2013 FIFA Confederations Cup: Elimination Rounds [R]

So who do you guys think is the player of the tournament so far???? For me, it's Iniesta

 

My god did u say iniesta? Its neymarrrrrrrrrr

 

Neymar? Iniesta? pffft, it's obviously Torres

 

Neymar, Pirlo, Iniesta, Forlan... it's too early to tell.

 

Fred

 

Way too early. Basically the winning team will determine the player of the tournament. You don't get that honor just by schooling Japan and Mexico...

 

i'd go with neymar
this whole tournament has revolved around him

 

I agree. The real Confederations Cup starts now.

 

What happened to Fabio Grosso´s thread about brazilian crowds being a disaster? I would like to read his comments. The thread is being redirected to the Confeds Cup Group Stage thread, but I can´t find the post there.

 

Tournament pretty much gone to form so far. Thought Mexico might show up and give Italy a run for 2nd place, but Chepo is clueless. Anyway, Balotelli being out is really going to hurt any chance Italy had of beating Spain. Don't give Uruguay much of a shot at Brazil as like Mexico their WCQ form isn't an anomaly.

Brazil - Spain should be great. Give Brazil a slight edge due to home crowd.

As for player of tournament it has to be Neymar at this point and by a wide margin. Can't believe Torres is likely to get Golden Boot - they really should factor out goals versus Tahiti.

Really enjoyed the tournament so far. Some quality goals

http://www.youtube.com/embed/uDPctyg_c1o

 

meaning there are only 3 real games in the tournament? (not counting 3rd place dispute)

 

1 - arent you putting the cart in front of the oxen here? First, Brazil has to beat Uruguay and Spain has to beat Italy.

Unlike the Spaniards and a few others here, who have decided to already handle the Confeds Cup trophy AND the 2014 trophy to Spain, we brazilians think nothing is won until the games have been played.

2 - Brazil has home crowd support, but the spanish team is quite cold, not to be very influenced by it (although the brazilian team will be influenced). However, Spain gain in other areas, like the fact they have been playing together, with the SAME system, for a number of years already, while Brazil is between generations and STILL FORMING the team, with recent coaches and players changes.

 

Of course anything can happen, but I don't think so.

Spain is still better than Italy and without Balotelli and I believe Pirlo will back from injury but is he 100%? Spain are a big favorite. As for Uruguay if you read my previous post not sure why they have fallen since 2010, but their WCQ results and play in this tournament tell me they won't be much of a problem for Brazil.

 

At this point, any time Spain is in the tournament, they have to be favorites. And they have to be heavy favorites over Italy w/out Balotelli and considering they beat them 4-0 in the European final.

I make Brazil a favorite to beat Uruguay, but less so than Spain/Italy. Uruguay's form hasn't been great in WCQ, but remember they had to play a PO game to get into South Africa as well, and then went on to make the SFs and win Copa America. Yes, the defense is a bit older and slower, and Forlan is not the player he was 3 years ago. But still, a team that can run Forlan, Suarez, and Cavani out there is always a threat. Plus the ghosts of 1950 still linger, I think.

I expect Brazil-Spain, but wouldn't be shocked if it's Uruguay instead. I would be real surprised if Italy makes it to the final.

In either case, I think Spain will win it, though the lack of an in form CF is troubling.

 

they are ALWAYS a problem... specially because they never give up.

furthermore, even if on paper a team is better, and on results, football is wonderful because is unpredictable. Brazil can have a bad day and lose to Uruguay, even Spain can have a bad day and lose to Italy without Pirlo.

 

Fred rocks!

http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/futebolbrasil/id/205?cc=5901

 

Actually Torres has been great.. once again.. for Spain, Just like the Euro.. when he came in all he did was score goals and give out assists...

But let's make all kinds of excuses for him doing well.. they are all tired in the second half, the game was already over.. etc.. etc... etc..

 

I don't think so, Japan and Mexico had as much of a chance of getting out of group stages as Italy and Brazil. The only team which had no shot I think it's Tahiti.

Best game was Italy vs Japan, followed by Italy vs Brazil and I don't think you'll get better games for the rest of the cup.

 

It gets glaringly obvious that one markets not so much the best but what belongs to you.

Before Neymar's announcement to Barcelona, the European press has been calling him overrated, worthless, etc.

After a mere three matches (official tournament but just three matches) and two goals, now everyone is saying it is because of the "Barca effect" (sounds like a lot of bullshit. He is technically incribed as a player of Santos for the tournament).

Only in Brazil is the Neymar/Barca gap not eaten entirely and they gave plenty of coverage to the man that keeps putting it away (Fred).

Everyone else (Marca, Sun, Gazetta, etc) just keeps providing proof that they shouldn't be viewed objectively in the case of marketting players outside of Europe and especially from within.

 

I like Uruguay a lot they can give brasil troubles but it all depends on Cavani. If he can raise the level of his game which has been dissapointing so far then they can win it.

Spain should easily beat Italy who will be missing their best player so far in the tournament in Balotelli.


Expect brasil to narrowly win vs uruguay with a 3-2 win and Spain wins it going away vs italy 4-0.


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2010 Uruguay is kind of the same team, just getting lucky bounces their way.. You can only deal with Lucky for so long, better teams will always be better on long run things such as the WCQ.

 

Not really. The favorites are called "favorites" for a reason - > They are more likely to advance to the semis than the rest. Although most of the games have been fun to watch, at no point did it really look like Nigeria, Mexico or Japan would advance.

 

Haha, did you watch the Spain match. They gave up before it started. Embarrassing performance. At least Nigeria tried to go forward. Sitting back and defending almost never works. With Suarez, Cavani and Forlan it was incredible they played that way.