# Prelude to South Africa 2010: the 2009 Confederation Cup **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 12, 2009, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553 "2009-06-12T15:16:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![MichaelQReilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@MichaelQReilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelQReilly)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2009, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/81 "2009-06-19T14:47:01Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Well, that piece of moldering, festering, stinking feces should hopefully serve notice to the powers that be that the United States of America has a really poor national team. Much as I grow weary of the comparisons endlessly made by Lalas and Harkes to the golden days of yore (when they happened to be on the field; to hear them talk about it, we must have won two or three really important tournaments back then!), I have to agree with them that this team lacks character and characters. With very few exceptions, this group of players simply plays, without much passion, without much energy, and without much dedication to their jobs. I think that’s why Frankie Hejduk stands out so much, despite his definite deficiencies: he actually plays with energy, passion and dedication. > > Connor Casey is an excellent example. He had some good chances in the second half. He combined neatly with Altidore on a one-two early on to create on of our few chances. He was generally involved in play around the opposing third, and he did at times track back to help provide outlets for the midfielders and fullbacks when they had obtained the ball in our defensive third. Having said that, he’s totally listless when he’s not directly involved in the play of the game. He jogs around, paying little attention to what is going on. He made ZERO effort to disrupt the interpassing of the Brazilian fullbacks, and applied nothing that could be considered “high pressure” as Brazil organized its attacks from the back. He has no passion, little energy, and zero dedication. It’s like he figures he’s on the field for one purpose only: to get involved in attacks. > > He SUCKS. (That’s the very precise soccer term for his play) :mad: > > Now, not everyone falls into that category. Landon Donovan is a very energetic, working forward/center mid. Of course, he’s long since become absent from our scorelines (except when the letters PK show up next to his name). But he is often involved in our most potent buildups and he seems not to mind where he has to go to fit into the strategic scheme of a game (left, center, right, top, mid, deep, it doesn’t matter to him). For my money, Benny Feilhaber shows much of these characteristics also, and you will notice he’s one of the few who actually reacted to missing the goal (when he struck the underside of the crossbar and had it come back out into play). All too often our players act like a missed chance is no big deal, so it’s nice to see if they get pissed at a miss. And I suppose Jonathan Spector isn’t too bad; he at least attempted to get back on that breakaway goal and was the player who forced the pass off to the wide-open Robinho. > > Beyond that, we got NOTHING. A bunch of robotic, passionless, unenergetic spoiled brats who don’t seem to care about what happens when they play. That second goal demonstrated EVERYTHING that is wrong with our game. Lackadaisical play from Beasley, who lets the short corner go entirely under his foot, and then instead of hustling back to cover, simply grimaces and watches. Failure to challenge with a tackle when the ball is pushed up to midfield by the Brazilian defense. Failure of anyone other than Spector to flat out RUN back to cover on the breakaway. We are the United States; do you really mean to say that we don’t have the speed on the field to track back and cover a breakaway??? And then to top it off, our goalkeeper doesn’t come out and make it at all difficult for Robinho, who is for my money one of the most over-hyped players on the Brazilian squad (notice he’s been damn near invisible this tournament). > > Compare Brazil’s effort. Mind you, this is a team which pushes it’s outside fullbacks up into the attack on a regular basis. You are as likely to see someone like Maicon or Santos taking the shot (note, not just providing a cross, but actually SHOOTING) as you are one of the forwards or center mids. And how many effective breakaways did we manage? None. Why? Because the rest of the team knows how to cover when their backs are up in the box. Because when they need to, they RUN to get back. And when all else fails, they make sure to tackle the outlet player with a foul if need be, to make sure the counter gets stopped. They will gladly take a yellow for it, if need be. > > Yes, ok, so that’s Brazil, one of the best in the world. But dammit, the US used to do the same damn things. We used to get upset because what the US lacked wasn’t spirit, passion, energy, but rather talent. They had horrible first touches, lousy execution, etc., because they were naifs, not born and bred to play. That aspect of our game has definitely improved; most of the US players are capable enough with the ball on their foot. But now we have a team that mails in their results all too often. > > For me, that’s the fault of the coach. I know for a fact that Bruce Arena would never have stood for that kind of effort. You don’t see it from the Iraqis, for goodness sake, under Bora. The Egyptians put up a much better display their second half (admittedly, theirs wasn’t impacted by a red card). But by the time we got our red card, the Egyptians had already levelled their game, scoring twice. So, to me, it’s a coaching issue. And I never see Bob Bradley impassioned about anything on the field. He just stares at it, impassively. :rolleyes: Well, I can’t even muster the will to comment on that disaster other than to say that DeMarcus Beasley should never be allowed within 20 meters of anything resembling a soccer pitch ever again. