FIFA Under-17 World Championship [R]

[Century's Best]

Colombia vs Costa Rica

Latin soccer matchup #1. Costa Rica proved to be no joke. They beat Austria and drew Nigeria, and lost only to the group's best team, Argentina. Colombia is a bit inconsistent, as they had good and bad results in the CONMEBOL U-17... but unbeaten in group play.

Winner: Colombia.

Argentina vs Mexico

Latin soccer matchup #2. 2003 CONMEBOL U-17 champions vs. a gutsy Mexican team--one which couldn't beat China and Colombia and only beat the rather limited Finnish hosts.

Winner: Argentina.

Brazil vs USA

Great matchup! Brazil (cough cough ;) ) needs no introduction. They humiliated the reigning U-17 European champions, Portugal, but with Adu, Team USA is no joke. They obliterated Korea and only lost to Spain in part due to Adu's absence for most of the match. A tough call, but I still see Brazil as the likelier of the 2 to advance.

Winner: Brazil.

Spain vs Portugal

Iberian classic. This is an underrated rivalry. And both teams have good soccer. In this tournament, Spain are unbeaten and defeated Team USA, and showed resolve after being down 2 goals vs. Korea. Portugal let 5 goals after being up 5-0, but they came back vs. Yemen after being down 2 as well.

Winner: Spain.

[Quaresma]

Originally posted by Century's Best
Colombia vs Costa Rica

Latin soccer matchup #1. Costa Rica proved to be no joke. They beat Austria and drew Nigeria, and lost only to the group's best team, Argentina. Colombia is a bit inconsistent, as they had good and bad results in the CONMEBOL U-17... but unbeaten in group play.

Winner: Colombia.

Argentina vs Mexico

Latin soccer matchup #2. 2003 CONMEBOL U-17 champions vs. a gutsy Mexican team--one which couldn't beat China and Colombia and only beat the rather limited Finnish hosts.

Winner: Argentina.

Brazil vs USA

Great matchup! Brazil (cough cough ;) ) needs no introduction. They humiliated the reigning U-17 European champions, Portugal, but with Adu, Team USA is no joke. They obliterated Korea and only lost to Spain in part due to Adu's absence for most of the match. A tough call, but I still see Brazil as the likelier of the 2 to advance.

Winner: Brazil.

Spain vs Portugal

Iberian classic. This is an underrated rivalry. And both teams have good soccer. In this tournament, Spain are unbeaten and defeated Team USA, and showed resolve after being down 2 goals vs. Korea. Portugal let 5 goals after being up 5-0, but they came back vs. Yemen after being down 2 as well.

Winner: Spain.

portugal beat spain 2-1 in the european final, i think we can repeat it!

[Stinkey Turner]

As much as I want to see the US win, Brazil is going to rip wide apart that arsehole we try to maintain as a midfiled.

[deejay]

Originally posted by Stinkey Turner
As much as I want to see the US win, Brazil is going to rip wide apart that arsehole we try to maintain as a midfiled.

Wrong, I see a return to the Senegal game. The US will give up the midfield but long passes from melo will keep us always dangerous. Brazil will have the advantage first half and will probably score a goal against a very good US defense (for U-17). Then, being Brazil will leave it at that for a comeback goal by Adu and a loss through penalties since we simply have the better goalkeeper.

[Century's Best]

Originally posted by deejay
Wrong, I see a return to the Senegal game. The US will give up the midfield but long passes from melo will keep us always dangerous. Brazil will have the advantage first half and will probably score a goal against a very good US defense (for U-17). Then, being Brazil will leave it at that for a comeback goal by Adu and a loss through penalties since we simply have the better goalkeeper.

I disagree. No disrespect to Adu and this good Team USA. But, after a 1-1 draw with Cameroon, Brazil went for the jugular against Portugal and ensured they had a comfortable lead against Yemen before they took the foot off the accelerator.

Brazil knows Team USA is quite good and that Adu is a player to be reckoned with. I doubt they'll settle for a 1-0 differential, esp. with Team USA's considerable offensive firepower.

[kjksccr]

I saw the game vs. Spain last night on Tivo. God, are we really that bad? Other than Sve..whatever, that little striker (Conway?), Spector(and Adu) we were bloody horrible. The back line, especially the left back, just do nothing but whack the ball seventy yards. We looked like schoolboys compared to Spain. To a player, they had more skill and thought than we did, were faster and quicker to the ball. It could have been 5-0.

I hope they were just tired and not up for the game. Adu can't overcome those kind of deficiencies. I don't see more than 3-4 players, well 5 (goalkeeper is quite good), with any hope of playing on the senior side. I really thought we had come farther than that.

[Century's Best]

Originally posted by kjksccr
I saw the game vs. Spain last night on Tivo. God, are we really that bad? Other than Sve..whatever, that little striker (Conway?), Spector(and Adu) we were bloody horrible. The back line, especially the left back, just do nothing but whack the ball seventy yards. We looked like schoolboys compared to Spain. To a player, they had more skill and thought than we did, were faster and quicker to the ball. It could have been 5-0.

I hope they were just tired and not up for the game. Adu can't overcome those kind of deficiencies. I don't see more than 3-4 players, well 5 (goalkeeper is quite good), with any hope of playing on the senior side. I really thought we had come farther than that.

Really?

Hmmm. Well, Team USA beat Korea 6-1, that after a 3-0 loss to the Koreans.

If what you say is true, I have reasons to expect Brazil in the semifinals as of now. But no matter how bad you think the rest of Team USA is, it's still 90 minutes and I expect my team to put 110% against Team USA... an opponent who is no joke.

