Good morning folks. It is another light day on the soccer calendar, but a special because of the kickoff of the 2009 Confederations Cup.
Iraq and South Africa have started proceeding with the tournament's opening match, with Spain set to take on New Zealand in the second match of the day.
That isn't the only soccer on the slate. The Columbus Crew take on Chivas USA in a match-up of top MLS teams.
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 soccer.
!!! can’t wait for tomorrow !!! USA USA USA! weee hoooo!
yessss
getting so excited can’t sleep
Torres. Master of the universe.
hahaha, so you are allowed to use your arm to intentionally block a cross inside the box as long as your arm isn’t stretched out too far? That’s good to know.
Andrew Boyens helping Red Bull expand their Brand around the world.
Way to represent!!!!!!!!
BTW, can we (Red Bulls) cut a player while at an international tournement?
Trent, I watched the second half of the game and thought it was a good game. Ekpo should have gotten a pk and it should have been a red card, though it was hardly cleets up. The handball was correctly not called. His arm was not out far enough. Of course Schelloto could have been called for a foul on the first goal. I did not think it was one, but it could have been. All and all the Crew one and deservedly so.
Just got home from the Crew game. I must say the refs must be getting chewed out about too many pks because Chivas had a handball in the box and Ekpo got slide tackled in the box from behind cleets up during a breakaway. Crew still won though 2-1 and controlled the game so its ok. I’m not sure why Padula headed the ball towards the middle on the goal the Crew let in. I learned not to do that in my first soccer practice.
is us v italy on tv?
Andrew “The Joke” Boyens lives up to his name
Yes.
MLS officiating has been disgraceful this year. Have they gotten a single penalty decision correct?
Schelloto’s goal was sick, and then they don’t call the penalty when Ekpo gets knocked down with the ball at his feet in the box?
There have been worse calls.
Boyens looked absolutely horrible. I cannot believe he’s on either the NZ squad or the Red Bulls.
That was terrible by Boyens on Villa’s goal.
Odd, even when the Red Bulls aren’t playing, they still get embarrassed on the field.
Anyone going to SA2010 from DC/NY?
But I could be wrong
mcjones, I haven’t been looking at the ticket sales info lately but it doesn’t have me concerned. I feel like no matter where the World Cup is, it’s such a huge event, and will always have great attendance. No idea if all those people are going to find it easy to travel around or anything, but that’s another story. I just don’t think many people take the Confed Cup that seriously and will travel across the globe to see it, especially if a bigger tournament is in the same place in a years time
Am I the only person worried about the attendance at these games and how it may be a reflection on what we will see in a year?
Who is this assistant referee? I think he is just bored and is raising his arm to keep himself busy.
I would argue that every MLS team is better than New Zealand. You’d be hard pressed to find a team that would start both Simon Elliott and Andrew Boyens, as they’re each having trouble finding playing time on the two worst teams in MLS.
Italy is very beatable, if the US can score first than Italy can’t use its typical “let’s put 8 men on defense” technique. Italy is awful when having to come from behind.
To be fair, New Zealand is missing Ryan Nelson, captain and top center back. And no MLS team would look any better against Spain.
Does anyone know any good blog/groups about Americans traveling to the World Cup in South Africa???
Last WC there was a great yahoo group of over a 1000 people. Its time to start planning my trip, but I need a place to start.
THANKS
“Anyone think Italy may be ripe for the picking… NZ scored 4 goals against them…yeesh
Posted by: Andy in Atlanta”
NZ scored 3 against Italy and Italy didn’t have their best team on field. Add Buffon and Chiellini and suddenly they aren’t so vulnerable.
Of course that doesn’t mean US can’t beat Italy.
Red Bulls quality defending!!!
New Zealand will have no chance against the 5th place team from Asia…. no wonder Australia wanted out of Oceania
Anyone think Italy may be ripe for the picking… NZ scored 4 goals against them…yeesh
what a terrible error!
New Zealand looks like they spent all their preparation time working on going forward (which worked against Italy). Too bad they’re playing the best team in the world and it has backfired like crazy.
Spain is dissecting the New Zealand defense like an 8th grade biology experiment. However, is it just me, or do they seem to be kind of weak in back too? New Zealand looked like it had some chances there.
Clinical
Don’t feel bad for New Zealand!
If this were the All Blacks against the Spanish Rugby team it would be just as one sided.
This is painful. It is laughable. Gonna go enjoy the 90 degree weather. Can’t watch anymore of this.
Also, I hope our Torres is just as effective tom…from midfield no less!
To be fair Kevin, the horns in Central America and soccer family type games annoy me just as much, so it’s not just SA bashing. Apart from the annoyance, it seems like a lazy way of producing noise instead of organizing songs and chants. Rich coming from a USA soccer supporter where our history of singing is poor, yes, but still. Anyway
I agree with adam. In terms of results, I don’t care about this tournament and how far we go. I mean, I’m not saying it’s a good tournament but its value lies in the experience and getting used to playing great teams abroad
New Zealand is easily a top 10 side in the Alaskan League.
LA FURIA ROJA!
New Zealand’s biggest loss to date was against Australia in ’36. Can Spain do better than 10-0?
I just feel bad for NZL
4-0. Like I said in a previous post “…like playing a video game on easy”!
I am surprised that a goal wasn’t scored during the blackout on ESPN2. You aren’t trying to win against these guys. You are trying to weather the storm and not look like you should play in the Alaskan league.
Half of the MLS teams are better than NZ. Spain is just being evil.
this isn’t a soccer match, it’s a preview of FIFA ’10… OHHHHhhhhhhh
Any chance Harkes and Dellacamera are actually in South Africa?
Good god. I’m going grocery shopping.
Yeah this is gonna be an ugly one.
Holy crap. Hate to be the NZ keeper.
Well this isn’t very promising for next year. The Spain game is half empty and now the tv feed has cut out.
… are there going to be blackouts in the World Cup as well?
Ouch