We actually qualified? Awesome.
Watching last nights FIFA Confederations Cup matches I turned up on my sofa expecting a bit of a dead rubber, of two dull draws and Egypt to join the already qualified Brazil in the semi-finals and try and make an African mark in the tournament. The USA were already on the plane home. Two games, two defeats, no points, minus 5 goal difference.
However, as the first half of Italy v Brazil unfolded and Italy looked like the aging team that they are, Brazil scampered into a 3-0 lead. It became clear that the USA might have to check back in to their team hotel. They were leading 1-0 against Egypt and only needed a swing of two more goals across the two matches.
When Clint 'All American' Dempsey headed in to score and the USA clinched a 3-0 victory to match Brazil's win, the crazy turnaround was complete.
I have never known such a turnaround in a major tournament, but think it is a real shame that Egypt could not make it to the semi-finals. With football coming to the African continent I wanted the FIFA Confederations Cup to showcase African football a bit and build towards next summers tournament to see if Pele's prediction will come closer to coming true (In 1977 Pele predicted and African nation would win the FIFA World Cup before 2000).
I appreciate that South Africa have made it to the Semi-Finals, but more out of New Zealand and Iraq's inability than through any quality of their own and they will not pose any sort of threat to Brazil in the Semi-Final.
That should leave a final between Spain v Brazil - which should prove an enthralling match. Spain who love to keep the ball and Brazil who must be the best counter-attacking International team out there. They are probably the only team who consider a corner for their opposition as a decent chance to score themselves. Im backing Brazil to end Spain's run in a game that promises goals.
On the basis of this tournament to date, it still looks a certainty that the winner of next year's FIFA World Cup will be European or South American - and it would not surprise me at all if it were Spain and Brazil in the last four again this time next year.
Filed under //
Africa
Brazil
Clint Dempsey
Confederations Cup
FIFA
Football
Pele
South Africa
Spain
USA
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