[dcc134]

Originally posted by kjksccr
I saw the game vs. Spain last night on Tivo. God, are we really that bad? Other than Sve..whatever, that little striker (Conway?), Spector(and Adu) we were bloody horrible. The back line, especially the left back, just do nothing but whack the ball seventy yards. We looked like schoolboys compared to Spain. To a player, they had more skill and thought than we did, were faster and quicker to the ball. It could have been 5-0.

I hope they were just tired and not up for the game. Adu can't overcome those kind of deficiencies. I don't see more than 3-4 players, well 5 (goalkeeper is quite good), with any hope of playing on the senior side. I really thought we had come farther than that.

The US was resting 5 starters. Could have had something to do with it.

[Suss]

Is USA vs Brazil on TV? Like Univision or Galavsion? If so, when is it?

[Brownswan]

Originally posted by dcc134
The US was resting 5 starters. Could have had something to do with it.

I hope that's true! Our side of the match made me think of a new line for that old 12 Days Of Christmas Song:

On the 11th Day of Christmas
My true love gave to me:
Eleven wankers whacking... etc.

Spain had us chasing balls and just hoofing whatever we managed to touch.

We did look better in the 2nd half than in the 1st, but that's partly because we looked as bad as a team can look in the 1st while still being considered a team at all!

[kjksccr]

If we sat five starters than we don't have enough depth. That was really pathetic and I was excited to see them play after hearing about the other games. No possession at all. You will have trouble finding a spell of 4 consecutive passes from the U.S. Even when there were the last pass was at best hopeful. That is what as painful. We just played the ball forward hoping our striker would beat three guys.

Spain's possession was brilliant and we just weren't in their league. I do think our guys looked tired and maybe that was it. Anyway, Brazil plays much the same style and will kill us if we repeat that performance.

[jotadia]

Originally posted by kjksccr
I saw the game vs. Spain last night on Tivo. God, are we really that bad? Other than Sve..whatever, that little striker (Conway?), Spector(and Adu) we were bloody horrible. The back line, especially the left back, just do nothing but whack the ball seventy yards. We looked like schoolboys compared to Spain. To a player, they had more skill and thought than we did, were faster and quicker to the ball. It could have been 5-0.

I hope they were just tired and not up for the game. Adu can't overcome those kind of deficiencies. I don't see more than 3-4 players, well 5 (goalkeeper is quite good), with any hope of playing on the senior side. I really thought we had come farther than that.

I saw the game on Tivo as well and completely agree with your comments. I knew Adu was not going to start but I expect more creative midfield play from the US. This is the first game I've watched so I cant compare vs South Korea or Sierra Leone. Too much booting the ball forward with very little build-up.

I hope they were just tired

[jotadia]

Originally posted by Brownswan
I hope that's true! Our side of the match made me think of a new line for that old 12 Days Of Christmas Song:

On the 11th Day of Christmas
My true love gave to me:
Eleven wankers whacking... etc.

Spain had us chasing balls and just hoofing whatever we managed to touch.

We did look better in the 2nd half than in the 1st, but that's partly because we looked as bad as a team can look in the 1st while still being considered a team at all!

Not to mention Spain was down a man in the second half..one of Spain's better players was sent off just before half-time

[neovox]

Being Brazil, it´s a good team. But, to be frank, we had better U-17 teams in the past. Brazil x USA will be a tough match, but I believe we have a good chance to reach the World Cup finals.

[fidlerre]

u-17 teams are so up and down...

against korea the u.s. looked amazing.

against spain the u.s. looked horrible.

it all depends on which team shows up.

that said...

usa - 3 & brazil - 1

:p

[Y&B POWER]

Originally posted by Suss55
Is USA vs Brazil on TV? Like Univision or Galavsion? If so, when is it?

it'll be live on eurosport Sunday 24th at 7:00 AM NY time

[Oscar]

As long as Spain win the game against Portugal on September 6th, the Portuguese can win this U17 game for all I care. :D

Nice match-up though, definitely will be watching this one on Eurosport.

[Big Football]

Interesting match-ups lining up for the Quarters! 3 South American Selections against 3 from Concacaf! I'd like to see some predictions.
Colombia-Costa Rica is on Galavision @ 7am with Mex-Arg @ 10.
My predictions:
Colombia-CR. the Colombians are on cloud nine after the historic masacre 9-1 against the home team who after all...were Finnish (Sorry, I couldn't resist that temptation!). CR is NOT Finland and both teams are capable of entairtaining football but Colombia looks more explosive in attack. edge: Colombia

Argentina-Mexico: Argentina is..Argentina and they have proved that in this tournament. Mexico had their hands full with the chinese and should have a worst time with the S.Americans. Edge Argentina.

Brasil-US. Brasil started slow but it seems like they have hit their stride, and that's bad news for the "Adu" boys. Adu will be the best player on the pitch but after that the best 7 or 8 are Brasilians and Freddy can't do it all, football is a team sport. All Brasil has to do is shut down the guys feeding him and...Edge Brasil.

Portugal-Spain. Portugal let in 10, yes TEN goals in 2 matches, unacceptable at any level, Spain looked very good against the US and their defence is better for what we have seen. Edge Spain

[Century's Best]

Colombia beat Costa Rica 2-0. I got 1 of 4 right...

[Quaresma]

Originally posted by Century's Best
Colombia beat Costa Rica 2-0. I got 1 of 4 right...

i hope your portugal prediction is wrong...