[Atouk]

http://www.fifa.com/Service/MR_A/43881_E.html

Four venues in France, Stade de France (Saint-Denis), Parc des Princes (Paris), Stade Gerland (Lyons) and Geoffrey-Guichard (Saint-Etienne), will host the 2003 Confederations Cup. It'll take place from June 18th-29th.

[RichardL]

At the risk of sounding ignorant, just what is the point of the confederations cup? It seems to be a new thing that started without any fanfare or announcement. I think when I first heard of it I thought it was some friendly tournament, but here it is being fully backed by FIFA.

[Atouk]

Originally posted by RichardL
At the risk of sounding ignorant, just what is the point of the confederations cup?

The point is to pit the champions of each confederation against each other (along with the World Cup champions). So, it's an only an eight-team tournament.

For the first two (in '92 and '95 in Saudi Arabia) it was the "Intercontinental Championship for the King Fahd Cup" (and had less participants). They had only four teams in the first one and six in the second.

Then, it turned into the "FIFA Confederations Cup" and has been around for three cycles now (Saudi Arabia in '97, Mexico in '99, Korea/Japan in '01) and will exist for at least two more (France '03, Germany '05), although UEFA is wanting to pull the plug on it after that.

Winners:
FIFA Confederations Cup
'01 - France (def. Japan in final)
'99 - Mexico (def. Brazil in final)
'97 - Brazil (def. Australia in final)
Intercontinental Championship
'95 - Denmark (def. Argentina in final)
'92 - Argentina (def. Saudi Arabia in final)

[BakedAlaskan]

Very well said,Atouk.

BTW is your name from the movie "Caveman" with Ringo Starr?Just curious.Not trying to be an ass.

[Atouk]

Originally posted by BakedAlaskan
Very well said,Atouk.

BTW is your name from the movie "Caveman" with Ringo Starr?Just curious.Not trying to be an ass.

Thanks. And, yes, that's where the name came from.

[photar74]

Apparently all of those writers who implied that France had already won the bid back in August had some inside info after all...

[guri]

Originally posted by Atouk
http://www.fifa.com/Service/MR_A/43881_E.html

Four venues in France, Stade de France (Saint-Denis), Parc des Princes (Paris), Stade Gerland (Lyons) and Geoffrey-Guichard (Saint-Etienne), will host the 2003 Confederations Cup. It'll take place from June 18th-29th.

Ooooooooooh! I can't wait!!!!

ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz...............

[Sao Taffarel]

...............well, I might go to see my beloved Brazilians (and France in June is not that bad you know)

[Nobby]

So its Brazil, France, Colombia, Cameroon, USA, Japan and New Zealand and another invitee. My choice would be Spain. They're ranked second on the FIFA listing and they placed fifth at the WC, not losing a game in the tournament.

[mr magoo]

i would envite england so it gives me a chance to go to france again.