Confederations Cup Recap and Highlights: Brazil and USA (yes, USA!) go Through
Okay, show of hands. Who, before today, predicted that USA — with one goal (a penalty), zero points and an excruciating -5 goal differential up to this point — would progress out of the group stages ahead of World Cup winners Italy and African champions Egypt?
Anybody? You, there, in the back? No?
Yeah, me neither.
For that to happen, Italy would have to lose by three to Brazil, and Egypt (a team I’ve always considered underrated) would have to lose to the US by a similar score. Improbable, right? Maybe even impossible?
And yet that’s exactly what happened.
In Egypt-USA, Egypt came in a little flat after losing Mohammed Zidan to a hamstring injury in the Italy game, and they never quite found their stride. And the US showed up ready to play, then had their confidence boosted by a fluky 21st minute Charlie Davies goal when Egyptian goalkeeper Essam el Hadary was taken out by his own player. And after that they never looked back. Further goals by Michael Bradley (on a Landon Donovan assist) and Clint Dempsey.
The US will have to hope they haven’t used up their miracle quota, because now they play Spain in the semis.
And in the other match, Italy had a night to forget. They especially won’t want to think much about a ten-minute period at the end of the first half, when Brazil scored all three of their goals. Although they did have some help from Andrea Dossena, who capped off the half with an own goal, put in like he meant it.
Ouch.
I caught a lot of the replay, and outside of those ten minutes, Italy had plenty of opportunities and didn’t really look bad. It’s just that Brazil looked better. And (dare I say it?) younger. Robinho and Luis Fabiano in particular looked on fire, and Italy had nothing to match that. I think we may be seeing some housecleaning (and maybe younger players?) in this team before World Cup.
And here’s what the semifinals will look like:
Spain vs. USA, Weds., 6/24
Brazil vs. South Africa, Thurs. 6/25
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Comments
By Matt | June 21st, 2009 at 3:25 pm 
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
By Rob | June 21st, 2009 at 3:40 pm I didn’t predict it, but I always knew there was a chance as long as the US got 1 in the first half. They did that, and I’m glad I watched the game.
Posted from 
United States
By Arminius | June 21st, 2009 at 4:40 pm I agree with Matt’s eloquent statement.
By Futbol2010 | June 21st, 2009 at 4:41 pm Two things: Italy is ageing. And they had no proven goal scorer on the field.
On the US: They turned up.And tackled, and challenged for balls. And attacked.
On miracle quotas: I think it is a Spain vs Brazil final. And on current form, Brazil (who leads in South American qualifiers and had a tougher group) should win.
Nice site.
By Kieran | June 21st, 2009 at 4:48 pm Which means, and no offence USA and South Africa fans, the most likely final is Spain vs Brazil, exactly what we we’re all looking forward to. GO DAVID VILLA!
Posted from 
Australia
By Weston | June 21st, 2009 at 5:07 pm well i wanted either italia of the US of A to go through and i suprisingly got the latter.
Posted from United States
By Scott | June 21st, 2009 at 5:44 pm I never suspected everything would fall into place. I figured we would win but only by maybe 1-0 or something like that.
To think everything just worked out how it needed to…
Awesome, they better at least make an effort against Spain. I’m sure for most of the world it’ll be an uninteresting game, but for us here in the US, I can’t wait to see how they fare.
Thank god Dempsey moved more centrally. The guy was so uninterested the entire game and he is a fine player. Bradley needs to really figure this team out because he still doesn’t seem to understand them mentally. It doesn’t look like everyone has the same motivation or confidence on the field, they’re all over the place. Pleeeeease Bradley, learn and adapt so we at least stand a chance against Spain (Los Conquistadores!)
Posted from United States
By mike | June 21st, 2009 at 6:15 pm one word about italy’s performance:
PATHETIC.
or as DiDi would say
“ITS A F*CKING DISGRACE”
Posted from United States
By Mike | June 22nd, 2009 at 6:39 am So head-to-head means nothing in the Confederations Cup. That’s pathetic. How is that not the first tie-breaker? If I’m Italy, I’m pissed.
http://startingeleven.blogspot.com/2009/06/starting-eleven-football-blog-roundup_22.html
Posted from United States
By David | June 22nd, 2009 at 9:56 am Well, it has always been goals for as the second tie-breaker. Italy could have done with a little more defense.
Anyway, it is all to see who gets to lose to Spain anyway. 
By MoMONEY | June 22nd, 2009 at 11:11 am Typical Egypt… Great talents and potential + horrible mentality, coaching, and discipline…
By Johnny1987 | June 22nd, 2009 at 8:30 pm Who could have been so wise, so analytical, with so much for-sight and intuition about the beautiful game of soccer to call the US going on to the second round?
Who?
This guy.
All i needed was for Italy to lose. I thought we were going to hand them that loss, honestly. The world champs came thru in the end though and lost, and i do appreciate that… on a sad note, we were their only win.
Now whos ready for Spain? they were last beat by Romania, and we are way better then Romania, so we got a chance right?
U-S-A U-S-A U-S-A
PS its sad that half (or way more) of the people who commented with a prediction were from the US, and from what i saw i’m the only one who had us coming out of the round?
By Laurie | June 22nd, 2009 at 9:03 pm PS its sad that half (or way more) of the people who commented with a prediction were from the US, and from what i saw i’m the only one who had us coming out of the round?
Johnny, I would guess that most of those are fans who saw the Costa Rica game. I certainly did not have hope after that one.
Posted from United States
By Laurie | June 22nd, 2009 at 9:04 pm P.S. South African hookers? The US thanks you from the bottom of our hearts.
Posted from United States
By Johnny | June 23rd, 2009 at 5:53 pm Laurie – On the same thought, do we know who is hooking up Spain with the escorts tonight?
Ya know, since it seems a solid strategy at this point.
By Eduardo | June 24th, 2009 at 11:44 am Good luck USA 
By Fokai Futbol | June 25th, 2009 at 6:28 pm player was offside drawing the keeper when dani alves took free kick. goal should have been disallowed. where was the offside flag?
By nino | June 28th, 2009 at 2:21 pm wow, wow what a game we should be prode of the USA TEAM WOW.
SEE YOU IN THE WORLD CUP.
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