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/82 "2009-06-20T18:17:56Z")
Up to the minute. Spain’s starting eleven: **Reina; Puyol, Albiol, Piqué, Arbeloa; Busquets, Xavi, Cesc Fábregas, Riera; Fernando Torres and Villa.** According to reports from the Fury’s camp, all players approached the good-natured Del Bosque in order to plead their case for a start. Ultimately, both Torres and Villa won theirs and will play at least for the first half. As I said yesterday even if they understandably don’t like to talk about it, the historic streaks are high on their priority list and they’re all “fighting” to be active participants in the pursuit of them. Xavi’s case was the easiest to make as the ‘pools’ Xabi has a yellow card and DB didn’t want to risk losing him for the semis. Still, expect him to come off first. All and all, we should get a better performance from midfield, as absent the other small genius, his Barsa mate “Casper” Iniesta, Cesc offers the next best partnership. Egypt wanted a strong Spanish squad for today…looks like they got their wish. Now let’s do it on the pitch! ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/83 "2009-06-20T18:56:38Z")
It’s Iraq want the Strong Spanish Side; Egypt would love to see Spain go down to defeat to the RSA so that Spain finishes #2 in its group! 😃 Speaking of Iraq, they look very nervous; New Zealand by comparison look quite likely to score a goal and send the Iraqis off to home (“home” for the Iraqis being a place they don’t play ☹ ). Hard to say which game to watch. ☹ Love watching Spain, but the Iraqis have everything riding on their game, and if they win, would love to see how they manage it, having played “turtle” for two games. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/84 "2009-06-20T19:02:36Z")
Wow, Spain look VERY tentative. Like they don’t want to lose this game. That’s not how you win soccer matches… :eek: ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/85 "2009-06-20T19:21:04Z")
Wow. Nil-Nil at the half both games. New Zealand just missed a sitter; the player had an open header on a corner-kick and instead of doing the simple fundamental of using his forhead to direct the ball into the net, tried using the round top of his head. Bam, over the net it goes, by miles. Just like my high school players do. 😃 Spain have played reasonably well, but they are letting the RSA have some very nice chances, and long spells on the ball. Going to be a close game. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2009, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/86 "2009-06-20T19:35:24Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > It’s Iraq want the Strong Spanish Side; Egypt would love to see Spain go down to defeat to the RSA so that Spain finishes #2 in its group! 😃 Shows you what I’m thinking – or rather _not_ thinking. Something to do with this thing called “being nervous as all shite\*”…which is what I think is happening to our team as well. Everyone’s too tentative, the record streaks are weighing them down a bit. Admittedly, Bafana Bafana is doing their job…if a bit overly aggressively IMO. Those are mighty expensive legs they’re hunting! \*I guess part of the reason I love this game so much is that feeling of being close to a heart attack every time I watch a big match we’re involved in. Must be my inner masochist. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/87 "2009-06-20T19:40:28Z")
OMG!!! Save, Save!, then Spain Scores Anyway! ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2009, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/88 "2009-06-20T19:43:43Z")
Feck me!!! No wait…yesssssss!!! ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2009, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/89 "2009-06-20T19:44:53Z")
Villa _is_ Og!! ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2009, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/90 "2009-06-20T20:03:48Z")
Well, NOW Iraq have a real chance! ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2009, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/91 "2009-06-20T20:05:54Z")
Gooool! Llorente, the only member of the Spanish Air Force, at 6’5", in the Armada, scores…with a ground strike. Onwards…vamos! ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/92 "2009-06-20T20:17:31Z")
OMG. The NZ keeper makes a save off the side of his HEAD, else Iraq would have scored! ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/93 "2009-06-20T20:24:47Z")
