By MICHAEL KLINE
Today’s soccer action will feature the Confederations Cup on ESPN, with Mexico kicking the afternoon off when they face Italy.
Mexico has been in poor form this year, winning only a single match out of seven so far. Good production from star striker Javier Hernandez, who has only scored twice for his national team so far this year, is critical if Mexico have any hope at winning the tournament.
Later in the afternoon, Spain will face Uruguay in a very high-profile Confederations Cup matchup.
Spain will look to continue their 25-match unbeaten streak in competitive matches, with hopes of finally winning the Confederations Cup, the only major competition left that has escaped their grasp. Luis Suarez returns from suspension to face the world champions, a big boost for a Uruguayan side who has struggled immensely through World Cup qualifying so far.
If you will be watching today’s action, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (Today’s TV schedule is after the jump):
TODAY’S SOCCER ON TV
SUNDAY
3pm – ESPN – Mexico vs. Italy – Confederations Cup
6pm – ESPN – Spain vs. Uruguay – Confederations Cup
Mexico looks like like a shell of it’s former self. Their defense is slow and makes too many mental mistakes, and their offense has trouble scoring goals against the likes of Panama, Costa Rica, Jamaica just to name a few.
Forza Celeste!
finally!!!!
Nothing more painfull than to watch Barcelo —correction Spain play. Worst of all Uruguay allows it. I think the Spaniars are better actors than the Mexicans!
you can see I think that Uruguay has decided to take the hard fouls from behind and earn the whistle if it’s going to blow anyway.
and can’t lose to Spain in the parking lot
The combinations by Spain are great, and the passing is almost perfect. They could probably run the score up to 10-0, but will likely just keep to their plan of defense through possession. It is brilliant football that Uruguay does not have an answer for.
I don’t care if all the media keeps telling me how amazing Spain is, or how we should all marvel at them, they are a complete bore. Tiki-Taka….Tiki..Taka…tika take..Uruguayan players comes within 1 meter, Spanish player falls in terrible anguish. as a Neutral it is damn boring.
So this “tiki-taka” is boring, yet they’ve scored 2 goals and uruguay nothing….only non-spanish fans will complain about this….IF your team was playing and winning like spain you would be loving it,,,yes it’s one way futbol,but just because the other team can’t string two passes together, doesn’t mean this tiki-taka is boring.
just my .02 cents.
Spain and all the rolling around and exaggerating everything, enough already…Japanese official eating it up too. Spain totally dominant but geez
Wow I hope Uruguay wins just to shut Darke up. The King of Cliché is in full front-running form. If the South American side happens to score, watch the U-turn Darke makes to start asking questions of Spain.
How’s that working out so far? 🙂
Because you know, “it is going to take a very, very good team to beat Spain.”
Cheers
Ok, I guess that ain’t happenin
Looks like Suarez had his teeth sharpened during his break.
What golden generation? I think it was the chicken!
Now time for La Furia Roja to dismantle Uruguay. If Balotelli takes his shirt off and gets a needless yellow then it’s there’s a high likelihood Luis Suarez will follow his script and kick, slap, punch or bite a Spaniard today. Can’t wait.
He’ll take the Spaniard for a “tapa”.
And Italy beats down Mexico. If you struggle against Jamaica you’re going to be dominated by Italy. Mexico owes what good they did to Dos Santos including their goal and I know Chicarito took the penalty but it was Dos Santos individual skill that earned it. The worst thing for Mexico is there didn’t seem to be any fight towards the end of the match. It was pure resignation as they watched Pirlo dribble and pass, dribble and pass unimpeded.
haha, Mexico completely owned and you see the weakness of some of their players. Obviously they have a bunch of talent but they also are undersized and don’t have the pieces in the midfield.
I don’t think that size is as important as you think it is. Pirlo is tiny.
overrun in the midfield was Mexico, Pirlo did whatever he wanted
Italy isn’t really playing that well, but they’re still dominating.
Classic Balotelli! Flipping his shoe to show the ref that he did get clipped. He may be a jerk and a liability but the dude has flair.
Ives since Mexico started the trend how about the US soccer federation put two stars on the US mens World Cup jersey to represent the two World Cups that the US soccer federation has won 🙂
I suggest you get your eyes checked.
Either that or you’re just trolling for the sake of trolling and not doing a very good job of it.
Nice dive by Gio.
Word.
Not sure what you’re referring to, all replays show it was clearly a foul.
No more of a dive then pirlo’s. both were fouls in the box, but one was called and one wasn’t. Players exaggerate everything to drive the point home.
down he goes again…guys should take take hard nasty fouls on him and earn the whistle since he’s going to go to ground anyway
Why is Corona still in Mexico?
hasnt had as much exposure in the past as no, because Ochoa was the starter for a long time.
