The Lockerroom

This is a the place to discuss the site, community issues, discuss ideas for opinions, and other things related to the community but not specifically about sports. You can add something to the locker room by clicking the link.

US Soccer's Mini-Miracle

Posted by Rawbeezeitz

160 days ago

I don't care much about the Confederations Cup. And most people who aren't dedicated soccer fans don't know what the Confederations Cup even is. These people should read the next paragraph to learn what it is. Those who know or don't care should skip ahead. And to those who don't like soccer, all I can say is "why have you read any of this?"

The Confeds Cup is a small tournament involving 8 teams: the latest World Cup champ (Italy), the host country (South Africa), and the 6 champions of the various continental soccer confederations. So, for instance, Spain qualified as champions of Europe. Egypt won the African championship, and so on.

Here was the situation: Brazil had already clinched a spot in the next round. And Italy had all sorts of tie-breakers over the US. USA would have to beat Egypt by 3+ goals. Moreover, Italy would have to lose by 3+ goals.

That's like winning a baseball game by 10 runs, or a football game by 35 points. It happens, but rarely. And for it to happen twice on the same day is INSANE.

That's precisely what happened. USA beat Egypt 3-0. Brazil beat Italy 3-0. Italy and the US had the same goal differential, but the Americans scored 1 more goal than the Italians, and that allowed them to advance.

For the record, Italy trampled the US 3-1 last week. But in a Texas/Oklahoma style scenario, the head-to-head game between them counts for nothing.

This doesn't mean much. Spain will destroy the US Wednesday afternoon. I just think it's crazy.

Enable Comment Auto-Refresher

Pittsburgh GunnyMajor Leaguer

159 days ago

Score 2

Un-freakin-believeable.

Permalink | Reply

RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

159 days ago

Score 1

It's also kind of sad that the best thing to happen to US Soccer lately is a stroke of insane luck.

Permalink

SSreportersLegend

159 days ago

Score 1

It's either insane luck or a fix.

I'm not discrediting their 3-0 win, but that is a 1 in a million chance of that happening and any time that occurs I'd look into it....especially since it IS Italy on the other side.

Oh yeah, and FIRE BOB BRADLEY!

Permalink

Taytay 24All-American

159 days ago

Score 1

You'll have to explain a fix theory to me--who has anything to gain by the USA advancing instead of Italy?

Permalink

SSreportersLegend

159 days ago

Score 2

Pride and marketing.

If the US were to go out of a major tournament (Gold Cup does not count....) in round 1 for a 3rd consecutive time without having won a game then people will realize how much of a joke this team is.

By pulling off this "miracle" you can market this team as the sleepers or the team you don't want to face.

For each US men's soccer failure the public's interest of the team goes down. It's just that way here.

BTW Taytay are you still stateside?

Permalink

RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

159 days ago

Score 2

Yeah, I don't suspect a fix. Brazil is perfectly capable of a 3-0 result any night against any opponent. And Egypt is perfectly capable of losing 3-0 any night to any opponent.

If Italy were paid off to let the US advance, why did they beat them 3-1 the week before?

Permalink

SSreportersLegend

159 days ago

Score 2

It could've started as easily as game 2. Remember Italy needed only a draw to knock out the US against Egypt and failed.

You could make a case it has nothing to do with football and more or less politics but I won't go into it.

I'm not saying it is a fix but I'm a sucker for conspiracies.

Now if the US beats Spain on Wednesday I'll be suspicious. Bradley is incapable of that.

Permalink

Taytay 24All-American

159 days ago

Score 2

Yeah, I'm here for good.
Sure, the US gains from advancing. But tournament organizers? I think Seinfeld made a better case for Magic Loogie Theory.

Permalink

RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

159 days ago

Score 3

There's next to nothing to gain with advancement in the Confeds Cup. If there was a conspiracy, it would better benefit the US if they beat Italy and/or Brazil, which would certainly gain attention at home. Backing into the semis of the Confeds Cup doesn't really do much.

Permalink

LASportsblogAAA-er

159 days ago

Score 1

SSR, You COULD make the argument for a fix. But you'd be showing a lack of understanding of what football really is. Football isn't BIG Team X vs. BIG Team Y or BIG team X vs. Little Team Z. It's 11 professionals on either side of the ball and on any given day you could not show up. If you watched US/Italy it was far from 3-1 as a real result. A 11 vs. 11 for 90 mins was more like 1-1 or maybe 2-1 since two of those Goals were marvelous.

Italy then took false confidence into a game against a well organized and trained Egypt side and couldn't crack their bunker style of defense.

Egypt caught a bad break on the first U.S. goal and then were out hustled the rest of the match. Brazil got a deserved result and the U.S. got lucky and found net two more times instead of crossbar or some freakish deflection.

It's a fantastic result to build on and gives the team 2 more matches in South Africa, that's all that's important is preparing these boys to play 5-6 games in South Africa this time next summer.

Permalink | Reply