FIFA Confederations Cup 2013 - Official Discussion Thread

[Keystone Phil]

Last day of group action. My picks...

Nigeria -  1
Spain -  3


Uruguay -  5
Tahiti -  0

[Keystone Phil]

Half in both matches. Spain up 1-0. Uruguay up 4-0.

[Keystone Phil]

Brazil vs. Uruguay and Spain vs. Italy.

Let's recall that in 2009 when it was supposed to be a Spain vs. Brazil Final in this tournament, the Spanish were shocked by the United States, of all teams. That ended a 35 game unbeaten streak for the Spanish. They're currently on a 25 game undefeated run that goes back to 2011.

[Keystone Phil]

Let's recall the 1950 FIFA World Cup final: Uruguay vs Brazil. Luckily for Brazilians, the final will be played at Belo Horizonte and not at the Maracaná Stadium.

Also, another recall for the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Final, which took place on June 18 at Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem: Spain 4- Italy 2.

Seemingly, our young players want to perpetuate the rule of the Evil Empire in world's football. At least, they'll try.

Euro 2012 Final -  Spain 4   Italy 0

U-21 Euro 2013 Final -  Spain 4   Italy 2


This one is destined to be 4-4. Since Spain beat us in penalty kicks in the 2008 Euro Quarter Final to begin their Reign of Terror, we will end the pattern by winning in a shoot out and all will be right in the world.

[Keystone Phil]

No, it hasn't been great for the game and I'll be dancing in the streets once their reign has officially ended.

[Keystone Phil]

This is why people despise that disgusting, disgusting team and their fans. They live for decades as perennial losers/chokers then win a few tournaments and suddenly they have room to be patronizing. Your time at the top is coming to an end, bub. This year, maybe, but definitely next year. And it will be glorious. Good day to you, sir.

[Keystone Phil]

See, Phil, people who understand the game don't despise "that disgusting team", it's just the contrary. Hooligans are another question. What's what you cannot stand, a team who never gained a World tournament before and now plays better than the rest and mark the trend? Really stupid. On the other hand, nothing lasts forever but, unlike the average sweet and tender hooligan, that won't affect my life, believe me.

You mean to tell me I'm not a fan or don't understand the game because I dislike a team? I don't think you understand sports, my friend. Now one can certainly dislike a team but still appreciate their contributions. I'm just not that way when it comes to the Spanish.

As for Snowstalker, this isn't a place for bandwagon idiots that don't follow the game/competition. Don't come around, broadcast your "support: for a team you can tell us little to nothing about and not comment on the game. You don't watch Soccer, Snow. We know you certainly don't play it. I can tolerate banter between myself and a Spanish fan because that person is actually a fan. You're the child in the stands at a game that the camera zooms in on during slow play because you're too busy concentrating on your ice cream cone.

[Keystone Phil]

Most of the world is tired of Spain dominating the game. I'm sorry that you can't understand that and think that not admiring them means one doesn't understand the game. It's not even necessarily a matter of me not liking the way they play. There's more to it including rivalry, disliking the way they've controlled essentially everything since 2008 (what you might call "envy." I just consider it boring and annoying), the arrogance, etc.

[Keystone Phil]

...I never denied the quality of the players or what they have achieved but enough already. It's tiring. And I can say they're disgusting for other reasons. Not sure what has been consistent here besides my presence. You rear your head when your team does well. A bandwagon fan, perhaps? I think I might be on to something...

Anyway, when I say "most of the world," I mean most of the global fans of the game, dude. Don't play a semantics game with me. You know what I mean.

My least favorite side is the French national team. I'd absolutely call them disgusting. You mean to tell me I'm envious of them, too? Please.

[Keystone Phil]

I know you know I care far less about the game or the team than about seeing you get pissy. Am I a real fan? No. I casually watch the game and casually root for the Spanish national team, mostly because seeing people complain about them being good is fun to see.

