Well, the mini-World Cup is starting again tomorrow. AFAIK, all the matches are live on RTÉ. The teams this year are: South Africa, Iraq, New Zealand & Spain in Group A and Brazil, Egypt, USA & Italy in Group B.
I'm backing Spain for this one.
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Well, the mini-World Cup is starting again tomorrow. AFAIK, all the matches are live on RTÉ. The teams this year are: South Africa, Iraq, New Zealand & Spain in Group A and Brazil, Egypt, USA & Italy in Group B.
I'm backing Spain for this one.
Spain should walk Group A.
24 minutes in and Spain are four nil up. Even aside from their playing the reigning European champions -NZ look very, very poor and it looks like some of their lads would struggle to get into a San Marino/Liectenstein/Faroes calibre European national side.
Dress rehearsal for the WC in South Africa next year. I watched bits of both games. A few observations, with the WC in mind:
- Not used to the WC being played in "Winter": sun setting in the afternoon, cooler temperatures etc.
- The pitch got a cut up a bit especially the first game.
- Horns. Loud and annoying. Sounded like a bee hive, constant droning.
The pitch was used for the Lions game the week before which didn't help, 6 tonnes of sand was used to try and firm it up, I can't see them making the same mistake next year.
NZ looked like a pub team, but they put 3 past Italy in a friendly during the week (admitedly the also let in 4)
They draw was rigged to give SA the best possible chance of progression and even so they still couldn't beat Iraq!!
Ya annoying enough alright.Quote:
Originally Posted by Metrostars
Are you basing this on the fact that they're in by far the weaker group or is there anything else?Quote:
Originally Posted by endabob1
Torres goals were class in fairness. The second one was a class finish, didn't have much room for once. Should have been about 9-0 really. There were 4 wrong offside decisions in the second half when players were clean through (Torres twice and Villa). Also I think it was Silva who was blown for the last one when he was 6 or 7 yards onside.
Italy and USA could be interesting enough tonight. I remember the US being really dirty when they met at the last WC.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Metrostars
Tried to watch the Spain game last night. The bloody horns would drive you mental.
It's a crap atmosphere in my opinion. (Prefer the crowd shouting, singing songs etc i.e actually watching the game)
I hated all the shots of the crowd dancing around half of it looked like it was one big publicity stunt.
USA had Pope and Mastroeni sent off and De Rossi for Italy for that head butt to McBride.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
The US are like very much like us, some decent players but very deficient in other areas. Adu is in the squad and will probably be used as a sub in some games. Look out for Jozy Altidore, he used to play for Metrostars/Red Bulls, still young but a good player.
That being said, I can't see anything but an Italy win unless they start slowly as they are notoriously known for in tournaments.
They're called vuvuzela's & they are blown at every opportunity it creates a mental noise in a stadium, but it does your nut in after about 4 nano-seconds, mental note pack nurofen & lots of it for games.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
http://www.southafrica.info/2010/vuvuzela.htm
DeLorean I'm not really basing it on any facts but there was an off the cuff remark by a member of FIFA regarding how kind they had been to the hosts with the draw. That said the make up of the draw meant that SA would avoid 2 from Italy, Brazil & Spain.
They always do that with the draws, the host country is assigned a first group seeding.
Fair enough, just wondering. It'll be well worth topping Group B anyway for an easy passage to the Final.Quote:
Originally Posted by endabob1
Brazil 2-1 Egypt after 11 minutes..
Whoever wrote that article should be shot.Quote:
Originally Posted by endabob1
Egypt have just scored twice in a minute to make it 3-3.
Wow. Brazil got out of jail in that one. It was a pretty cracking game.
Watched about 4 minutes of USA Italy there. Got so sick of the noise I just switched it off.
Goodness Mr A Thought the Wall of sound at FP would have prepared your ear drums for anything.
Very dodgy red card in the Italy game, the US were in charge up to that point
True, but if you don't take the chances like the US had in the first half against good teams like Italy, it will come back to haunt you. Wasn't a red card and the US had a few other decisions go against them. But they fell apart in the second half when Rossi came on.Quote:
Originally Posted by endabob1
Speaking of Rossi, a lot of soccer fans are fuming in the US over him especially in the way he celebrated. Not a muted celebration like Klose/Podolski when they scored against Poland.
http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_b...ing-rossi.html
This tournamen has produced some good games this time around. Just watching the Spain game at the moment and they seem to be taking it pretty seriously.
