yeltneb
Footballguy
Yes. But apparently we're in some crazy packed group and going to get killed. First beating commences at 2:30 tomorrow afternoon.
Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (9 Viewers)
- Thread starter jpeace121
- Start date
Capella
Footballguy
Who are they playing? Is this like a World Cup teaser or something?
yeltneb
Footballguy
Italy. And kinda. That's why it's in South Africa. Somehow teams qualify out of every region just like in the World Cup. We're in for winning the 2007 CONACAF Gold Cup or some #### like that.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
It's a tournament for all the winners of the various "confederations" around the world. The US won the Gold Cup in 2007, so yes, they're in it. They play tomorrow against Italy to open up their group play.The tournament really doesn't mean anything in the grand scheme of things. Obviously you want to win, but more importantly, you want your team to put up a good performance, looking ahead to next year's WC. It's really just a chance for the national teams (most of whom will be in next year's World Cup) to get some tune-up matches against good competition, and a chance for the World Cup host nation - South Africa - to show off it's new venues and work out any kinks before the World Cup next summer.At least that's how I look at it.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Yeah, there are 6 Confederations around the world + 2 auto-entriesUSA - won Gold Cup 2007Spain - won Euro Cup 2008New Zealand - won some OFC Cup of some sortIraq - Asian Cup 2007Brazil - Copa America 2007Egypt - African Cup 2008Italy - World Cup champions 2006South Africa - World Cup host nation for 2010 and host of Confederations Cup
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
We drew Italy back in 2006, and the Azzurri are notorious for starting tournaments really slowly.IIRC, Fabio Cannavaro is out for at least tomorrow's match - if the US can get a goal early (not sure who's going to score it
), I think they could have a shot. Always tough to crack the Italian defense with the lovely 10-men-behind-the-ball strategy.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Reading some thoughts, this seems to be the expected Italian lineup tomorrow:
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
I can't see any way that the US doesn't get dominated by that midfield. IMO, De Rossi is one of the most underrated MFs in the world, and Pirlo is world class. Iaquinta and Camoranesi on the wings....Camoranesi might be a weaker point, but those two could wreak havoc on the US fullbacks all game.
In the defense, the weak spot is obviously Legrottaglie....but even then, how big of a liability can he be if he plays for ####### Juventus?
Looking through their roster, I don't see too many other expected changes. Gilardino for Toni, perhaps? I think if Lippi is set on the 4-3-2-1 though, Toni is the fit up top. Montolivo in the MF or Quagliarella in for Iaquinta/Camoranesi? Ehhh, maybe, but not likely.
I kinda hope Giuseppe Rossi gets in the game, just so the US players can face him....that'd be interesting.
Maybe it's wishful thinking on my part because these are my two teams, but I'd love a draw tomorrow. The Italian media wouldn't, that's for sure, but I'd be happy with it. In reality though, I'm not sure. I think Italy takes it 2-1. Iaquinta and Pirlo for Italy....they get one in the first ~20 minutes and sit back with a 1-0 lead at the half. They add another one (Pirlo free kick?) early 2nd half....US gets a late goal but Italy packs everyone behind the ball and stonewalls the USMNT. I'll guess a veteran goal scorer for the US....Donovan or maybe Dempsey, if he gets in. I have bad visions of Altidore getting abused by Chiellini all game if he gets the start.
Watch this prediction go completely wrong and the US win 3-1....come to think of it, I'd love that....
In the defense, the weak spot is obviously Legrottaglie....but even then, how big of a liability can he be if he plays for ####### Juventus?
Looking through their roster, I don't see too many other expected changes. Gilardino for Toni, perhaps? I think if Lippi is set on the 4-3-2-1 though, Toni is the fit up top. Montolivo in the MF or Quagliarella in for Iaquinta/Camoranesi? Ehhh, maybe, but not likely.
I kinda hope Giuseppe Rossi gets in the game, just so the US players can face him....that'd be interesting.
Maybe it's wishful thinking on my part because these are my two teams, but I'd love a draw tomorrow. The Italian media wouldn't, that's for sure, but I'd be happy with it. In reality though, I'm not sure. I think Italy takes it 2-1. Iaquinta and Pirlo for Italy....they get one in the first ~20 minutes and sit back with a 1-0 lead at the half. They add another one (Pirlo free kick?) early 2nd half....US gets a late goal but Italy packs everyone behind the ball and stonewalls the USMNT. I'll guess a veteran goal scorer for the US....Donovan or maybe Dempsey, if he gets in. I have bad visions of Altidore getting abused by Chiellini all game if he gets the start.
