FIFA Confederations Cup 2013 - Official Discussion Thread

[Keystone Phil]

Not even half time and it's already 3-0.

[Keystone Phil]

Tahiti score! Wow!

[Keystone Phil]

Uruguay had 25% of possession yesterday against The Evil Ones. I'd be surprised if Tahiti have 10%. It's going to be brutal. 

[Keystone Phil]

I'm just seeing the goals from today. Not only was it horrible that Tahiti conceded so very early, it had to be one of the biggest fluke goals I've ever seen: the ball deflected off the referee to set up a twice deflected shot by Nigeria which forced the keeper the wrong way. He still managed to squirm back towards the ball...only to have it bounce off his glove into the net.

The third Nigeria goal was a total "howler" by the Tahiti keeper.

[Keystone Phil]

Italy U-21's set to lose Final to Spain U-21's. The Spanish are up 4-2. This will obviously lead to an Italy-Spain Confederations Cup Final.

[Keystone Phil]

My calls for today:

Brazil -  1
Mexico -  1

Italy -  2
Japan -  0

[Keystone Phil]

We should have known this would happen. Seriously.

[Keystone Phil]

Ugh!

[Keystone Phil]

Insanity but I'll take it.

[Keystone Phil]

Spain won't run up the score. They'll "only" win...

Spain -  5
Tahiti -  0


I'm more interested in the amount of possession Tahiti has. Maybe 10%.

[Keystone Phil]

A friend of mine pointed out that Spain will probably aim for 7-0 to best Nigeria's total and goal difference in this match. Very good point but I'm sticking with 5-0.

[Keystone Phil]

Only 1-0 in the 23rd minute! Woo!

Prediction for the late game:

Nigeria -  2
Uruguay -  2

[Keystone Phil]

Torres misses a penalty kick. Scores a goal a minute later. 9-0 Spain.

[Keystone Phil]

10

This is supposedly the largest winning margin at a senior FIFA tournament.

[Keystone Phil]

Uruguay won 2-1 but still are only third in the group on goal difference. Spain will surely beat or at least draw with Nigeria but even if Nigeria won, Uruguay might overcome the goal difference. Nigeria is currently +4. Uruguay is at 0. If Nigeria somehow beat Spain by two, Uruguay would have to score seven. Not impossible against Tahiti.

[Keystone Phil]

De Rossi suspended for tomorrow's match (already known) and now Pirlo has an injury that will force him to miss the Brazil game. Might be out for the rest of the tournament.

[Keystone Phil]

Italy-Brazil is supposedly "at risk" due to escalating protests. It's especially sad that the entire tournament might be suspended. This, of course, means the World Cup in Brazil is also in jeopardy which I totally wouldn't mind. I'd love to have the tournament here and I think we'd be the frontrunner to host it in the event of an emergency. We already have the infrastructure. I just don't want to see the Confed Cup abandoned.

[Keystone Phil]

If that really happened, they'd definitely give it to somewhere in the Americas. (Remember 1986?)

Of course. I think they'd aim to take the games out of South America and with Mexico surely not in the running, I don't see how they'd go to any country other than the U.S. Brazil would still have to be allowed to qualify automatically but would that mean the new hosts automatically get in? I'd point to the 1986 example but I'm pretty sure te tournament wasn't moved just a year in advance.

There were a few times when Tahiti charged forward and Spanish errors allowed them a chance to score. As for Tahiti's possession, I'm pleasantly surprised that they had that much of the ball. I certainly didn't think they'd have more of it than Uruguay.

[Keystone Phil]

If that really happened, they'd definitely give it to somewhere in the Americas. (Remember 1986?)

Of course. I think they'd aim to take the games out of South America and with Mexico surely not in the running, I don't see how they'd go to any country other than the U.S.

I just realized you were talking about the US and not Italy the first time around when you said "we".
Silly me.

Oh! Yes, typically when I say "we," I'm referring to my team. You know, a real team. But when talking about hosting, I'm all about the tournament coming to the U.S. I'd love for it to be in Italy though. Gives me even more of a reason to go.

[Keystone Phil]

If that really happened, they'd definitely give it to somewhere in the Americas. (Remember 1986?)

Of course. I think they'd aim to take the games out of South America and with Mexico surely not in the running, I don't see how they'd go to any country other than the U.S. Brazil would still have to be allowed to qualify automatically but would that mean the new hosts automatically get in? I'd point to the 1986 example but I'm pretty sure te tournament wasn't moved just a year in advance.

Argentina is a country that comes to mind as an option, but I assume they don't have the infrastructure to make it happen. It would certainly be adding insult to Brazil's injury to move it there.

Infrastructure aside, I think Argentina would probably be ripe with the same feelings that are sweeping Brazil right now. Also, as you noted, moving the tournament to a neighbor/rival will be highly controversial. That's why I think FIFA would "play it safe" and move it out of the continent. Plus, rumor is that Argentina and Uruguay are being eyed as co-hosts for the 100th anniversary of the World Cup in 2030.

The U.S. is honestly in the best position (at least in the Americas) to step in with such short notice. I think we can all agree on that. It's a real shame this is even being discussed. I'd love the tournament to be here but I was looking forward to Brazil as hosts. This isn't like South Africa or Qatar; this actually looked like it would be fun so it can't be argued that I want it moved just because I don't like the host choice.

And remember: Brazil is hosting the Olympics in 2016. This has to be a major concern. That's why moving the World Cup would be a double blow.

[Keystone Phil]

Ok, it's the big day. Prediction time. Part of me wants to say we have no chance for a win. We haven't beaten Brazil in three decades. They haven't lost a competitive (or any match?) at home since 1975. We are without De Rossi and Pirlo. The protests can be a distraction for both teams but probably more intimidating to visitors. The other part of me says...this is exactly the type of situation - with everything against us - where we'd win. Eh, what the hell...

Italy -  2
Brazil -  1

Japan -  2
Mexico -  1

[Keystone Phil]

Second half begins. I just put my Italy jersey on. We score ten seconds later.

[Keystone Phil]

So unless we score two goals and don't concede anymore, we're facing Spain.

[Keystone Phil]

It ended 4-2 Brazil and Mexico finally won. 2-1 in that one. At least this has been a high scoring tournament.

[Keystone Phil]

I think we'll be meeting Brazil again so don't get so cocky.