Maza Rodriguez has been horrid today! Nowhere near as steady as when he was playing in Europe.
nice pounce by Gio. Interesting game.
Did Corona bail out of attempting to save that? Not that he would have gotten there, but it looked like he dropped his arms to protect his fall.
was thinking and wondering the same thing. Maybe he was actually closer to saving it than he thought. Almost looked like he pulled his arms back and let it go in.
It really is ridiculous how good Pirlo is.
mexico looks outclassed, man what a difference a year makes.
Really makes you hate Bob Bradley for putting Bornstein in the Gold Cup final.
Two things:
1.) GC 2011 was two years ago
2.) It’s nice that the US has all this time to focus on WCQ. Imagine if the US were struggling in WCQ and then had to go face Italy, Brazil & Japan.
+ 1
Perspective – very refreshing.
So we DON’T want to qualify for the Confederations Cup? Everyone was pretty happy about it last year, for the sake of the CC itself and for WC 2010 preparations..
2009, that is, not “last year”
Balotelli looks to be a handful today. Although in the 25th minute, he was slow getting back onside.
Chicharito with a 2 on 1 and blows it. He can’t pass or make good decisions on the ball. He’s an extremely fast player, with excellent vision and run-making ability. That’s it. It’s to score all of those goals when you’re wide open and 6 yards from the net.
Easy.
He’s a pure poacher
Bahahhaahhahaha!!! Are my eyes deceiving me or is Mexico wearing two stars under their badge ? Talk about being desperate for intl recognition!!!bahahahahahhah by that rationale the US men should wear two stars on their jersey two !!!!!!!bhahahhahahahahhahahahahaha
I’m guessing the stars are for their Confederations Cup and Olympic tournament wins. Mexico has won two FIFA tournaments, US has won zero.
The US has won two word cups should we wear stars for that ?i anything two World Cup are more meaningful than a kindergarten Wc and a Mickey Mouse tournament of friemdlies. How many stars do Denmark Nigeria brazil Arentina France and China wear for their Confederations, Youth and women’s World cups?
Answer 0
Not sure why you’d bring up the women…The USWNT badge does have stars on it for our FIFA victories. Why would the men’s uniform have them?
I’m just stating where the stars might have come from. Mexico’s senior team, unlike ours, has actually won a FIFA tournament. We have only won regional tournaments at the men’s senior level (aka the only one that matters)
Wrong the US has won two World Cups. US soccer history 101.
There are no stars in Mexico’s jersey.
They are the Mexican and Italian flags for today’s game.
The women have. Why would the men’s kit have two stars for something the women’s team won? That makes no sense.
mexico cheats!
I’ve forgotten how much Mexico flops..
No-call on Dos Santos there? What was the ref looking at to miss that?
It just occurred to me that my sister gifted me an Azurri jersey a few years ago, mistakenly thinking I was an Italian fan (I’m a neutral usually regarding them). Today, what do you know? I AM an Italy fan. Time to change
Mexico at 6’s and 7’s in the back. They are getting ripped apart already. The goal should be coming soon for Italy.
but trying to apply pressure in the middle third, and getting worked almost every time they do
Wow, Corona had to come up big there.
What’s up with DDR’s single long sleeve? Fashion statement?
he always does thatvto cover his tats
Love the mexico kit today…..do they always go with the red shorts and red socks.
Green kit, white shorts, red socks traditionally. I like it too
Say what you will about Mexico, but they’ve got sweet kits.
I do, however, prefer the white shorts w/ green top & red socks.
Whither Giovanni Rossi? I think I’m just out of the loop.
No, it’s Rossi that is out of the loop. Too many injuries in the last couple of years.
i take it you mean giuseppe rossi?
now that’s some schadenfreude i can get behind… full credit to him for playing for a team that truly represents his ungrateful expat-based family. may he heal quickly enough to watch his last chance at a world cup comfortably from inside a lovely italian villa.
+50 Stars and 13 Stripes
The Confederation Cup is NOT a “major tournament”. It is just a warm-up event for the organizers of the World Cup. WC, Euro and other regional cups are majors.
How is this only Pirlo’s 100th CAP?
Mexico opts to go with Gio as its second striker and starts with Aquino on the wing.
Their lineup tells me they drop deep and counter, with Zavala and Torrado in the middle
Two quality soccer games and game 5 of the NBA finals, makes for one hell of a day of sports on tv
Final round of the US Open golf too. Quite a day.
Oh yeah. Is Mickelson still in the lead? I hope the man gets his first major.
He was until the 3rd hole. This is going to be an up and down day. The lead is even par.