So you're an admitted troll? Cool.

[Keystone Phil]

Again, don't confuse passion with simply being "pissed off." If you're one of the people that's amused by our passion and only "like to watch when it's well played" (and say you're like Snowstalker which is a whole different level of pathetic that we won't get into), then you're not an actual fan. I'm sorry if you can't handle the intensity.

[Keystone Phil]

Ok. You're a casual observer. Whatever. Good for you. Please stop whining because some of us are fans. You sit down, watch a match, have some feelings then say, "Ok" when it's finished and turn off the TV. Cool. Some of us have deeper opinions and feelings. That doesn't make us "hooligans" though.

What's most annoying is the casual observer that wants to be a fair weather fan: only rearing your head when your team is doing well. Speaks to a whole bunch of other issues, too, but we won't get into that.  

[Keystone Phil]

Oh, Phil, you sound like you would be happy to watch football alone. Why aren't you glad about casual observers coming along and joining you in watching this fascinating game? Ignite them, don't scare them away ..

Considering how animated I get, it's usually best if I watch alone.

I actually watch with casual observer friends of mine from time to time. Hell, I even watch with people that don't know a thing about the game nor care to learn. I watched the Italy-Japan game with some friends (all of them were rooting for Japan mainly to piss me off. One was genuinely rooting for Japan. She's Japanese). I'm cool with it until they start to troll heavily which is what is irritating about people like Snowstalker. I'll take jabs from actual fans and I'll passionately respond but that's part of the game and I can respect those types because they're actually fans.

At the end of the day, I'm a Soccer snob. I don't think anyone will fault me for preferring actual fans over casual observers. That said, the issue here isn't even about me disliking those that only watch from time to time; it's about me rolling my eyes at those types that also choose to poke at real fans. It's pathetic.

[Keystone Phil]

That distinction between "fans" and "casual observers" is amusing too. See, there are different types of fans as well, some of them love and understand the game and others act as plain hooligans. Try to avoid the latter characterization and open yourself a bit.

Maybe you'll practice what you preach and recognize that it isn't one or the other as you made it out to be in your above comment.

I'll take lectures from people that have a clue (i.e., not you) as to what kind of fan I am. Your implication that there are two types of fans and I'm not the kind that loves or understands the game but instead acts like a hooligan is the definition of ignorance.

This thread is for discussing the tournament. We've had enough of your arrogant routine. Discuss the tournament as a fan or dismiss yourself. You've exhausted your other points.

[Keystone Phil]

I don't think I've cared less about a tournament.

International football is dead. August can't come soon enough.

Oh, come on. This one has been more exciting at least compared to 2009.

[Keystone Phil]

I'll take lectures from people that have a clue (i.e., not you) as to what kind of fan I am. Your implication that there are two types of fans and I'm not the kind that loves or understands the game but instead acts like a hooligan is the definition of ignorance.

This thread is for discussing the tournament. We've had enough of your arrogant routine. Discuss the tournament as a fan or dismiss yourself. You've exhausted your other points.

You are ridicoulous, bro. People who loves the game is ready to recognize the merits of rivals when they are superior,

Which I've already done, bro. Several times during this conversation, in my fact.

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No, the arrogance is your behavior, demanding people worship the team and cannot dare say that they despise them.

I think you're having a very hard time acknowledging a simple point: one can dislike a team, find then disgusting, etc. and still acknowledge that they've dominated and deserve credit. It's the never ending credit and dominance that gets irritating.

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Who the hell are you? This is what I'm talking about when I mention the arrogance especially of some fair weather fan: you come in here about five pages into the thread to brag about "your team," single out a comment I made about disliking "your team" then have the audacity to say that I am not discussing the tournament? Look, bro, I can take your other nonsense but don't tell me that I'm not discussing the tournament. Get over yourself. Get over "your team." Please don't think that my comments here are just about the Spanish side.  

