OT - Best soccer game of 2013, at 6pm EST
That's a bold claim in the title (CL final was better imo, at the end of the day the confederatinos cup doesn't really mean much), but I agree that it should definitely be an awesome game. Brazil isn't that great, especially compared to what they used to be, but they manage to match up very well against an absolute powerhouse in Spain, so I expect a very entertaining match. I'm calling 3-2 to Spain.
Good call on CL final being better. Bad call on Brazil.
therefore Brazil in white shorts...cannot have same color shorts or jerseys as your opponent when playing in a FIFA competition
Brazil is really pushing the tempo here, what an exciting match!
Paulinho's chip was incredibly impressive too, cant wait to (hopefully) see him in a white shirt!
but to beat Spain you have to disrupt them in the midfield and keep them outside and corssing the ball in while they are in the attacking third. Brazil has the skill to do the first thing, most other teams are having to try to survive by doing the second thing. For those die hards that remember, the US did the second thing better than they ever have when they played Spain in the Confederations Cup Semifinals in 09.
I think the game of 2013, or at least the ending of the year was Watford vs Leicester City.
What a play!
Absolutely brilliant save by that Brazilian defender
what a play
summer. They whipped the Italians and now they are dominating the Spainards.
Well, they're going to have the Olympics in 2016, too.
I can't believe how aggressive Brazil have been today. They have attacked Spain all day and just dominated this game. Granted, Spain should easily have two goals right now (David Luis made an amazing play and Ramos has to put that penalty shot on frame), but I think that 3-0 score accurately describes this game. Spain's unbeaten streak is going to end with a bang. Just like it did in the last Confed Cup.
I never thought I'd see it, but Spain have been thoroughly outclassed here tonight.
stunning...a great play
edit: thought i was responding to one of the david-luiz responses
Bayern didn't just absolutely dominate Barcelona this year in the UCL semis, they embarrased them, in both legs. Now Brazil has further exposed Spain. Their dominance is at an end. Its time for another countrys golden generation to shine.
After watching the Champions League final and some recent German games one would think Germany could match up with Spain as well with their direct style and high press. I think Italy showed the way - they counter attacked beautifully in the first half of their semi game until tiring in the 2nd half. Brazil copied it and had the emotion and early goal and kept it up all game. They did get just about every break (saved goal on goal line, first goal on players backside, missed PK) but you did not see the Spanish side of old where tic tac passes were everywhere. As the announcer said they looked "out-atheletic'd" in this game. A nice relatively young squad - still some questions in the defense but the pursuit by the midfielders and forwards to come back on defense and pressure was impressive - by the time they got a bit tired the life was out of Spain (after that missed PK)
As for Spain it is probably a tired group to some degree and some fresh blood would be good. Much of the team is now late 20s/early 30s after a spectacular 5+ year run, which is where soccer players really start to show some wear and tear. I thought Torres was his normal non useful self and Fabergas not playing hurt. The U20 team that dismantled U.S. have 2 premier forwards; I will be interested if one of them takes the #9 spot up top by next summer since it is one thing Spain really lacks. Other than Iniesta no one shined on Spain tonite - even Xavi didn't have an impact. With the talent on their youth teams I would not be surprised to see 2-3 new faces in next summer's starting line up.
Frankly I think this is good for soccer as even I, who admires the style of play, was getting bored by the domination. Also excited to see Italy open up and play a nice style rather than that "Greece" stuff that dominated for decades.
Think Brazil, France, Italy, Germany, and Spain all should have a nice chance at the WC - Argentina also possible if they can integrate Messi better than past versions of team.
It seems what they say about pressing in basketball is the same in football: teams that press don't like being pressed. Another thing that struck me was something Stewart Robson (Color commentator) mentioned during the match; Brasil were much more athletic than Spain. Bigger, faster, stronger, in possession and in the tackle.
I don't know if I'd go so far as to say Spanish dominance is over. Their academies produce too many good, young players for it to be over so quickly. I think we're just seeing this one generation of Spanish players running out of gas.
For Spain, talent's never really been an issue, even in all those years where they never won anything. There are lots of talented national teams. What's really distinguished them during their run has been the great chemistry they've had due to so many guys being from Barca. Previous Spanish teams always had in-fighting and were never as strong as the sum of their parts.
Speaking of which, one big wild card is Catalonia's political future. They are going to have an independence referendum next year. I'm not sure how FIFA will handle that. If Catalonia secedes, will the Catalan players currently playing for Spain have a choice of which country to represent? (The Spanish central government may refuse to recognize Catalonia, as well.)
Whilst it's true that Spain have always produced talent, they've never had talent like this current generation. I think the manager and style of play have helped Spain take that next step as well. The high pressing system Del Bosque used and the ferocity of the pressing allowed them to take control of nearly every game, letting the creative players display their talent.
The referendum is interesting because Catalunya would be a much weaker nation than Spain, and thus probably not in the best interest of the country as a whole to secede, in football terms. Players like Alonso, Iniesta, Silva, Mata, Ramos, Martinez, Mavas and future stars like De Gea, Thiago, Isco, Munian, etc are not Catalan. In such a case that secession does occur, the countries govenment would likely, as you say, refuse to recognize Catalunya.
Thought the Italy-Spain game was excellent. One of the few times a 0-0 was an awesome game. This one had a dynamic first half but once that 3rd goal went in early in the 2nd half you could see Spain's emotion go away. The missed PK was the stake in the heart. Not much of a game after that.
I tried watching, only reason was soley based on how exited the OP was about this game. But if that's the best game of soccer all year, Im glad I missed the rest of them. I will admit, I have no clue what the guys are doing besides kicking a ball around. One thing I still can't figure out, is why the officials don't know how to communicate with the person running the clock. Felt like I was watching the MSU clockgate again. My guess is thats normal since no one said anything.
...is kept by the center official. He communicates to the 4th official (controls substitutions, etc.) near the end of each period of play to indicate the number of minutes of "added time" or "stoppage time" he has added. He adds that time when there's an inordinate delay during the run of play (goal celebrations, time wasting by one team or another, an extended injury break, an on the field incident, some sort of interruption like a fan on the field, etc.).
The 4th official holds up a digital sign indicating the time to be added (expressed in minutes, but not an exact accounting). Broadcasters note it and indicate a +X next to the time that's being displayed on the chyron. The stadium announcer makes an announcement so that the crowd is aware.
Where it gets confusing is when there's an interruption to the run of play during added time. As before, the center official decides the amount of time to be added via his watch. When that happens, the number of minutes that had been indicated is no longer particularly useful.
It usually is because its more wide open, not much to lose at that point - no one remembers 3rd or 4th place. Meanwhile the championship game is usually defensive. On a relative basis this final was very offensive based.