SB Nation User Blog: Left Midfield

Brazil Beat South Africa: Will Play USA in Final

Left Midfield — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:48:17 -0000

Brazil overcame a gutsy South African side to secure a place in the Confederations Cup Final against the US. It took Brazil until the final few minutes to get the goal they needed to book their place in the final - Alves scoring a stunning free kick. Now the Brazilians will face Team USA at Ellis Park on Sunday.

Brazil Meets South Africa for Right to Play USA

Left Midfield — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:13:43 -0000

Brazil meets the Confederations Cup host South Africa Thursday to determine which side will advance to the final and the right to play the US. Team USA can sit back and relax while enjoying a game which will see Kaka leading Brazil against an improving but limited host side.

What do you think the final score will be?

Who do you think the US wants to play?

Use this as a game open thread.

U.S. Victory over Spain Sign of Things to Come

Left Midfield — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:46:31 -0000

One of the questions that fans of Team USA will be considering in the aftermath of the victory against Spain is whether this is a sign of things to come. Will the US be able to build on the performance and result and compete with Brazil (as long as they do not slip against South Africa) in the final on Sunday? And will the US be able to get to the quarter finals at the World Cup next year (a fair target for a team ranked 14th in the World)?

The answer to both questions is, I think, yes. However, for the US to be successful, particularly at the World Cup next year, they need to continue to develop the fighting qualities on show against Spain, bring in a bit more flair (Freddy Adu and Benny F?) and, at the coaching side of the spectrum, change things using substitutes and tactical shifts.

It is this last phase that concerns me. Spain dominated large parts of the game and on a different day their near 30 shots would have been enough to secure an easy victory. Bradley needs to be more aggressive in supporting his players from the side lines. Early in the second half he probably should have either brought on a striker able to hold the ball up or made the shift he made later by bringing on Benny F and sending Clint up front.

I think this US side can get to the quarter finals next year but it will require the guts we saw on Wednesday and more assistance from the coach.

Poll

Can the US build on their win v Spain and beat Brazil (or South Africa) on Sunday?

United States Beats Spain 2-0

Left Midfield — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:08:17 -0000

A gutsy performance by team USA saw them beat the European Champions and the best team in the World Spain to claim a place in the Confederations Cup Final where they will face either the hosts, South Africa, or a Brazilian team led by former World Player of the Year Kaka.

The U.S. took an early lead after Jose Altidore beat Spain and Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas and hung tough under incredible pressure from the Spanish side. Spain kept the ball characteristically and created a number of chances but a combination of good goalkeeping from Tim Howard, last ditch defending and less than sharp finishing prevented them from breaking through. Dempsey took advantage of a sloppy piece of defending from Ramos to score the second.

Spain will look at this game and feel they should have kept their world record win streak alive but this result also made clear that they rely on Andres Iniesta to work in tandem with his Barcelona team mate Xavi. The twinkle towed brilliance of Inietsa was missing for Spain and they also will better understand the need for sharper defending at the full back position as both goals were a result of defensive mistakes.

But this should not take away from a brave US performance (they even played the final few mins with 10 men) after Michael Bradley was sent off for a rough challenge. They will now go on and play the final.

Formation Used By Brazil

Left Midfield — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:31:45 -0000

Formation Used By Brazil

Earlier in the week we discussed the Dunga 2.0 version of the Brazilian team. Check out this terrific piece of analysis as a complement to the GF post.

A Wonderful Photo Series by the Guardian on South Africa

Left Midfield — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:18:02 -0000

Here at Global Futbol we are starting to get ready for the World Cup next year and will try and bring you a regular stream of pictures and stories from the host country. Here is a nice photo series to start things off.

Iran Will Be Banned by FIFA

Left Midfield — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:50:13 -0000

Via friends at NIAC:

Guardian

The guardian just reported that the Iranian authorities have taken revenge on four of the six players who wore the green wrist bands in the world cup qualifying game held last Wednesday in South Korea.

“According to the pro-government newspaper Iran, four players – Ali Karimi, 31, Mehdi Mahdavikia, 32, Hosein Ka’abi, 24 and Vahid Hashemian, 32 – have been “retired” from the sport after their gesture in last Wednesday’s match against South Korea in Seoul”.

“The fate of the other two players who wore the wristbands is unknown. None of the team members were given back their passports upon returning to Tehran after the match.”

The four players have also been banned from speaking to any media sources.

If this is accurate Iran will be banned from global futbol.

Pressure on Iranian Futbol Players?

Left Midfield — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:16:07 -0000

This is a very worrying development:

The Iranian footballers who showed solidarity with the pro-Mousavi demonstrators by sporting green wristbands during last week's world cup qualifier against South Korea in Seoul have had their passports confiscated, according to Balatarin.

They have also been banned from giving media interviews while state newspapers in Iran have launched a concerted attack on them, calling on the football authorities to force them into early retirement.

More details here, here and here.

Frankly FIFA needs to weigh in and make clear that this type of attack in unacceptable and will lead to the side being banned from international tournies... which is standard practice when governments start influencing things.

England U21 Side Playing Well

Left Midfield — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:18:02 -0000

This article in the Guardian is well worth a read. The England U21 side is having a super summer so far and a number of these players may well end up in the full squad that will travel to South Africa next summer. Here is a nice quote that should make English fans v. happy:

England got the ball down and passed it. And passed it. Some of their slick interchange work had the Germans chasing shadows and, slowly but surely, England took control and prised their opponents apart.

ESPN Secure EPL Rights for Next Year!

Left Midfield — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:58:04 -0000

Check out the details here.