Matchday 2

The first round of the group stage was completed today when the South Americans faced Egypt while the Italians took charges against the Americans in the first matchday of the B group in the second day of activities of the Confederations Cup. The tables look as if everything was set for Spain and South Africa could pass the next phase.
Next matchday will take place in one day when Spain faces Iraq and the home side New Zeland. It should be a fine display of full potential the home side has against the New Zelanders while Spain should only increase their lead in the group to easily qualify the next round. But hey! one never knows and maybe that terrific run of games won could end in this game or at least in this tournament later.



Brazil v. Egypt 4-3 15/Jun/09




The surprise of the day was in Mangaung when Egypt managed to held Brazil in a pretty tight match that was only broken well deep into time. The dominance was shared between the sides in the first instants of the match but it was the enormous talent of Kaká that eventually gave the Brazilians the lead five minutes from start. Such display of technique, ability and prowess is only achieved by the greatest players and the skill showed by the Madrid man was far beyond reach of what the Egyptian defence could handle.
The emotions began to rise when Zidan (Mohamed my friends, calm!) headed a cross from the right four minutes later. The counter left the Brazilian defence unbalanced and the match, now equalised, was left for the best. In thirteen minutes we have had already a terrific game with three goals, full of emotions and mistakes. And it was Roma defender Juan, ten minutes form the end of the first half, that headed again from a corner by Luis Fabiano to extend the gap.


Shawky and Zidan equalised the match, in the 54th and 55th minutes respectively, and the match was all levelled on a beautiful evening in Bloemfontein. The Pharaoes worked hard for to gain another lead but the most prolific area in Brazil's game, the defence, stopped them to do so. Mohamed Aboutrika run tirelessly from end to end and drove completely mad the overrated Melo, distributing the game at will.
The deadlock appeared to be sealed but again Howard Webb secured the faith of yet another team who aspired for more, in a pretty even match.
Lets talk a minute about Webb's horrid appearances in different contexts. In the last match of the Gunners at Anfield Mr Webb- nicknamed 'Coward' by many supporters in England- added one more minute to the injury time and Benayoun equalised. Again Webb performed another one if his mischievous machineriesin the one match in the last EURO clearly robbing, to say it in nicer and fewer words, the organisers.
One must question the presence of this type of referees and the fact that he- as well as Graham Poll in his time- is the 'best' referee in his land. It is obvious that in England at least, are many more referees than this man who appears to be displaying more and more pathetically on international tournaments.
The strange thing is that Webb marked a corner kick and obviously received later annotations from the fourth official, due to the fact that Webb did not see the clear handball by Muhamadi. Ricardo Kaká scored to give the Brazilians their first win in the tournament.



USA v. Italy 1-3 15/Jun/09




If you remember dear reader, the clash between these two teams, the last one was played in Germany nearly three years ago. In that particular match the Italians received the only of two goals in the tournament, an own goal by Zaccardo. This time the Americans dealt with a different type of opposition, refurbished but with the same coach.

Throughout the first half the Americans relied on the concept of physical display that they have developed in the course of the years, being Michael Bradley the symbol of it. The Italian side provided a couple of chances and the attention of the audience was rather on the beautiful piece of jersey that Puma had manufactured for the occasion than the actual match (I think, or at least that's what I did).
I have to tell that before the Chiellini penalty on Altidore the match was even enough. That kind of plays could be considered either as a tackle or as a dive. Anyway that utter idiot enemy of each and every Mexican Donovan gave the lead to the Americans with five minutes to go.


For the following forty-five minutes the Italians struggled for times to score the three goals that gave a two-goal lead gap at the end of the game. For moments, again, the European side really struggled to get the grip of the ball even with a man as Pirlo who could have easily ordered his team. The equaliser came in the 58th minute when a stunning shot from Rossi completely took out of place Everton keeper Howard. Yet another long range strike gave the Italians the lead when Daniele De Rossi shot past Howard in the 71st minute. It was hilarious the way Onyewu tried to clear what could have been a routine ball.
Nicely struck and with morale high enough Rossi's attempts sore and in the 91st, he got his brace in one of those plays by Pirlo that take the breath out of everyone who has watched football. The Italians secured their win with enough effort.