Doesn't look like Spain is going to score.
Edit: 1-0 Spain :D
Really poor performance from the Italians against Egypt. Very one dimensional.
Important game tonight Italy and they've changed their line-up bringing in Montolivo and Dossena. Lippi must realise that some of his players are past it been first choice starters for Italy and is trying to bring in more legs to the team.
Brazil ran riot in the last 15 minutes of the first half. 3-0 at ht. Fully deserved.
Congrats to the States. Well done to them. Italy have been pretty poor in this one. Looks good for September.
Italy very poor and don't really have much other options to call upon apart from Aquilani,Zaccardo and Barzagli. But fair play to the States it must be said they went out and played good football and you can't fault them for effort.
Watched the US game and they played very well. Could have had more if it weren't for the Egyptian keeper. The Bradley kid looks like a good player.Quote:
Originally Posted by Infadel
Watching these matches sounds like someone's poked a beehive with a big stick!! If this is what we have to look forward to at next years World Cup it's going to be a long tournament, still they might drown out George Hamiltons voice maybe!! It'd be a nice problem for Traps Army to have though, hopefully!!:)Quote:
Originally Posted by endabob1
Brasil V Spain would have the making of a cracking final both these sides will go along way in next years world cup
USA win 2-0.
Another surprise result to add to the list you can cite to those who reduce to zero Ireland's chances any time we play a decent team! Stuff just happens in football sometimes.
Still, anyone who saw Spain in Turkey in the current WC campaign will have seen that they're beatable. Is Villa really as good as people say he is? I haven't seen enough of him to really say.
Spain 0-2 USA:D
Fair play to the Americans, they ran their socks off and frustrated Spain all night. Good goal keeping and dogged defending by the US. Roll on Brazil...:D
Great win for the US. I thought Donavan had an excellent game. Did anyone else spot the guy in the crowd with the Shamrock Rovers shirt on? Right in the middle of the African fans bouncing up and down. Great Stuff.
Shocking win today but fully deserved for USA they were well organised and were willing to attack Spain. Donovan really covered the pitch and was my man of the match real shame that young Bradley will miss the final he looks a promising player.
excellent game by donovan and 2 centre halfs were outstanding against so cALLED 2 best cente forwards in the world torres / villaQuote:
Originally Posted by Infadel
bradley very unlucky as tackle was a yellow card at worst.. usa deserved win all over the pitch they worked 110 % and had ago at spain when chances appeared just shows you what can happen when you have 11 players willing to bust their b*lls for 90 mins :ball:
WOW I cant believe the US won today and they got outshot by a ton.
Maybe I will try to get to a RedBulls game. Nahhh..........
Only caught the first half an hour and I was impressed by the States. They seemed to get at Spain right from the go and weren't afraid at all. It was cracking goal by Altidore. It was great work by him to create the chance, might not have been the best shot but it was strong enough.
Pleased about the US win today. 3 ex Metrostars there too, Howard, Bradley and Altidore. Also big Bradley the coach even though we called him clueless Bob all during his last season in charge of the Metros.
It's interesting looking at these stats:
http://www.fifa.com/confederationscu...eandspeed.html
showing the amount of running done by Bradley, Donovan and Dempsey.
I think the USA midfield is very average but Dempsey, Donovan and Altidore is a great front three, I mean Donovan was with Bayern at the end of last season, Altidore is with Villarreal and well Dempsey is with Fulham but they are a good enough team and he's seriously underrated.
Can't believe Spain tho:eek:
Xavi was terrible, losing the ball whenever he looked forward really, and god I hate that Riera guy. I mean he is nowhere near good enough for Spain. I mean I'm no Silva fan either but he's better than that Riera chap.
SA vs USA final?
You sure it was a rovers shirt and not a Bloem Celtic shirtQuote:
Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar
http://www.reebokstore.co.za/images/...070s07-100.jpg
That young South African goalie is excellent. George referred a number of times in commentary to the world class César, I wonder where does that leave Khune in the scheme of things.