Confederations Cup

Casillas.

That was right on the post, nothing Casillas could do.

referees in both games tonight have bottled several big decisions, you have to wonder if there was some sort of mandate

Cristiano wrote:That was right on the post, nothing Casillas could do.

Perfect height for a save, he was too slow.

Nonesense hight doesn't matter if the ball is moving that fast, no keeper could make it there in time

Cristiano wrote:None sense hight doesn't matter there no keeper could make it there in time

You're being kind on your boy, that's nice.

all i have to say is, iniesta

Kimbo wrote:

Cristiano wrote:None sense hight doesn't matter there no keeper could make it there in time

You're being kind on your boy, that's nice.

I am no fan of Casillas, but to be fair, no goalkeeper would be expected to save that...

But the main worry for Spain from this game will be that for all their majestic possession and individual brilliance, their two goals came from a deflection and a counter attack. Its not easy to beat this Spain, but a team will a top defense and a classic counter attack technique could do it. I wish Italy had their 2006 team right now (or any of their teams in the 1990s, with the usual world class defense), I would love to see them against this Spain.

Its not a coincidence that Spain's complete domination in the world stage has come at the same time when Italy no longer have their traditional world class defense, Brasil no longer produce world class attackers, and Germany's loss of their traditional winning mentality. Not Spain's fault, they can only beat what they play against, but its a loss for the fans that the traditional powers of world football are at their weakest and unable to challenge this golden Spanish generation. IMO tiki-taka is being made to look better than it is.

And before Kroos & Co take offence, I think this Germany does not lack the talent of (say) the 1990 WC winning squad, it lacks that mentality. IMO Germany 1990 would beat this German side 8 times out of 10.

are it could be that those teams also benefited from Spain not being as good then as they are now, all matter of

serious i am utterly pissed about those kick off times

haven`t watched a single game so far (only the first 45 min from the brazil game), are they crazy, do they really think that "i" will watch the WC in the middle of the night

what was the FIFA thinking (for giving the WC to south america ), we are EUROPE, the heart  of football, the only games that i will watch at the coming WC are the german games and the good games who will start earlier in the day

before Kroos & Co

i think we did a very good job in the last 12 years, given our limited player ressources


having 2 world class players (and one of them in the goal) for almost a decade




2012 was the first big disappointment, and of course against italy


the same has been said about bayern (lack of winning mentality) now they have the triple


i wish Löw would play a more pragmatic style, now we are like the former dutch, we die in beauty, allowing the opponent for to many chances and giving them to much space, because we think we can always score more goals then the opponent

I've really enjoyed the tournament so far. Seems to be a relaxed atmosphere and no teams are parking the bus, making for good games

Romford Pele wrote:I've really enjoyed the tournament so far. Seems to be a relaxed atmosphere and no teams are parking the bus, making for good games

Its been good to watch Football at a decent time of day.

Kroos, I thought you were a football fan,  Blue Spain's style of play is to much for any past side I see them winning the confed cup they have their weak points but less than other sides as a whole.

So what the fuck is with Tahiti? They only have one player that's not an amateur. Will the Nigerians rape them, and then beat them at football? I'm curious to see how many they'll concede.

The punditry on BBC is so bad. Lawro yesterday was asking for Isco to be subbed on despite him playing for the U21s currently

Kroos wrote:serious i am utterly pissed about those kick off times

haven`t watched a single game so far (only the first 45 min from the brazil game), are they crazy, do they really think that "i" will watch the WC in the middle of the night

what was the FIFA thinking (for giving the WC to south america ), we are EUROPE, the heart  of football, the only games that i will watch at the coming WC are the german games and the good games who will start earlier in the day

Christ it wasnt at 0400 or anything, are you a baker or something. Anyway, I prefer this above the afternoon matches we had in Asia, or the ones we had in South Africa, which is in the same timezone as us, yet we had afternoon games as well. I agree it sucks for the kids. But you are right in the fact that the WC should be held only in Europe.

Anyway, Spain were really good, it's obvious this team is better without Alonso. If only they would become more clinical..to wish for the anti-football teams that Italy and Germany were in the past is an insult for this amazing team. This is art!

Brian2468 wrote:Blue Spain's style of play is to much for any past side I see them winning the confed cup they have their weak points but less than other sides as a whole.