Watch this prediction go completely wrong and the US win 3-1....come to think of it, I'd love that....
Last edited by a moderator:
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
The US doesn't have Christian Zaccardo tomorrow to do their scoring for them 
Hopefully it'll be a cleaner match and we won't see a 10v9 second half like 2006
I'm pretty ####### pumped for this game...
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Italy wins 1-0 and the US has possession for 35% of the time before the goal, and 70% of the time after the goal (minute 40). They however do nothing of note with that possession, as it mostly consists of back passes and then passes down the sideline.
Toni scores on a header, but still whines about a no-call because Gooch grabbed his shirt.
Toni scores on a header, but still whines about a no-call because Gooch grabbed his shirt.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
:heads ball 20 feet wide::gets shocked look on face::runs hand through hair::clasps hands in praying motion and mumbles something:
ulls hair behind ears and runs back down the field, muttering to himself:If Italy gets that goal, you know they're going to just sit back and put 10 behind the ball. I completely understand why everyone hates the Italians....they play some ugly ### football.
Texas Football
Footballguy
I'll go ahead and say Italy 3 - USA 0. Toni with two and the third some sort of OG.
I love the Italy and Toni hate in this thread (and everywhere). If the US had a player near Toni's ability we could have a discussion about the US being a power.
That is just my pro-Italy rant.
The US plays tough against the top of the line teams and it is more likely to be a 1-0 Italy win. I just don't see how we score without a major blunder from Italy.
My hope is that we get a Brazil V Spain final. It would be a mini-World Cup. Italy V Spain would be awesome. too.
I would say Spain beats both this year, but next year...
I love the Italy and Toni hate in this thread (and everywhere). If the US had a player near Toni's ability we could have a discussion about the US being a power.
That is just my pro-Italy rant.
The US plays tough against the top of the line teams and it is more likely to be a 1-0 Italy win. I just don't see how we score without a major blunder from Italy.
My hope is that we get a Brazil V Spain final. It would be a mini-World Cup. Italy V Spain would be awesome. too.
I would say Spain beats both this year, but next year...
Mjolnirs
Footballguy
The drone of those horns is sickening.Spain is scary right now. While their group games will be yawners, the knockout games should be very good.
scoobygang
Footballguy
Not that it necessarily means anything, but Italy played the same New Zealand team that Spain just killed in a friendly a week ago. It finished 4-3 Italy. Italy's backline looked very suspect.Italy certainly must be favored, but they've never been the type of team built for blowouts. I'm cautiously holding out hope that Howard stands on his head and we eke out a draw. I agree with you for the most part on Toni. The guy scored something like 60 goals over two years in Serie A and the Bundesliga. When he's on form, he's one of the two most dangerous target forwards in the world (along with Ibrahimovich). Unfortunately, he does have stretches when he's off form and he looks like he shouldn't be playing for a rec league. He was truly abysmal in Euro 2008.Texas Football said:
Desert_Power
Footballguy
I completely disagree. As a player, Toni creates nothing himself and relies on finishing his teammate's service(at an increasingly poor rate with Bayern might I add). Toni would rarely ever get these chances with the USMNT and wouldn't have anywhere near the work rate that we need out of our forwards to be productive at all.Texas Football said:
Desert_Power
Footballguy
We played with the Spainiards largely in their present form.LHUCKS said:
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Kaka!
1-0 Brazil
1-0 Brazil
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
boubucarow
Footballguy
1-1 Egypt with the equalizer.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Mohamed Zidan equalizes.....
1-1
Brazil defense looks really shaky....Egypt completely controlled those last 5 minutes.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Luis Fabiano 12'
2-1
boubucarow
Footballguy
That was a great header. I still can't figure out if Kaka was that good or if the Egypt defense was that horrible.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
God....Egypt looks pretty good....they're going to give the US some trouble.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Juan 37'
3-1 Brazil
For all the possession that Egypt has had, Brazil's finishing is killing them. Two world class goals (Kaka and Luis Fabiano) and a nice header here
3-1 Brazil
For all the possession that Egypt has had, Brazil's finishing is killing them. Two world class goals (Kaka and Luis Fabiano) and a nice header here
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Shawky and Zidan score 45 seconds apart!!
