Anyone following the FIFA Confederations Cup?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

spain has not lost since nov 1909...

Same players?

[The_Dude 1,142]

The U.S. team isn't terrible. Off the top of my head--They made it to the quarterfinal (unexpectedly) in the 2002 World Cup and drew against (champs) Italy in the 2006 WC in what was actually a very good game. They are inconsistent, but they're not exactly a joke team anymore.

Not a joke, but not a serious contender for a WC title.

[Otto 83]

The U.S. team isn't terrible. Off the top of my head--They made it to the quarterfinal (unexpectedly) in the 2002 World Cup and drew against (champs) Italy in the 2006 WC in what was actually a very good game. They are inconsistent, but they're not exactly a joke team anymore.

Not a joke, but not a serious contender for a WC title.

Yup - especially if they can only mostly stock the team with MLS players...

[The_Dude 1,142]

The U.S. team isn't terrible. Off the top of my head--They made it to the quarterfinal (unexpectedly) in the 2002 World Cup and drew against (champs) Italy in the 2006 WC in what was actually a very good game. They are inconsistent, but they're not exactly a joke team anymore.

Not a joke, but not a serious contender for a WC title.

Yup - especially if they can only mostly stock the team with MLS players...

It's a Catch 22 situation. They can't build up their domestic league to increase the collective skill level because all the best players want to go play in europe to better their game. I think the U.S. is doomed to suck at football like Europe is doomed to suck at basketball

[Otto 83]

It's a Catch 22 situation. They can't build up their domestic league to increase the collective skill level because all the best players want to go play in europe to better their game. I think the U.S. is doomed to suck at football like Europe is doomed to suck at basketball

Could hardly agree more - seems the US likes to be world chapions of sports only played here...

[The_Dude 1,142]

It's a Catch 22 situation. They can't build up their domestic league to increase the collective skill level because all the best players want to go play in europe to better their game. I think the U.S. is doomed to suck at football like Europe is doomed to suck at basketball

Could hardly agree more - seems the US likes to be world chapions of sports only played here...

Basketball is a global sport.

[_Simpson_ 250]

It's a Catch 22 situation. They can't build up their domestic league to increase the collective skill level because all the best players want to go play in europe to better their game. I think the U.S. is doomed to suck at football like Europe is doomed to suck at basketball

Could hardly agree more - seems the US likes to be world chapions of sports only played here...

Alot of our top athletes go into the NFL.

[Ladylethal 12]

Its only the confederations cup. Most of the players from spain and brazil don't give a hoot about it. Its a drain on them physically when they should be getting a full summers rest ahead of the World Cup next year. I don't doubt it was a good result from USA, despite the lack of significace to the game.

Not really, Confederation Cup is taken seriously in Brasil, and this team is probably pretty much what we're taking to the World Cup next year.

By the fans maybe, not the players. They are all thinking about not getting injured or fatigued because they all play in European leagues that will drain them physically and mentally enough as it is.

I don't care who wins, I don't mind spain losing to USA, just so long as Torres, Riera, Reina and Alonso don't get injured.

Except that how they play now may guarantee the call for the official World Cup team, plus they're also doing WC qualifications games around now, so the Confederation Cup can also be viewed as training grounds. I dunno, in Brasil the vibe is that it's an important competition as a preparation for the Cup.

[The_Dude 1,142]

It's a Catch 22 situation. They can't build up their domestic league to increase the collective skill level because all the best players want to go play in europe to better their game. I think the U.S. is doomed to suck at football like Europe is doomed to suck at basketball

Could hardly agree more - seems the US likes to be world chapions of sports only played here...

Alot of our top athletes go into the NFL.

You trying to further prove her point?

[_Simpson_ 250]

It's a Catch 22 situation. They can't build up their domestic league to increase the collective skill level because all the best players want to go play in europe to better their game. I think the U.S. is doomed to suck at football like Europe is doomed to suck at basketball

Could hardly agree more - seems the US likes to be world chapions of sports only played here...

Alot of our top athletes go into the NFL.

You trying to further prove her point?

I was responding to your post. I think why we are "doomed to suck"(although we are tearing it up now and some seem to be in denial) has more to do with the popularity of American football than our best soccer players leaving.

Edited June 26, 2009 by looking_up

[almaty 19]

spain has not lost since nov 1909...

Same players?

i assumed not..as Franco killed off the 1909 team as the were leftist cause they are losers

[Yoink 7]

we arent doomed to suck... USA soccer is improving...

Europe sucks at basketball? What would Tony Parker, Dirk Nowitski, Hedo Turkelu, Manu Ginobili, and Pau Gasol all say?

not to mention someone named Kobe Bryany who essentially grew up in Italy and learned his craft there

[_Simpson_ 250]

we arent doomed to suck... USA soccer is improving...

Europe sucks at basketball? What would Tony Parker, Dirk Nowitski, Hedo Turkelu, Manu Ginobili, and Pau Gasol all say?

not to mention someone named Kobe Bryany who essentially grew up in Italy and learned his craft there

Our soccer is approving and its not even our best athletes for the most part, I think that speaks volumes.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The U.S. team isn't terrible. Off the top of my head--They made it to the quarterfinal (unexpectedly) in the 2002 World Cup and drew against (champs) Italy in the 2006 WC in what was actually a very good game. They are inconsistent, but they're not exactly a joke team anymore.

Not a joke, but not a serious contender for a WC title.

If anything the England team are a joke. The bastards never win.

[_Simpson_ 250]

The U.S. team isn't terrible. Off the top of my head--They made it to the quarterfinal (unexpectedly) in the 2002 World Cup and drew against (champs) Italy in the 2006 WC in what was actually a very good game. They are inconsistent, but they're not exactly a joke team anymore.

Not a joke, but not a serious contender for a WC title.

If anything the England team are a joke. The bastards never win.

You can be a USA fan if you like.