Re: FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 - Group Stage [R] Hopefully Spain goes into the game thinking they don't have to play hard (since they're playing US) and the US goes into the game still confident and ecstatic over their extremely difficult advance to semifinals. If America can get a lucky bounce and an early goal it'd keep us into the game and allow us to make the inevitable mistakes and given up possessions that we've come to know under this coached team. I don't see it being as lopsided, Iraq held their own and ya went down 1-0 but I feel our team is much better than Iraq and if we come out on fire and play with the mindset that we can win and Spain comes out with the mindset that they've already won - well then I say we win. I really wish Bradley would play Adu it's so frustrating to think of the talent we have sitting on the bench.
Re: FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 - Group Stage [R] So ... in summary, if everything goes wrong for Spain and everything goes right for the US you think you can win. Great analysis ...
Re: FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 - Group Stage [R] Well for most teams that's the way it is, but I contest the word, "everything" - not everything has to go against and for, if US wins the motivation and emotion factor then I'd say it's going to be hard for Spain to beat us, but ya a lucky early goal couldn't hurt either Also a key factor will be if US can survive the quarter 'till - excluding the NZ butt whooping, Spain seems to catch fire in the 45-60 min range of the game, I haven't been able to watch Spain vs. Iraq or Spain vs. SA, but is there a change of pace/game plan that occurs in this time period that has set up these consistent goals? Spain hasn't been scored on so it's going to be hard to find any weakness, but I can only hope Bradley doesn't play pinball because that's sure to have .0001% of scoring.
Re: FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 - Group Stage [R] It's simple ... defend, defend, defend like Iraq did. Hope for a counter or dead ball situation to score a goal or pray for PKs. It's not about motivation and emotion. The US is vastly outclassed in skill, technique, and even team work. So you need energy on defense to make things hard for Spain. If the US tries to be too aggressive and send players forward, I expect Spain to beat them easily.
Re: FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 - Group Stage [R] Sorry, Spain fanboys, But Spanish can score 7 goals now that after these pitiable 1st 45 minutes they'll enter with their heads low against (arguably) Brazil ...
Re: FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 - Group Stage [R] Let's face it, Spain could have been in double figures by now. All credit to Howard and the US defence though, they're playing out of thier boots.
Its over, my god its over, get ready for more Bigsoccer newbies and high server traffic, holy &^&% i can't believe this.
Larrionda hands out a joke red card as usual - but nothing can spoil this party! Bob Bradley - coach for LIFE!!
http://tinyurl.com/VIDEO-USA-vs-Spain-2-0 Goals Unbelievable. I never thought I'd live to see the** day.
King Juan Carlos; Picasso; Hernando Cortez; Rafa Nadal; General Franco; Ponce de Leon; Fernando Alsonso. Your boys took one hell of a beating !
MY GOODNESS!! I never thought US was actually going to beat Spain, we came in and played with a lot of heart, and just as my analysis predicted - that's what won the game! No one can say that US wasn't rattled every second of the game, we were clearly being outmatched skillwise and thrown to the defensive side, but we kept playing and playing and playing and I don't think if this game went on for another 90 minutes that Spain would score on us, INCREDIBLE! And lol at the Dempsey squeaking one in on Ramos, the look on Ramos's face was priceless. EDIT: my bad, for some reason my head though Ramos but my fingers said Torres
Great win for the US, but it's unfair to Michael Bradley that he can't play the final. That was not a studs-up challenge (the bottom of his foot was at most at a 30 degree angle to the ground) and he got the ball. The US has a reputation for making reckless tackles, and I for one thought that the Ricardo Clark red card in the US-Italy game was a good call, but this one was terrible. Additionally, 2 really bad offside calls against the US led up to the red card. On the other side, though, I think we were lucky not to give up a penalty kick to Spain (can't remember what minute it was).