dunno I could go on but it just didnt make sense. Overall though the team played with heart and truly cared, Dempsey was crying after the match, which is more than I can say for how they played and acted during wc qualifying.

[Purple Cowboy]

That match is exactly why football is such a fantastic game. What a ride.

[phightin]

Originally Posted by Purple Cowboy

That match is exactly why football is such a fantastic game. What a ride.

I know! I honestly thought the 2nd US goal that they scored on the counter was one of the finer goals I've seen from them in the overall sense of the end to end pace from which it happened. Americans who say that soccer is slow and boring really need to get their heads examined. Reminded me of Del Piero's clincher against germany in 06.

[Tommysixfingers]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

one of the reasons I've put a nice size bet on England.

You did? Would you consider giving me the money instead since you will lose it anyway?

[Tommysixfingers]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

Also what I've noticed during this tournament is there are alot of average players playing for some of the teams specially Brazil and Italy.

Italy is an old team today. Players that were good yesterday look old and tired today. Time hasn't been good to Italy and Italian football and I doubt that I've ever seen Italian football in as bad shape as it is today. Add to that that Lippi isn't a coach that is known for trying lots and lots of young talent.

[rudel.dietrich]

I have said it for two years now. I like Argentina for the WC next summer.
They have won two Olympic Golds in a row with their young players and their U-21 and U-18 squads have been dominate in the last few years.
They have a very strong squad of players entering their primes.

[bababui]

We'll have to see how the groups are before we pick a favorite. Put the Argies in a Group of Death and they might not advance. Put em in an easy group and they can rest key players. France was horrible in the group stage. They would not have advanced had their group not been so weak.

[ukhotstove]

Argentina may not even get there let alone win it, at the moment there in the last automatic place (4th) with their next game against Brazil, if say they lose that and Ecuador and Uruguay both win their winable games agains Colombia and Peru, Argentina would then be in 5th place only 1 point in front of Uruguay fighting for the play off spot, also don't forget this same Argentina have been stuffed by Bolivia 6-1 and in their last 3 games have lost 2 won 1 and that win was a close 1-0 against Colombia at home. Apart from a 4-0 win against Venezuela they've been pretty poor the last 11 games winning only 3 of those 11.

[ukhotstove]

Infact looking at the remaining fixtures Argentina on current form will not make it, they have 4 games left. The first against Brazil at home which they could easily lose then they face a tough away game against 3nd place Paraguay who they only drew with at home, then a should win game at home against Peru then what could be a make or break game away against Uruguay.

[dsvitak]

Originally Posted by phightin

I'm actually impressed and proud of the team as a whole considering how poorly they started out. Bradley has found his starting 11 for the world cup along with his formation (4-4-2 counter). Donovan and Dempsey are clearly more suited on the midfield flanks as well. The emergence of Spector, Feilhaber, and Davies is another huge positive as it's a shed of light on a rather disappointing youth movement that has failed to pan out so far. All three look like future starters for years to come hopefully. I remember seeing Spector playing center back for the u17 national team when I was at the dallas cup around 6 years ago, he's really turned into a quality player. I'm still not sold on Bradley though his subsititutions today were horrendous. He had Feilhaber taken off for Kljestan, why Feilhaber should have came off is beyond me but for him. Then he took off Altidore for Conor Casey, why? Why not put in Adu? I dunno I could go on but it just didnt make sense. Overall though the team played with heart and truly cared, Dempsey was crying after the match, which is more than I can say for how they played and acted during wc qualifying.

I personally appreciate that you have taken the time to post on these boards.

You clearly have exceptional knowledge and expertise...while mine is limited by what I see and read, and a little from CM4.

Thanks for sharing.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Eto'o set to turn down Man. City; stay with Barcelona

MANCHESTER, England - Samuel Eto'o looks set to snub Manchester City's "stratospheric" offer for the Cameroon striker.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has said City is looking to make Eto'o the highest paid player in the world and a 25 million-pound (C$47 million) bid has been lodged by the Premier League club.

But Eto'o's agent has indicated that the player will see out the final year of his contract before leaving Barcelona on a free transfer next year.

Agent Josep Maria Mesalles told Spanish radio station ONA FM on Monday: "If there is not a 180-degree turnaround then he will stay with Barcelona."

[bababui]

What a fast paced and exciting first half. Germany 1 England 0. There are some very good footballers emerging in these two countries.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by Muppetus Galacticus

Eto'o set to turn down Man. City; stay with Barcelona

He isn't stupid, last year of his contract he knows if he waits a year then he can command a massive signing on fee instead of a team paying a transfer fee.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

He isn't stupid, last year of his contract he knows if he waits a year then he can command a massive signing on fee instead of a team paying a transfer fee.

At his age? With the possibility of injury or decline? He is a fool.

[bababui]

That 2nd goal should have never happened. Massive mistake by the England GK.

[bababui]

Wagner missed about as easy of a goal as you will ever see.