# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/121 "2009-06-23T20:48:28Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > I thought I DVR’ed our match but it turned out to be the Brazil - Italy match. Are there any replays scheduled between now and tomorrow afternoon? **Shibb** , if you have decent connection just Google [“USA vs Italy stream”](http://www.google.com/search?q=%22USA+vs+Italy+stream%22&ie=UTF-8) and I am pretty sure you’ll find a number of them re-playing the match. Won’t link to a specific one as I don’t know how kosher that is. Hope that helps. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/122 "2009-06-23T21:59:40Z")
> [@](#): > > **Against US, Spain welcomes pressure to reach final** > > BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa (AP) -Spain is relishing the pressure of going for another record on Wednesday when the European champions play the United States in the Confederations Cup semifinals. > > Spain can surpass Brazil’s record 35-match unbeaten run from 1993-96 by reaching Sunday’s final, but the Spanish remain weary of their surprise opponent. > > "They have less pressure. They have nothing to lose. For them, it’s a positive that we assume the title of favorite, the responsibility and the pressure,‘’ Spain midfielder Xavi Hernandez said Tuesday. "We assume the mantle of favorites but it won’t be an easy match. Not at all.‘’ > > Spain has shown it can handle pressure situations, including at last year’s European Championship when it beat Germany 1-0 to lift its first major trophy in 44 years. From an [AP article in Sports Illustrated](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/soccer/wires/06/23/2080.ap.soc.confed.cup.spain.0501/index.html). ---
**Author:** ![MichaelQReilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@MichaelQReilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelQReilly)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/123 "2009-06-23T22:12:20Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > I thought I DVR’ed our match but it turned out to be the Brazil - Italy match. Are there any replays scheduled between now and tomorrow afternoon? I don’t know for sure. The past couple of games have been re-shown ESPNClassic or ESPNNews at various times. If you have those channels it might be worth scanning them. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/124 "2009-06-23T23:20:44Z")
I looked around but didn’t see them. I’ll see if I can check the show guide on ESPN, which has always been a bit non-user-friendly to me. As for the stream suggestion, I prefer to watch these on a large screen. Better for my old eyes. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/125 "2009-06-24T16:20:44Z")
DISCLAIMER: I watch soccer every four years: during the World Cup. Many soccer fans on these boards have forgotten more about soccer than I’ve ever learned. So please forgive me for the extreme amount of soccer ignorance I’m going to display in my questions. With that out of way… As of today, June 24th, 2009, is it known for certain whether or not the US will get to compete in the actual World Cup? If not, when will it be known for certain, and how likely are they to get a spot? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/126 "2009-06-24T17:18:57Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > DISCLAIMER: I watch soccer every four years: during the World Cup. Many soccer fans on these boards have forgotten more about soccer than I’ve ever learned. So please forgive me for the extreme amount of soccer ignorance I’m going to display in my questions. With that out of way… > > As of today, June 24th, 2009, is it known for certain whether or not the US will get to compete in the actual World Cup? If not, when will it be known for certain, and how likely are they to get a spot? > > Thanks. Nope. We have 5 more qualifying matches. **Shibb** has posted a bit about the qualifying in the other thread. We’ll know later this year sometime, depending on the results. The US will make it though, I’d bet my life on it. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/127 "2009-06-24T17:23:04Z")
[Check my other thread somewhere in this forum for more info on WC qualifying](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=511968&page=2), including who has already qualified and who hasn’t (you can just skip to the last few posts in the thread). Net, USA has not yet qualified. They are currently second in a final group of six teams for their region (referred to as “the Hex”). The top three teams from the region qualify for the World Cup Finals in South Africa a year from now. The fourth place team will go into a home and home play off with the fifth place team from South America. In “the Hex” each remaining team plays each other team twice for a total of ten games. Three points are awarded for a win and one point for a draw. Each team has thus far played five games. Current Standings: Costa Rica 12 points USA 10 points Honduras 7 points Mexico 6 points El Salvador 5 points Trinidad and Tobago 2 points There were at least three previous rounds of qualifying. USA is exempted from the first round which is essentially the true minnows. 