Re: The Official Confederations Cup thread

[Ganso]

Danilo has been average and Rafael wont get into our squad for the next few after the olympic games.Hell, I think he wont ever get called up again unless he gets to goat level

[djfawnz]

sorry, maybe i shouldny have put that in the same line but, i just think almost 50% of the players are bases in Brazil....i just dont think the level is high enough for them to win WC

[Ganso]

----------------------Cesar---------------
Alves---Thiago---Luiz/Dante-Fil. Luis
---------Fernando---Hernanes--------
--Lucas/Hulk-----Oscar-------Neymar
---------------Fred/Damiao--------------


Thats 3 non european players in our lineup....Neymai is probably going to europe next month along with Damiao.So we will most likely have 1 or 2 non euopean players in the starting 11

[barca 2011]

Spain needs this one after what happened 4 years ago. They were so on track to not just win but to make history with the longest NT streak since brazil in the 70s and they lose to the US of all teams ffs.

Oh and will we finally see Spain and Brazil play each other in a tourney?? When was the last time they ever did? It's as if they're always on track to face off but never quite do.

[Ganso]

Spain needs this one after what happened 4 years ago. They were so on track to not just win but to make history with the longest NT streak since brazil in the 70s and they lose to the US of all teams ffs.

Oh and will we finally see Spain and Brazil play each other in a tourney?? When was the last time they ever did? It's as if they're always on track to face off but never quite do.

we have faced each other 8 times, 5 of those were in WCs.Last time was in 1999, 14 years ago.

We could be facing Spain in the final if we top our respective groups and Spain beat italy and we beat Uruguay in the semi finals.This competition is actually going to be interesting this time

[windkick]

Fortunantley for Brazil, this will probably be the weakest version of Spain since they started winning. Not that the players stepping up to replace the old vets arent good enough, it's just the nucleous they had before was already meshing perfectly. Spain should still be the favorites over the Brazil though. Brazil has been sub-par since there golden generation retired

[McAgger]

Glad Lucas and Coutinho didn't get called up. Would be pretty bad if they had to miss this important preseason or worse get injured for this poverty trophy.

[Ganso]

Fortunantley for Brazil, this will probably be the weakest version of Spain since they started winning. Not that the players stepping up to replace the old vets arent good enough, it's just the nucleous they had before was already meshing perfectly. Spain should still be the favorites over the Brazil though. Brazil has been sub-par since there golden generation retired

of course,spain are still favorites against any NT.The only shot we have at winning something in the next year is having home advantage.

[REWB]

Ramires stamina and ability to press the ball is unmatched by any Brazilian player. Silly not to take him.

what? i thought ramires was kenyan anyway

[barca 2011]

---------------------D. Lopez/De gea--------------------

M.M/Azpi-----Inigo/Pique-----Puyol/Ramos-----Naxto/Alba

-------------Javi G./Javi M--------Benat/Xabi------------

Mata/Silva------------Isco/Thiago------------Tello/Santi

-----------------------??????????------------------------

That's an XI which includes lots of the the next up and coming players for Spain and guys who (for the most part) don't get as many callups as the others. Of course this isn't including most of the current (or past, if u will) guys who were crucial in the WC/Euros so I left out major names like Xavi, Iniesta, Villa, Cesc, and Busquets but even with that I think if VdB called up the 20 players I listed above they would still make the final for sure.

As far as the striker position however, I drew a blank. No one is really in hot form atm as far as a Spanish striker and Pedro's the only one who lights it up for Spain nowadays. Even Villa hasn't been himself so this smaller tournament would be a good platform to try and regain some form. Or they could just use any AM such as Isco, Santi Mata or Silva and go the false 9 route. That's actually up for a good discussion here but even without the majority of the WC winning team in the lineup Spain STILL looks like they could win given Brazil's inconsistencies as of late.

[lszanto]

Was hoping Oscar would be given a rest I guess that means the club will have to let him off of preseason or do what Mata did at the start of the season and give him a few games break, he simply plays too many games for a youngster.

Pretty excited to see this Bernard guy play as i've only seen him on youtube and he looks a real treat, what are the chances of him getting some playing time Ganso?

[Catracho]

I don't think many Brazilians are looking forward to this cup..

FACT: Whoever wins Confederations Cup will NOT win the World Cup

Brazil have won it enough times.. time for World Cup.

[barca 2011]

I don't think many Brazilians are looking forward to this cup..

FACT: Whoever wins Confederations Cup will NOT win the World Cup

Brazil have won it enough times.. time for World Cup.

Why not though? I know that the prestige to this cup is as low as it gets but it's still a chance for Brazil to demonstrate how ready they are for the WC not as an NT but the country as a whole. It'll give everyone a look at the vibe and the atmosphere before the very big event, it's like a pre-party. In footballing terms it's not a big deal but as a warm-up to the WC it's gonna be a lively event, a preview.

Plus I remember the final last time and the way that Brazil won it, the passion they showed in that final to come back was massive and the the way the celebrated Lucio's winner was more than memorable. They sure as hell took it seriously that time around and it wasn't even in Brazil.