I don't think so. If Italy had players of the caliber of Nesta, Cannavaro, Maldini, etc, I would fancy their chances against this Spain. Anyways, that is all speculation. The truth is that this Spanish side is easily the best in the world at the mo. Perhaps the only statistical way to compare this Spanish side to the great sides of the past is to look at how much they have dominated rivals of their era. I was looking at the highest ELO ratings of all teams historically, and the highest this Spanish side ever got was 2140, which is fantastic. Very few sides have achieved a better ELO rating historically, noteably Brasil in 1962 (2153) and Hungary in 1954 (2166) - which is the best ELO rating ever achieved in International football. Maybe Spain (current ELO 2128) will surpass that next year...

I think Dunga`s Brazil would have beaten Spain good in 2010.

Nowadays, though, they seem far above the others. I hope not.

Dunga's Brazil is overrated as hell, it got easily disposed by Holland. One setback, and they were nowehere to be found. Yes, Brazil should have lead 2-0 at HT. However, when one watches the second half it's amazing Holland didnt won with 4-1. Considering Spain easily beat Holland, I think Brazil would have hard time to hold the ball with the midfield Dunga played, which was very mediocre.

That Spain lost to Switzerland, was the champion that scored less in the history of the WC and almost lost to Paraguay in the quarters. If Paraguay had scored that penalty during the game against Sapain, we could have had Germany-Paraguay in the semis.

Holland was the hardest team for Brazil in that WC due to style. I`m not saying that Brazil was better than Spain, but that Brazil was made to beat teams like Spain. Brazil used to draw against the likes of Bolivia at home and then   beat the shit out of Argentina and Italy.

Fair enough. But even against Switzerland and PAraguay they were the better team. Having said that, obviously the best team not always wins. It's a bit like rock, paper scissors.

4 minutes in and Tahiti are giving Nigeria a football lesson.

  That goal was bullshit

bluenine wrote:

Brian2468 wrote:Blue Spain's style of play is to much for any past side I see them winning the confed cup they have their weak points but less than other sides as a whole.

I don't think so. If Italy had players of the caliber of Nesta, Cannavaro, Maldini, etc, I would fancy their chances against this Spain. Anyways, that is all speculation. The truth is that this Spanish side is easily the best in the world at the mo. Perhaps the only statistical way to compare this Spanish side to the great sides of the past is to look at how much they have dominated rivals of their era. I was looking at the highest ELO ratings of all teams historically, and the highest this Spanish side ever got was 2140, which is fantastic. Very few sides have achieved a better ELO rating historically, noteably Brasil in 1962 (2153) and Hungary in 1954 (2166) - which is the best ELO rating ever achieved in International football. Maybe Spain (current ELO 2128) will surpass that next year...

The game has changed so much in the last 10 years and going back further its just not possible to compare those teams to Spain. They have brought the possession game to another dimension others so far cannot copy. Yes they are in some in South american that play similar but not to their consistent standard.

It will take a Messi on his best day for Argentina or another great player to upset them me thinks.

without a doubt the greatest goal ever scored

If Nigeria can score 6 goals, spain will probalb score over nine THOUSAAAAND because their power level is so high.

Nigeria got 6, but Tahiti see it as a victory. Their coach says he doesn't think Spain want to score too many. Nigeria v Uruguay should be interesting match. He says there is no chance of a league there, yet despite the problems they earned the right to be here. New Zealand only have themselves to blame.

EMP wrote:Nigeria got 6, but Tahiti see it as a victory. Their coach says he doesn't think Spain want to score too many. Nigeria v Uruguay should be interesting match. He says there is no chance of a league there, yet despite the problems they earned the right to be here. New Zealand only have themselves to blame.

Tahiti were great for a team of amateurs. When they had the ball they pushed players forward and played it on the ground. Couldn't defend for shit mind.

Kimbo wrote:

EMP wrote:Nigeria got 6, but Tahiti see it as a victory. Their coach says he doesn't think Spain want to score too many. Nigeria v Uruguay should be interesting match. He says there is no chance of a league there, yet despite the problems they earned the right to be here. New Zealand only have themselves to blame.

Tahiti were great for a team of amateurs. When they had the ball they pushed players forward and played it on the ground. Couldn't defend for shit mind.

Can't see Gibraltar or San Marino matching their achievement.