Sunday, June 21, 2009

World Cup 2006 Blog

World Cup 2006 Blog

Link to World Cup Soccer - South Africa 2010

Confederations Cup Group A Results and Highlights: Spain and South Africa go Through

Posted: 20 Jun 2009 07:13 PM PDT

South Africa knew going into today that they didn’t need to score against Spain to advance to the next round of the Confederations Cup, and they didn’t. They didn’t even manage a single shot on goal. It didn’t matter.

What they did need was for Iraq not to score against New Zealand, and Iraq came through with a vengeance. Final score in their match with New Zealand: 0-0.

And Spain and South Africa go through form Group A.

Before the tournament I predicted a +8 goal differential for Spain in the group stages based on the weak competition. I wish I’d put money on it, because that’s exactly what they got. Eight goals for, zero against. I’ll be very curious to see whether the stronger competition from Group B will put up more of a fight.

On an interesting note, today’s games were firsts for both Spain and New Zealand. Spain sets the record for most consecutive games ever won by a national team with 15, and New Zealand gets its first point ever in an international tournament.

Proving yet again that success is all a matter of perspective.

Be sure to tune in tomorrow for our liveblogs of the Group B matches, Egypt vs USA and Italy vs. Brazil.

Spain-South Africa Highlights:

Iraq-New Zealand Highlights:

Confederations Cup Open Thread: Iraq vs. New Zealand, Spain vs. South Africa

Posted: 20 Jun 2009 10:59 AM PDT


Today is the day for Group A! As in: The day to see who comes in second behind Spain. (The group winner has been a foregone conclusion since the groups were drawn.)

South Africa plays Spain today, and I’d state with close to 100% certainty that the Bafana Bafana have all the points they’re gonna get with 4. Iraq are sitting on 1 and could still theoretically go through with a win over New Zealand and some goals. (This would be their first win in a year if it happens.) Iraq currently has a -1 goal differential, with South Africa at +2.

Both games are being played at the same time to keep the results in any game played first from affecting the results of the second. (Because the betting syndicates hate that.)

I’ll be hanging out here on the site during the matches. If you’re watching either game in the vicinity of your computer, stop by this post and leave comments to keep me company. And especially keep me informed in Iraq-New Zealand, because it’s not being shown till later in the day where I am, and my online streaming hasn’t worked well lately.

(Also, tomorrow, Sunday, June 20, we’ll be doing liveblogs for the final group games of US vs. Egypt and Italy vs. Brazil. These games are going to be fun, and Chris and Daryl are giving up parts of their weekend to keep you entertained.)

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SN Today has questions, top NBA prospects have answers

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Saturday, June 20, 2009

World Cup 2006 Blog

World Cup 2006 Blog

Link to World Cup Soccer - South Africa 2010

The Two Sides of Mario Balotelli

Posted: 19 Jun 2009 03:40 PM PDT

The UEFA Under-21 Tournament (happening in Sweden right now, but being overshadowed by the Confed Cup) is basically a glimpse into the future. To steal paraphrase something I once heard Tim Vickery say about the U-20 World Cup, watching these players is like watching the trailers for movies that are “coming soon”.

And watching Mario Balotelli in Italy’s 2-1 win over Sweden, where he scored a brilliant goal and then got himsdelf sent off fifteen minutes later, was maybe a story we’ll see again in various forms over the next few years. Let’s start with the positive, here’s Balotelli’s goal:



Can’t argue with that. Nice touch and turn from young Giovinco, followed by the sort of finish the senior Italy side could have used vs Egypt on Thursday. But fifteen minutes later this happened:

Not the worst foul in the world, for sure. But looked like there was at least one and possibly two attempts to kick Pontus Wernbloom there. And something about the way Balotelli sat there on the floor afterwards suggested he knew a red card was coming.

There’s almost no doubt that Mario Balotelli will be one of the big names in world football. And we’ll likely be talking about him for years to come. Good news is that Balotelli is only 18, so there’s plenty of time left for him to grow up. Wayne Rooney seems to have done it, mostly. So hopefully we’ll be able to spend the next decade (and more) talking about Balotelli’s talents rather than his temperament.

[vids via 101GG]
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Chance to represent U.S. brings out best in future hoops stars

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Friday, June 19, 2009

World Cup 2006 Blog

World Cup 2006 Blog

Link to World Cup Soccer - South Africa 2010

Confederations Cup: Brazil Humiliate USA, Egypt Surprise Italy

Posted: 18 Jun 2009 02:47 PM PDT

Educational day in Group B of the Confederation Cup. We learned that Maicon vs DaMarcus Beasley is not a fair match up, and that neither is Vincenzo Iaquinta vs Essam El-Hadary.

Highlights of Brazil 3-0 USA and Egypt 1-0 Italy after the jump…

Brazil 3-0 USA

There was much disappointment from USA fans. And quite rightly. They were pretty much awful. And had a man sent off. Again. This tame it as Sasha Kljestan for a badly timed slide tackle on Ramires. Maybe the US should fire Paul Scholes as their tackling coach? Or maybe heads higher up the coaching staff should roll…

But this game wasn’t all about USA’s woefulness, there was Brazil’s brilliantness too.

Especially Maicon, whose early cross allowed Felipe Melo to head home, and who’s bit of magic produced a beautiful chip over Tim Howard for the third. Inbetween there was that embarrassing moment for US fans where DaMarcus Beasley failed to trap a ball from a US corner and about half a second later Robinho had it up the other end and in the net. A very harsh way to learn a very simple lesson.

Egypt 1-0 Italy

Egypt made sure to keep Group B interesting with a surprise win 1-0 over Italy. Mohamed Hommos headed home a 40th corner (Confed Cup is all about goals from corners, eh?) and Egypt held on to that lead until full time.

Vincenzo Iaquinta will wake up tomorrow wondering how he didn’t manage to equalize. But the answer will be simple: Essam El-Hadary. The Egyptian keeper was in unstoppable octopus mode, blocking shot after shot after shot.

So, now that Egypt have beaten the current world champions… can we stop saying The Pharaohs are “better than you think” and all just agree that yes, they’re actually quite good?

All of which leaves Group B looking a lot like this:


[source: FIFA.com]

It’s all about goal difference now. So USA have a mathematical chance if they beat Egypt heavily and Italy lose to Brazil heavily. But not a realistic chance.

Italy and Egypt are level on points but Italy has a goal difference that’s just one better.

If it all gets a bit complicated, then FIFA has this to say about Confederations Cup group stage tiebreakers:

The ranking of each team in each group will be determined as follows:
a) greatest number of points obtained in all group matches;
b) goal difference in all group matches;
c) greatest number of goals scored in all group matches.
If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria,
their rankings will be determined as follows:
d) greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between
the teams concerned;
e) goal difference resulting from the group matches between the
teams concerned;
f) greater number of goals scored in all group matches between the
teams concerned;
g) drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee.

So it’s all about the final round of games, which happen this Sunday June 21st.

Brazil vs Italy
Egypt vs USA

Kickoffs are simultaneous at 8:30pm local, 7:30pm UK time, 2:30pm US Eastern.

Italy v Egypt Confederations Cup Liveblog

Posted: 18 Jun 2009 10:56 AM PDT

Brazil vs USA Confederations Cup LiveBlog

Posted: 18 Jun 2009 06:42 AM PDT


It’s Brazil vs USA in the second Confederations Cup Group A game, pretty much a must win for Bob Bradley’s men. Read on for the LiveBlog.
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