[Winter is Coming]

---------------------D. Lopez/De gea--------------------

M.M/Azpi-----Inigo/Pique-----Puyol/Ramos-----Naxto/Alba

-------------Javi G./Javi M--------Benat/Xabi------------

Mata/Silva------------Isco/Thiago------------Tello/Santi

-----------------------??????????------------------------

That's an XI which includes lots of the the next up and coming players for Spain and guys who (for the most part) don't get as many callups as the others. Of course this isn't including most of the current (or past, if u will) guys who were crucial in the WC/Euros so I left out major names like Xavi, Iniesta, Villa, Cesc, and Busquets but even with that I think if VdB called up the 20 players I listed above they would still make the final for sure.

As far as the striker position however, I drew a blank. No one is really in hot form atm as far as a Spanish striker and Pedro's the only one who lights it up for Spain nowadays. Even Villa hasn't been himself so this smaller tournament would be a good platform to try and regain some form. Or they could just use any AM such as Isco, Santi Mata or Silva and go the false 9 route. That's actually up for a good discussion here but even without the majority of the WC winning team in the lineup Spain STILL looks like they could win given Brazil's inconsistencies as of late.

Del Bosque will start his usually XI, so Casillas, Xavi, Iniesta, etc will all be in it. I hope he does give some time to a few young players such as Isco, Mata, etc. I believe Javi Martinez should be taking over for Alonso come WC14. Him and Busi in the middle :O

[Valkyrja]

Xavi won't be a starter in 2014 IMO

[Ganso]

our most probable lineup according to journalists

[Kaladin]

Isn't Fred like 28? Wouldn't be better to use this tourney to test out the youngsters, see who's prepared and who's not? Damiao would be a better option methinks

[Ganso]

Damiao will play a lot, but we need to test Fred one last time before the WC.He has been scoring for fun in the NT and at his club.He is the undisputed starter according to any Brazil nt fan

[Kaladin]

Ah, alright fair enough then

It'll be interesting seeing Gustavo on the International stage

[Catracho]

Isn't Fred like 28? Wouldn't be better to use this tourney to test out the youngsters, see who's prepared and who's not? Damiao would be a better option methinks

Thats what we had oodles and noodles of friendlies for...

Damiao has definitely not shown up like Fred has, and tbf he might lose his spot anytime now to Tardelli or Jo with the kind of form they're a displaying for Atletico-MG.

[Catracho]

I don't think many Brazilians are looking forward to this cup..

FACT: Whoever wins Confederations Cup will NOT win the World Cup

Brazil have won it enough times.. time for World Cup.

Why not though? I know that the prestige to this cup is as low as it gets but it's still a chance for Brazil to demonstrate how ready they are for the WC not as an NT but the country as a whole. It'll give everyone a look at the vibe and the atmosphere before the very big event, it's like a pre-party. In footballing terms it's not a big deal but as a warm-up to the WC it's gonna be a lively event, a preview.

Plus I remember the final last time and the way that Brazil won it, the passion they showed in that final to come back was massive and the the way the celebrated Lucio's winner was more than memorable. They sure as hell took it seriously that time around and it wasn't even in Brazil.

Pride kicked in. who wants to lose to the US 2-0??? smh Had to show face and they did and won.. then they didn't win the World Cup.. this is more than a curse its a way of life.

[M99]

Cesare Prandelli has named his initial 31-man squad for the Confederations Cup:

Goalkeepers: Agazzi (Cagliari), Buffon (Juventus), Marchetti (Lazio), Sirigu (Paris St. Germain);

Defenders: Abate (Milan), Antonelli (Genoa), Astori (Cagliari), Barzagli (Juventus), Bonucci (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), De Sciglio (Milan), Maggio (Napoli), Ogbonna (Torino), Ranocchia (Inter);

Midfielders: Aquilani (Fiorentina), Bonaventura (Atalanta), Candreva (Lazio), Cerci (Torino), De Rossi (Roma), Diamanti (Bologna), Giaccherini (Juventus), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Milan), Pirlo (Juventus), Poli (Sampdoria);

Forwards: Balotelli (Milan), El Shaarawy (Milan), Gilardino (Bologna), Giovinco (Juventus), Osvaldo (Roma), Sau (Cagliari).

The 23-man squad for the Confederations Cup will be named on June 3.

[Zealous]

our most probable lineup according to journalists

That looks really promising if I do say so myself.

[BarrileteCosmico]

Fernando is going to have his plate full covering for the gaps playing with both Alves and Marcelo will leave. If I were Scolari I would play with a 3-5-2

[Zealous]

Fernando is going to have his plate full covering for the gaps playing with both Alves and Marcelo will leave. If I were Scolari I would play with a 3-5-2

That is what it's going to be effectively if both fullbacks go up since Fernando will drop back to plug the gaps. I actually doubt that both will go up at once though.

[Ganso]

Alves actually doesnt attack half as much as he does with Barca when he plays for us.Marcelo does though,mainly because of Nerman

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