Confederations Cup - June 15th - 29th

[cosmicway]

May be we should learn something.
An experienced team such as Greece was unlikely to play a third time stinker - and of course there was the linesman who disallowed Mexico's perfectly legitimate goal.

[Xcout]

Well I think that it was that Mexico rest a lof of players, and also the linesman need more experience!! a lot more!! But that things happen. And well I really don't think Greece play well, Mexico play bad.

[Tulenos]

An experienced team such as Greece was unlikely to play a third time stinker

In fact, Grece have been on stone cold patch since the win @ Euro. So agreed, it was probably just a matter of Mexico resting players and playing badly, incl. bad luck with that goal.

[cosmicway]

I mean it is one of the scenarions we often see.
Like when Scotland beat Holland after the disaster against Iran, Greece drawing with West Germany after having been knocked out in another Euro etc.
libi71 made the correct observation.
I 'd back Germany now maybe as outright winners.

[3hree]

Brazil V Argie final, for sure. Battle of the big boys, sponsors dream and the players will treat it as a friendly, guaranteed draw final me thinks

[Xcout]

Brazil vs Argentina, will lock probable, but really Mexico can upset that, altough it dependes on how they play. Last time, Mexico defeat 1-0 Argetina. So anything can happen, I will just relax and watch the game.

[3hree]

Would be nice to see Mexico in final, they'd put up a good fight but its too predictable. As is much international silly competitions like this nowadays

[Xcout]

Originally Posted by jonnyrushton

Would be nice to see Mexico in final, they'd put up a good fight but its too predictable. As is much international silly competitions like this nowadays

Well, I will also love to see Mexico in the final. But the problem for this to became unpredictable is the same Mexico, they haven't decide to really make the transition from a local zone giant to a world dominat team, we seem to win and then after a great success build big motivation and the loss the next one, or make a fool of ourselfs, like I mean before win to Argentina 1-0 and then in the next phase lost 4-0 to Brazil. They manage to break the wall and then themselves build it again.

that's the problem.

[cosmicway]

tulenos wrote
In fact, Grece have been on stone cold patch since the win @ Euro. So agreed, it was probably just a matter of Mexico resting players and playing badly, incl. bad luck with that goal.

Grrece have put up a dismal performance against Albania last September but it always happens with teams involved in the euro - WC finals.
The crash was against Ukraine 0-1 early this month and Brazil-Japan of course.
They are still a going concern for Germany next year because when the players come back from their vacation there will be a real program waiting for them.

What I don't like is there is a lot of big-brother type support for the team here.
It's like vaccination commercials like "Uncle Sam says - go and have your polyo vaccine today", that sort of thing.
So I have grown a bit tired with it, although the players themselves perhaps don't realise it.

[libi71]

Tough call this tournament.

I am still not a 100% sure about motivation of the teams, except for the Germans. Mexico I think want to go all the way as well, but what is with Brazil and Argentine? Sure they had some wonderful display of football, but then again show some agonizing stuff, especially in the back (how could Argentine ever concede those German goals with a defense that is rock solid usually).

From the class of players, Argentine - Brazil is still the most likely final, so laying Germany seems still a fair bet for me. Many people seem to think alike, as prices have not shortened since after the first match, but increased (from 3.9 to 4.3 on Betfair ).

In such a final, I would probably go with Argentine, they did it 2 weeks back, I think they can do it again.

[tato]

hi all!
i would like to see argentina-brazil in final, but i don't know how will brazil's midfield and deffence will manage with expected german's pressure and fast counter attacks. pareira uses just one deffencive midfielder (emmerson) and he is more attacking center midfielder than deffencive one. don't forget that this guy always played with another DM-s in his clubs, such as dacourd in roma, or blasi in juve. and they were supposed to work hard in front of defence, while emmerson was just helping them in this work and was biggining his teams counter attacks. now we see, that emmerson is the only man in front of VERY week deffence and ronaldinho, kaka or ze roberto aren't so strong in deffencive skills. germany has also many problemmes in back, but my oppinion is that they aren't so unorganized. with such situation in both teams i wouldn't touch 1X2 betts and i'd take only BOTH WILL SCORE @ 1,7 (9/10).
GL

[Psychic]

It's over 2,5 goals for me in the Germany vs. Brazil game. Neither of the two defences seem too solid.

[ben_ls]

I am going for Germany to beat Brazil on the 1X2 market. 3.1 is a good price. Germany are at home, had an extra days rest and have something to prove.

[Brimson]

I really think Argentina have too much for Mexico.

Mexico were lucky against Brazil, and I think the gulf in class is too large. Against the background of the drugs allegations, I have gone large on Argentina @ 1.73 Bluesq

[Red Label]

I`m on Argentina too , they`re too strong for Mexico and i don`t belive that they are satisfied with qualification in semis , i think that they came for the title .
Mexico is playing nice football and i love to watch them , but with all their problems and quality of Argenitina i can`t see other outcome then Argentina small margine victory 1:0 , 2:0 , 2:1 ...
Argentina to win @ 1.8 (local ) medium stakes .
Cheers!

[tato]

ARGENTINA-MEXICO
both teams are very balanced. in every line each of them has more less equal qualited players. but Argentina team's average class is pretty higher. i think, that this will be pretty heavy game, with very tough play from both sides in midfield. but in the and, i think quality must win here. Riquelme & co. are able to take result against such opponents. i don't think that the arguments that Mexico beated brazil, or they didn't lose in last 20 games will mean much for Argentine side. Pekerman said thet his team is going to play very carefully, not to give spaces to Mexicans for counter attacks.
i think that situation is pretty alike first semi-final (Brazil-Germany). many (incuding me also ) thought, that Germans are able to win Brazil, because they are just more motivated (at last they wanted to beat one of the football giants, what they can't do last five years), they play on home ground, that on this tournament Brazil is with pretty weak deffence (i still think so )... and what happened?! almost the same as in match Germany-Argentina: they were clearly overplayed by their opponents in second halves! this means that thay DO NOT HAVE enough class yet. i see pretty much same situation here. motivation (don't forget that Argentina also has it, as they didn't win any tournament on NT level for long time), or some other such arguments aren't enough to beat such teams as Brazil, or Argentina are. i'm taking ARGENTINA@1,85 (8/10).
P.S. if somebody still believes that Mexico will pass in final, i'd take MEXICO WINS BY PENALTIES. this will have grat value, as their goalkeeper is really on fire and i just can't imagine that they'll win in 90 or 120 minutes.
GL

[Brimson]

Paddy Power do some great each way first goal scorer bets which pay a third of the odds if the player scores second or third goals. Have have it in mind to go for Calos Tevez...

[Coltron]

While Argentina have better individual class as a unit Mexico undoubtably are a better team. Only have seem some of the action but from memory Argentina scored from a set piece last time and a shot from outside the box, they didnt break down the side, which for a team of their quality should do. What was the formation Pekerman was using at the end of the game, I think he had Aimar as a wing back? I know Mexico scored from a corner against Brasil too but for me I'll take them on the asain handicap as I find it hard to see this lose to Argentina, but it does happen, as one piece of individual quality can mean curtains but since they produced that in the last match I'll take a chance.


Good luck all.

[Brimson]

What a dull game!

[Red Label]

Shite!