Well, at the end of the day, nothing has changed. 😛 Why bother playing the games? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2009, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/94 "2009-06-20T20:45:39Z")
Good, if not great, second half by the Red Fury. Back to our roots, the short passing game and triangulations finally took the wind out of the hosts’ sails. Overall excellent showing at the group stage, all three matches won, eight goals scored while keeping a clean sheet. The team is now in the record books for the longest consecutive matches won at the NT level, which now stands at 15 and counting. Meanwhile the 35 unbeaten match streak ties it with Brazil for all-time best. Can’t say I have much to complain about, rather the opposite I am elated – safe to say this is our finest all-time team. And quite young to boot. MOM for Spain: while the whole squad is to be praised for their accomplishments, and Villa’s immediate redemption after missing the PK was a thing of beauty, to me, it boils down to Xavi’s wonderful orchestration of our moves and, while on the pitch, Riera’s awesome verticality and incisiveness. Since he was rightfully subbed by DB (he took a beating; harsh tackling by the Bafana), Xavi gets the nod. South Africa: Good team effort for them. I thought their keeper was crucial in keeping them in the match and Booth outstanding at blocking all of our attempts in the air. Given a choice, the keeper it is. Head up, guys. You did your best against one of the best. * * * While sorry for the hosts, must admit I am very happy for the Iraqis. After all they went and continue to go through, small as this is, I am sure they’ll be some smiling faces in Iraq today. Good for them! ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2009, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/95 "2009-06-21T00:22:39Z")
Iraq didn’t go through, you know. 😉 Oh, I thought I’d point out that that 15 game win streak and that 35 game unbeaten streak is going to look pretty unimpressive after Spain are comprehensively dismissed by Italy/Brazil in the next game. 😃 \ ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2009, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/96 "2009-06-21T00:35:33Z")
Cute. Italy won’t go through; Spain will play Egypt in the next game. South Africa will get dismantled by Brazil. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2009, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/97 "2009-06-21T03:48:39Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Iraq didn’t go through, you know. 😉 :smack: Seeing as I screwed-up twice in three posts, that ought to teach to ignore anything that I say when Spain’s is playing other than what specifically refers to La Furia and the match they we’re involved in. Further, never, I repeat, never make the mistake of having me over when Spain’s playing. But if you do, make sure anything breakable/dangerous is well out of my reach and that you have a sound proof room. Fair warning given. Thus don’t blame me if you still get evicted afterwards. > [@](#): > > \*Oh, I thought I’d point out that that 15 game win streak and that 35 game unbeaten streak is going to look pretty unimpressive after Spain are comprehensively dismissed by Italy/Brazil in the next game. 😃 > > \\* Ha! First off, “comprehensive” and Italy mix about as well as water and oil, secondly, they can hang their whole side upside down as bats from the goalposts – as they are wont to do – and it won’t matter. Against Egypt the only Mummies I saw on the pitch were wearing the Azzurri. An hour into the match they’ll be begging to be put back into their tombs. 😉 As for Brazil, I can think of at least two of their “superstars” that couldn’t couldn’t break the starting team on their club sides in Spain – and their only real one, Kaka, best watch his expensive butt. They’ll be six to seven current members of Can Barça on the pitch; I am sure they’ll be eagerly awaiting the opportunity to congratulate him on his transfer to Madrid as well as give him preview of the love that is always present in The Derby. 😛 And no, won’t be running after you. Still catching my breath from doing so last nite! You young whippersnapper you. _:::get off my lawn!:::_ * * * **Shibb** , I hope you’re right. Certainly would make for a much better match. Too bad their star, Zidan, appears to be out for the rest of the tourney. They are a tough team anyway and if we meet it should be exciting. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/98 "2009-06-21T18:38:38Z")
Not watching the US Men’s team today. Maybe that will make the difference. Besides, there is no WAY I’m missing Italy - Brazil!!! ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/99 "2009-06-21T18:54:34Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Not watching the US Men’s team today. Maybe that will make the difference. Besides, there is no WAY I’m missing Italy - Brazil!!! So far, it’s working. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2009, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/100 "2009-06-21T19:06:42Z")
BRA/ITA. Nasssty pitch! I can’t believe FIFA green-lighted this thing…playing on surfaces like this is an injury waiting to happen. Still and all, good match so far…Brazil, as expected, the one creating most/all the chances. And bad US, baaad! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553.md?page=6)