3-3
What a game
3-3
What a game
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Good call by Howard Webb
Clear handball on the goalline for Egypt....straight red + PK....so here we go into the 90th....will Brazil steal the 3 points?
Clear handball on the goalline for Egypt....straight red + PK....so here we go into the 90th....will Brazil steal the 3 points?
scoobygang
Footballguy
We've got a leader in the clubhouse for the Egyptian Oscars. "Aw, my face!"
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Egypt controlled that game....sucks for them to lose it at the end. They're certainly not a bunch of pushovers....
scoobygang
Footballguy
It's not a huge surprise that Egypt controlled possession. Dunga has apparently turned Brazil into a counterattacking team in qualifying too. The only surprise is that Brazil has conceded three goals after conceding only five in the last year.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Looks like Nicola Legrottaglie is questionable for today. Alessandro Gamberini could replace him.
I still haven't seen any official lineups yet.
I still haven't seen any official lineups yet.
Desert_Power
Footballguy
That central defense of theirs is pretty horrible, even with two DMs.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
1 Tim Howard (G) (G) Gianluigi Buffon 1
15 Jay Demerit (D) (D) Nicola Legrottaglie 6
2 Jonathan Bornstein (D) (D) Giorgio Chiellini 4
5 Oguchi Onyewu (D) (D) Fabio Grosso 3
21 Jonathan Spector (D) (D) Gianluca Zambrotta 19
12 Michael Bradley (M) (M) Andrea Pirlo 21
10 Landon Donovan (M) (M) Gennaro Ivan Gattuso 8
8 Clint Dempsey (M) (M) Daniele De Rossi 10
22 Benny Feilhaber (M) (M) Mauro German Camoranesi 16
13 Ricardo Clark (M) (F) Alberto Gilardino 11
17 Jozy Altidore (F) (F) Vincenzo Iaquinta 15
15 Jay Demerit (D) (D) Nicola Legrottaglie 6
2 Jonathan Bornstein (D) (D) Giorgio Chiellini 4
5 Oguchi Onyewu (D) (D) Fabio Grosso 3
21 Jonathan Spector (D) (D) Gianluca Zambrotta 19
12 Michael Bradley (M) (M) Andrea Pirlo 21
10 Landon Donovan (M) (M) Gennaro Ivan Gattuso 8
8 Clint Dempsey (M) (M) Daniele De Rossi 10
22 Benny Feilhaber (M) (M) Mauro German Camoranesi 16
13 Ricardo Clark (M) (F) Alberto Gilardino 11
17 Jozy Altidore (F) (F) Vincenzo Iaquinta 15
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Legrottaglie in, Gamberini out
Gilardino in, Toni out....kinda a shock there
Feilhaber and Clark officially in the midfield for the US. I had heard about Conor Casey maybe getting the start, but Bradley goes with Altidore as the single striker. A couple of ?s in the backline for the US too...let's see how they handle Gilardino, the 2 wingers + Pirlo....I feel fine about Gooch, the other 3 all scare me.
Gilardino in, Toni out....kinda a shock there
Feilhaber and Clark officially in the midfield for the US. I had heard about Conor Casey maybe getting the start, but Bradley goes with Altidore as the single striker. A couple of ?s in the backline for the US too...let's see how they handle Gilardino, the 2 wingers + Pirlo....I feel fine about Gooch, the other 3 all scare me.
Native
Footballguy
Sticking with the Honduras lineup, more or less. Interesting.
Desert_Power
Footballguy
I like this lineup.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
First good chance of the game....free kick from ~25 yards out for the US...
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Looks like Altidore is the lone target forward so far. Dempsey's playing on the left wing.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Yellow card to Bornstein after a bit of a flop from Camoranesi.....it was a foul, but it wouldn't have been a booking without the flop.
Legrottaglie almost scores on the header from the ensuing Pirlo free kick.
Legrottaglie almost scores on the header from the ensuing Pirlo free kick.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Donovan with a great through pass to Bradley who completely flubs the opportunity from 10-12 yards out.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Link me pls. Can't find anything on justin.tv
Native
Footballguy
Similar threads