15+ points is usually the magic number for qualification, so USA would probably qualify some time in September or October - their next qualification match is at Azteca stadium in Mexico City, a mile and a half of altitude with horribly polluted air, heat and 110,000 screaming fans. USA have never earned gotten a result (win or draw) at Azteca stadium, which is why Mexico ALWAYS schedule the game there versus another city. My guess at this point is that the US or Costa Rica will win the group, both will qualify. Mexico will probably climb ahead of Honduras to qualify automatically, with Honduras losing to the fifth place South American side. But you never know. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/128 "2009-06-24T17:55:33Z")
PRE-GAME- Here is the USA lineup: --------------Altidore--------Davies-------------- Donovan--------------------------------Dempsey -----------------Bradley------Clark---------------- Bocanegra----Onyewu-----DeMerit----Spector -------------------------Howard------------------- source: several different sports writers via [bigsoccer.com](http://bigsoccer.com) Changes from last match: Howard back in goal, Bocanegra back from injury replaces Bornstein at LB (instead of his usual CB position). ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/129 "2009-06-24T17:58:34Z")
Casillas Pique Puyol David Villa Xavi Torres Fabregas Capdevila Alonso Ramos Riera Source is the FIFA matchtracker ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/130 "2009-06-24T18:04:47Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > PRE-GAME- Here is the USA lineup: So what time is the game? Is this the Mexico game you were talking about? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/131 "2009-06-24T18:24:23Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > So what time is the game? Is this the Mexico game you were talking about? Game time is in a few minutes. Game is on ESPN (or ESPN2, but I’m fairly sure it’s ESPN. This is the semi-final of the Confederations Cup, a tournament that consists of each football confederation’s champion, plus the host country, South Africa and the defending WC champion, Italy. The tournament is held in the same spot as the up coming World Cup Finals. This is now in the semi-final stage. First semi is today, with Euro champion Spain the prohibitive favorite over the USA. Tomorrow is South American champ Brazil versus host South Africa. Winners advance to the final on Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/132 "2009-06-24T18:38:57Z")
US is playing well so far. Not a fan of that yellow card on Donovan. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/133 "2009-06-24T18:59:00Z")
YES!!! ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/134 "2009-06-24T19:05:00Z")
OMG, Altidore in the 27th minute. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/135 "2009-06-24T19:08:35Z")
Is there free, streaming audio of this game anywhere on the web? ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/136 "2009-06-24T19:14:16Z")
Amazing! Fantastic! Not very smart of Altidore to pick up the yellow, and Donovan’s card was equally stupid. Yes, he deserved it. You just don’t make that sort of professional saving foul at midfield. Still, the USA looks great. The last two games have been like a different team. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/137 "2009-06-24T19:20:21Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Is there free, streaming audio of this game anywhere on the web? Step out of the office and find a sports bar. Or Google “USA v Spain stream”. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/138 "2009-06-24T19:21:14Z")
Terrible, at the half Spain are up 10-1. Wait…that’s Spain 0-1 USA??? What!!! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/139 "2009-06-24T19:21:36Z")
Well done, guys. Should make for a very exciting second half. Audio/video steam here: [Streaming Live Sport](http://www.247stream.co.uk/). Click on the first “football” button if it doesn’t open to the match. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553/140 "2009-06-24T19:23:06Z")
I don’t think those cards are too dangerous on those two. At least it’s not a card on one of our backline guys or Bradley or Clark. Xabi was a bit dramatic after the foul by Donovan and the referee bought it. FWIW he’s the same guy who sent off three players when the USA played Italy in 2006. Overall, USA has put on good pressure and put enough numbers in defense, although you’d have to say that Spain are a bit unlucky to not have put in one or two of their chances. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prelude-to-south-africa-2010-the-2009-confederation-cup/499553.md?page=8)