2009 FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa Groups Stage Group A South Africa (2010 FIFA World Cup host) Iraq (2007 AFC Asian Cup winner) New Zealand (2008 OFC Nations Cup winner) Spain (2008 UEFA Euro winner) Group B United States (2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup winner) Italy (2006 FIFA World Cup winner) Brazil (2007 Copa América winner) Egypt (2008 African Cup of Nations winner)
My prediction: Iraq will lose to Spain,will win against New Zealand,and draw against South Africa. This should be enough to go to semifinals.Good luck Inshaallah.But Iraq needs really hard work for this.It is only one chance.We don´t know when their next Asian Cup title is.
You mean against New Zealand? I don't think we can reach the final, the semifinals yes maybe if we consider we have a weak team in our group and the host is not better than Iraq. If we reach the semifinals I hope we play against Italy not Brazil. Two Reasons why I chose Italy. First Italy don’t play in a fast term and 2ndly our players have experience of playing against Italy Olympic team... I know it’s not the same team but I think they have the same style of play. Any way First we must concentrate on New Zealand , South Africa and Spain then we'll have another talk if we qualify to the semifinals.
South Africa will advance, because: 1- They are the hosts and will get all the support over there. And they're used to the conditions. 2- They are better prepared, having played Chile, Portugal, Norway earlier. 3- A semi-final and third place game with the hosts would be more profitable for FIFA. Number 3 is conspirative, but the other two are definitely favouring South Africa. We don't have much to lose in this tournament, I'll be happy as long as we don't embarass ourselves against Spain and beat New Zealand. Reaching the semi finals would be great, though.
Iraq is out of qualifying for 2010 so this is their world cup, i hope an A team is called up with players like Mahmoud and Akram.
Iraq National Football Team Squad Manager: Bora Milutinović (Serbia) Goalkeepers: Mohammed Gassid (Al-Zawraa, Iraq) Noor Sabri (Al-Talaba, Iraq) Uday Taleb (Dohuk FC, Iraq) Defenders: Bassim Abbas (Al-Talaba, Iraq) Mohammed Ali Karim (Al-Jazira, UAE) Muayad Khalid (Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, Iraq) Fareed Majeed (Al-Talaba, Iraq) Dara Mohammed (Sulaymaniyah FC, Iraq) Ali Rehema (Al-Wakra, Qatar) Salam Shakir (Al-Khor, Qatar) Essam Yassin (Al-Amana, Iraq) Midfielders: Abdul-Wahab Abu Al-Hail (Sepahan, Iran) Nashat Akram (FC Twente, Netherlands) Karrar Jassim (Al-Wakra, Qatar) Mahdi Karim (Al-Khor, Qatar) Hawar Mulla Mohammed (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus) Halgurd Mulla Mohammed (Sulaymaniyah FC, Iraq) Salih Sadir (Al-Ahed, Lebanon) Samer Saeed (Al-Ahly Tripoli, Libya) Strikers: Alaa Abdul-Zahra (Al-Khor, Qatar) Emad Mohammed (Sepahan, Iran) Younis Mahmoud (Al-Gharafa, Qatar) Luay Salah (Arbil FC, Iraq)
Big Missing: Qusay Munir (Qatar SC, Qatar) Mustafa Karim (Ismaily SC, Egypt) Qusay Munir is our main Defensive-Midfielder, he is out because of injury. Bora called Abdul-Wahab Abu Al-Hail (32 years old) to cover his place. Mustafa Karim he topped the Egyptian League top scorers until the last 2 rounds when he lost the top scorers title by 1 goal different. he did not convince Bora. Other Missings: Ali Salah Hashim (Al-Wahda, UAE) Samal Saeed (Arbil, Iraq) Aws Ibrahim (Al-Zawraa, Iraq)
Group A Spain 9 pts 6GD South Africa 4 Pts 3GD Iraq 4 Pts 2 GD New zealand 0pt. Group B Brazil 7 Pts GD 5 Italy 7 Pts GD 4 Egypt 1 Pt. GD -5 US 1pt GD -5
Group A looks pretty easy. Iraq should be able to advance in 2nd place. But I'd be extremely surprised if anyone other than Brazil, Italy, or Spain win the cup.