Confederations Cup: Brazil Humiliate USA, Egypt Surprise Italy

June 18th, 2009 | by: Daryl |

Educational day in Group B of the Confederation Cup. We learned that Maicon vs DaMarcus Beasley is not a fair match up, and that neither is Vincenzo Iaquinta vs Essam El-Hadary.

Highlights of Brazil 3-0 USA and Egypt 1-0 Italy after the jump…

Brazil 3-0 USA

There was much disappointment from USA fans. And quite rightly. They were pretty much awful. And had a man sent off. Again. This tame it as Sasha Kljestan for a badly timed slide tackle on Ramires. Maybe the US should fire Paul Scholes as their tackling coach? Or maybe heads higher up the coaching staff should roll…

But this game wasn’t all about USA’s woefulness, there was Brazil’s brilliantness too.

Especially Maicon, whose early cross allowed Felipe Melo to head home, and who’s bit of magic produced a beautiful chip over Tim Howard for the third. Inbetween there was that embarrassing moment for US fans where DaMarcus Beasley failed to trap a ball from a US corner and about half a second later Robinho had it up the other end and in the net. A very harsh way to learn a very simple lesson.

Egypt 1-0 Italy

Egypt made sure to keep Group B interesting with a surprise win 1-0 over Italy. Mohamed Hommos headed home a 40th corner (Confed Cup is all about goals from corners, eh?) and Egypt held on to that lead until full time.

Vincenzo Iaquinta will wake up tomorrow wondering how he didn’t manage to equalize. But the answer will be simple: Essam El-Hadary. The Egyptian keeper was in unstoppable octopus mode, blocking shot after shot after shot.

So, now that Egypt have beaten the current world champions… can we stop saying The Pharaohs are “better than you think” and all just agree that yes, they’re actually quite good?

All of which leaves Group B looking a lot like this:

[source: FIFA.com]

It’s all about goal difference now. So USA have a mathematical chance if they beat Egypt heavily and Italy lose to Brazil heavily. But not a realistic chance.

Italy and Egypt are level on points but Italy has a goal difference that’s just one better.

If it all gets a bit complicated, then FIFA has this to say about Confederations Cup group stage tiebreakers:

The ranking of each team in each group will be determined as follows:
a) greatest number of points obtained in all group matches;
b) goal difference in all group matches;
c) greatest number of goals scored in all group matches.
If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria,
their rankings will be determined as follows:
d) greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between
the teams concerned;
e) goal difference resulting from the group matches between the
teams concerned;
f) greater number of goals scored in all group matches between the
teams concerned;
g) drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee.

So it’s all about the final round of games, which happen this Sunday June 21st.

Brazil vs Italy
Egypt vs USA

Kickoffs are simultaneous at 8:30pm local, 7:30pm UK time, 2:30pm US Eastern.

Tags: 1-0, 3-0, Brazil, Confederations Cup 2009, Egypt, goals, highlights, Italy, USA, video, World Football, World Soccer

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Comments

By Bruno Romani | June 18th, 2009 at 2:51 pm

Egypt has been a pleasant surprise. And, indeed, we gave the US a nice spank. The level of American soccer surprised me in a very negative way.

Posted from United States

By Tamim | June 18th, 2009 at 2:59 pm

i told you, i love it when we are the underdogs!!!

By Johnny | June 18th, 2009 at 3:14 pm

Keep your chin up USA fans. We can still earn the Tourney’s Fair Play Award.

Wut, another Red? Danmit.

By Tom | June 18th, 2009 at 4:51 pm

Pharoahs have to go back and qualify for the world cup after this. They’ve made a pretty average start to their campaign.

Posted from Australia

By Gaston | June 18th, 2009 at 5:08 pm

egypt has always been good. they have one of the most stable football structures in africa. there own league which most egyptians play in. there own coaches and their clubs always participate in fifa club world cups. so its not a surprise to see them win

Posted from United States

By Weston | June 18th, 2009 at 6:40 pm

today sucked in the football world for an italian and US of A footy fan like myself

Posted from United States

By Manuelito | June 18th, 2009 at 8:13 pm

Egypt is going to beat those Spanish sons of bitches nice and good after they beat good ol’ Uncle Sam!

By MattyDub | June 19th, 2009 at 1:14 am

Who was the USA right winger pulling out the step overs and the Rabona!?!
Also, why doesn’t Dempsey do tricks for Fulham, he pulled a few off…

Posted from United Kingdom

By sandrahn | June 19th, 2009 at 6:38 am

I’m a proud Brazilian who’s always loved Egyptian football. I studied at the American Univ. of Cairo and have many friends in Egypt. Visited the country many times, Egyptians are a wonderful, warm, beautiful people. I kept telling everyone I know not to dismiss Egypt in this tournament. They are very good in cup tournaments based in Africa. It’s just qualifying for the wc that they always have trouble with! This uninspiring Dunga team has totally failed to generate any enthusiasm in me, so I’ve been rooting for Egypt to do whatever they can in this competition. At least they’ve managed to surprised many who knew nothing about the mighty Pharoahs.

Posted from United States

By Abdo | June 19th, 2009 at 7:02 am

It’s going to be an interesting day Sunday, because so many different scenarios come into place. If in one scenario Italy and Egypt both win their games, the top three will be tied at 6, then goal difference will come into play, which will favor Italy unless Egypt are able to win the US big. I’m sure though that Brazil will do their best to atleast get a tie with Italy so as not to place 2nd in the group and face Spain in the Semis… In another Scenario if Brazil and the US both win, there will be a 3 way tie for second at 3 points, which again will be measured by goal difference, which in this case Italy will probably make it. To say the least Sunday will be an interesting day! (US Open that day as well xD)

By Hossam | June 19th, 2009 at 7:09 am

congratulations for Egypt
we played a fantastic game against Brazil but it wasn’t the result we want
now we played and got the result
USA match will be so difficult as we played Brazil by there style ( always attack ) Italy by there style (defence and counter attacks ) but absolute physical style of USA will be difficult especially after long season in our league ended by extra final match Al-ahly vs Esmaily to detect the league title to Al-ahly .most of Egypt team play on Ahly & Esmaily .added four tough matches against Omam , Algria , Brazil , Italy so our players are very exhausted
but I think Abu-treka`s friends will make it to the second round or may be more .

By Hugo | June 21st, 2009 at 12:48 am

I’m brazilian and I’m rooting for Egypt. Because Egypt represents brazilian football in Confederations Cup.

By chi hair straightener | June 22nd, 2009 at 12:38 am

I voted for bradley to be fired because this is how the US should play ALL THE TIME. The fact that they don‘t is a symptom of coaching not personnel.

Posted from Australia

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