OT: * Reminder* Confederations Cup
For the members here that follow soccer, the Confederations Cup starts today and plays almost every day this week and then every other day for the rest of the month. Game times 10am and 2:30pm.
Spain is on ESPN2 right now, up 2-0 on New Zealand 15 minutes in.
Torres has a hat trick 17 minutes into this game.
Spain is playing New Zealand? It's 80 and sunny outside in Minneapolis. Enjoy the game Spain.
4 of the top 5 teams in the tourny are in the same group. I understand RSA having an easier group but come on, Spain is going to curb stomp Iraq and RSA. As of right now Spain is up 4-0 in the 29th minute, wouldn't be surprised if Spain nets 10.
there was seeding. It was probably a double blind draw, like the World Cup.
draw. ever.
+1 how does Italy, Brazil and USA get in the same group while Spain plays fluffs? repeated worst draw ever!
How can FIFA think it's a good idea to basically force these guys to play 12 months a year? It's one thing to give up your summer when the World Cup is at stake, but for this?
do you mean two weeks in June? Because four of the teams will be eliminated by the middle of next week and IIRC, most national sides don't have any more WC qualifying until late August.
...Have a look at Xavi and Andres Iniesta. They played the entire 2005-06 season through with Barca and won the Champs League. Then they play in the 2006 World Cup and lose to France in the round of 16 (this is off memory - apologies if wrong).
So, three weeks off, then back for pre-season, then full season for Barca and the Spanish national teams. Summer break - 2007.
Full season in 2007-08, then Euro 2008, which they win (through the June 30th). Preseason started for Barca around July 20th.
Full season in 2008-09, with Barca winning the treble. Now Xavi and Iniesta are with Spain and they'll probably win this tourney. So, done around June 25th or so? Then, three weeks from now, new preseason, then full season, then World Cup.
The other poster is right - the schedule for high profile footballers is ludicrous. I'd like to have seen Sepp Blatters and his suspenders, or Michel Platini, cope with this kind of schedule. Give the players a rest.
yeah but we, the fan, we get to watch more games. so it's cool, right?
We the fans are all that matter! This is just a watered down version of gladiators, except futballers get paid a lot more!
...I guess you could say that....
But if you're a fan of Barcelona, which I am, I had the chance to watch 38 La Liga matches, 13 Champions League, 5 or 6 Kings' Cup matches this year. Plus, 7 or 8 Spanish national team games. Even if I just watched Barca and didn't check in on Juve, Torino, Fulham, Celtic or Ajax (other teams I like), or even consider Michigan football, Red Wings, Tigers, Lions.....
at some point I need to live a life. At some point, having three months without soccer is a good thing.
Think about Michigan football - the offseason makes me want the season more and makes the fall my favorite season. If Michigan played 48 games a year, at some point, wouldn't you say "man, this is just too much." You would stop watching at a point because you subconsciously know it'll be on ALL THE TIME (kind of like MLB. Who watches every game?)
A 12 game season for college football holds your attention. You realize how important every game, every quarter, every play is. It's why college football is the best - it's because it's the best sport for controlling and exploiting the desire of its fans for more.
Definitely agree. Even as fans, we need an offseason. It gets to a point in some of these sports where it's just overkill.
say the exact same thing about Kobe. In fact the only sports that don't have this are the NFL and hockey.
Ultimately its up to the players and the manager to keep guys out if they want a rest. Obviously for Spain and Brazil, sending their A squad to this tournament is unnecessary. But for the US or Italy it can potentially help them solve some major problems ahead of the 2010 World Cup.
UEFA is probably the only federation that thinks this tournament is unnecessary, because most of the other federations are really top heavy.
How does Italy have major problems? Italy won the 2006 world cup! 2008 Olympics Belguim beating them was a fluke!
...their defense is OLD. No Nesta, Cannavaro is 35 and slow, Materrazi has been hurt, Grosso has been BAD at Lyon.
The midfield is slow and has missed Gattuso through injury.
Luca Toni has lost confidence (and had a bad 2006, if I recall).
Del Piero should not be on the national team any more, even if he is still the master for Juve.
Yes, the team has problems. Saying they won the 2006 World Cup and deflecting any claim of problems is like saying....hey? Michigan was #2 in the nation in 2006!! They're just fine!
And BTW, in the Olympics, teams are playing under 23 squads with only three overage players. I doubt the Belgium game was a fluke.
They still got Buffon (i.e best keeper alive) got de rossi and still got luca toni. Italy doesn't have transitions like Mich they just reload!
stunk in the 2006 World Cup. I find it funny you use the fact that Italy won the 06 WC as proof they're still dominant, and then cherry-pick their worst outfield player from that tournament as proof they're still good. If you're playing well, your club team (in Toni's case, Bayern Munchen) wouldn't actively seek to sell you on.
I suppose you would call the 1982-2005 period, when Italy made only one final and lost in the most boring final in history, a "transition" period.
Im biased towards Luca Toni he and Torres are my favorite players! Makin a final once every 6 world cups is still good. You tell me Italy, Argentina, and Brasil aren't the 3 best soccer nations and I'll call you a liar.
Luca Toni is one of the best divers and actors I have ever seen. Also where would you place Spain in your list?
personal thing i don't like spain kinda like an OSU to me
...about Kobe. I hope he takes the summer off. He deserves it.
...this tournament means less than the old Cup Winners' Cup.
Whew.
No Fucking Way.
we just fucked shit up. USA!