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Uh, no. Again, please check yourself out of this conversation. We'll surely have to deal with you next time "your team" wins. Break out your plastic flag! Make sure you have your phone set to scoring updates! Gooooo España!

[Keystone Phil]

I don't want to tell you how people felt when Italy was winning tournaments with that orthodox catennaccio philosophy. That was really a boring way to win, but at least most people conceded that Italy had a great defense and was an extremely competitive team, although some found catenaccio disgusting.

Uh...

1) I already know that.
2) I don't care. I'm not the one being childish and throwing a fit because people don't like my team's style. I acknowledge that people can rightfully dislike it. You, meanwhile, are a prima donna.

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...I'm honestly not sure if this is just a serious language barrier or you're just a moron but I have never failed to acknowledge that it's impossible to win with another style. It obviously is since...uh...Spain has been winning. If I "mixed my phobias with my objectivity," I'd be saying something idiotic like "Spain hasn't been successful. Their style has been a failure." I have never, ever said that. And I acknowledge their accomplishments but let me spell this out a little more clearly:

I. Am. Tired. Of. Spain. Dominating. The. Game.

It. Is. Boring. Me. And. Many. Others.

Many. People. Don't. Like. It.

Get. Over. Yourself. And. Your. Team.

Maybe that will help with a language barrier. I think you're just trolling though.

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But you're not commenting on the tournament. You came here to whine about me not liking your team. You came here to make up this idea that I don't acknowledge Spain's success. You had to put on the now typically Spanish routine of being a prima donna in this sport.

"Wah! They didn't water the pitch! WAH! They were too physical!"

Get over it, bro.

[Keystone Phil]

Oh, and by the way: You can be a fan of your team, an at the same time respect other teams, and admit it if  the other team was better.  

I was never denying that. I simply don't like them. What our Spanish friend seemingly fails to realize is that someone can strongly dislike his team but still concede that their style has led to success. He's dreaming up that disliking a team and calling them disgusting means one does not acknowledge their success. I'd say the same about people disliking the Italians. Many, many do. That doesn't mean that I whine about people not recognizing their great performances.

[Keystone Phil]

Can I take from your comments, Andi & Phil, that you both would be happy if Germany became World Champion in 2014 (which means, somebody, probably Spain, needs to take Italy out of the tournament first, as Germany vs. Italy is a hopeless case for Germany) ?

No! I'd literally cry during the lead up and throughout a Spain vs. Germany Final. My views on the Spanish are known and as an Azzurri fan, you should know how I feel about the Germans. We cannot allow them to tie us in total titles!

Sadly, I'm very worried that Germany will get their fourth star next year.

[Keystone Phil]

Well, you'll be waiting at least twenty years until another World Cup hosted by Italy since 2018 and 2022 are decided, 2026 is going to a CONCACAF country and 2030 is supposedly going to Uruguay-Argentina for the 100th anniversary.

Also, Germany can't go out in the group stage as you describe it. You can't have three European nations in a group.

[Keystone Phil]

First Semi final prediction:

Brazil -  3
Uruguay -  1

[Keystone Phil]

And Phil whines about real sports having ungodly long season.  Ugh.

...huh? First of all, this is a separate tournament (and made up of different types of teams) so this wouldn't count as part of a "season." Secondly, where have I "whined" about other sports having ungodly long seasons? In most places (or at least the confederations worth a damn), the leagues run essentially all year with the exception of June, July and half of August. I wouldn't have any room to talk about other sports having long seasons when Soccer league play takes up almost 75% of a year. What you might be thinking of is me complaining about a sport having too many games in an individual competition. Even still, I don't recall "whining" about it and certainly don't do that here.

[Keystone Phil]

Julio Cesar saves an early penalty kick!

[Keystone Phil]

Oh, heart breaking!

[Keystone Phil]

Well, here we go...

Spain -  2
Italy -  2


Italy wins in a penalty shoot out.