[FOOTBALL] Confederations Cup 2017

[Weaver]

The 2017 edition of the Confederations Cup begins on June 17th, when the hosts, Russia, face the Oceania Champions, New Zealand. The tournament ends in St Petersburg on July 2nd.

The tournament is being shown, in full, on ITV (probably ITV4) as a showpiece before the 2018 World Cup finals.

Group A
Russia (Hosts)
New Zealand (Oceania Champions)
Portugal (Euro 2016 Champions)
Mexico (North American Champions)

Group B
Cameroon (AFCON 2017 Champions)
Chile (Copa America Champions)
Australia (Asian Champions)
Germany (2014 World Champions)

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

At least afterwards people will be able to say 'And that's why you never give an international tournament to the Russian's'.

J. Walter Weatherman to have his arms ripped off by racist ultras ofc.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I genuinely think if the Cameroon team got monkey chanted throughout the match, Lavrov organised an airstrike of bananas onto their team bus, and Putin came onto the pitch with a microphone singing 'Back to the jungle, you're going back to the jungle' the World Cup still wouldn't be taken elsewhere.

[Pleb]

Group A looks dodgy as fuck.

[Weaver]

Germany have announced their squad this morning. Mexico and Russia have picked 30+ players and are cutting them to 23.

Germany
Goalkeepers: Marc Andre Ter Stegen (Barcelona), Bernd Leno (Leverkusen), Kevin Trapp (PSG)

Defenders: Nicolas Sule (Hoffenheim), Antonio Rudiger (Roma), Matthias Ginter (Dortmund), Benjamin Hendrichs (Leverkusen), Marvin Plattenhardt (Hertha), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern), Jonas Hector (Koln), Shkrodan Mustadi (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Emre Can (Liverpool), Leroy Sane (Man City), Julian Draxler (PSG), Julian Brandt (Leverkusen), Sebastian Rudy (Hoffenheim), Diego Demme (Leipzig), Leon Goretzka (Schalke), Kerem Demerbey (Hoffenheim)

Forwards: Lars Stindl (Munchengladbach), Timo Werner (Leipzig), Sandro Wagner (Hoffenheim), Amin Younes (Ajax)

So no Ozil, Neuer, Khedira or Kroos but still a pretty decent squad overall. I know nothing of that set of strikers.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mexico-Germany final I would have thought, unless Chile are still good.

[Kikó]

Was thinking of going to this and see Portugal Russia but it falls on the wrong dates.

Mexico Australia final.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I tried managing Australia in FM, they have more uses for beetroot in fast food than they have good footballers.

[Reg]

I always forget about this. I tend to be tired of football by the end of the season, but it'll be nice if the craving lingers a while longer.

Group B looks interesting, and Chile are always a good watch.

[Weaver]

Chile have named Claudio Bravo, Gary Medel, Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez in their squad. They have only named players from other leagues so far, so the squad isn't fully announced yet.

[Weaver]

Portugal have gone practically full strength, although they've left Renato Sanches out so he can go to the U21 Euros, Lopes from Lyon and TTH's favourite striker Eder. Portugal need to cut one player.

Portugal
Goalkeepers: Beto (Sporting CP), Jose Sa (Porto), Rui Patricio (Sporting)

Defenders: Bruno Alves (Cagliari), Cedric (Southampton), Eliseu (Benfica), Jose Fonte (West Ham), Luis Neto (Zenit), Nelson Semedo (Benfica), Pepe (Real Madrid), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund)

Midfielders: Adrien Silva (Sporting CP), Andre Gomes (Barcelona), Danilo Pereira (Porto), Joao Mario (Inter), Joao Moutinho (Monaco), Pizzi (Benfica) and William Carvalho (Sporting CP)

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Gelson Martins (Sporting), Nani (Valencia) and Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas).

[Weaver]

Here's the full list of squads: http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/02/89/33/90/finallistsfcc-08.06.2017_neutral.pdf

It looks like most of the games are on ITV proper, with ITV4 being used for some too.

Germany 9/4
Portugal 5/2
Chile 11/4
Mexico 8/1
Russia 9/1
Cameroon 14/1
Australia 33/1
New Zealand 500/1

Can't see any great value there but Germany and Portugal are both 10/11 to win their respective groups.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mexico is value, possibly for the only time in history.

[Mazuuurk]

This always seems like a bit of a waste of time.

[ItalAussie]

I tried managing Australia in FM, they have more uses for beetroot in fast food than they have good footballers.

Tom Rogic
Trent Sainsbury
Mat Ryan

Burgers
Pizza
Burritos
Artisanal juice

Checks out.

[CJay]

Anyone watching Russia - New Zealand? 10 minutes in and NZ have had to clear off the line twice already, but at least they're an upgrade on Tahiti.

[Pleb]

A random counter attack now from the Kiwis would be fucking glorious.

[Pleb]

Fucking lol at that Penalty decision.

[CJay]

Lol at that decision. Are there video assistants in this tournament?

[Pleb]

Nope.

FIFA are waiting till the World Cup next year which is even more lol.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That Portugal shirt colour is close to United's.

Ronaldo back home is nailed on.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Pepe donned by the video ref :harold:

[Pepe]

Someone link a stream for me.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Nice goal that.

[John Arne]

I just had ro change my stream after the commentator kept referring to Ronaldo as "CR7"... I mean, you're a fucking professional commentator.


Someone link a stream for me.

It's on Arenavision 28 (Acestream).

[Pepe]

It's on Arenavision 28 (Acestream).

Not sure what that means, but I finally found one after being swarmed with popups/fake links.

I see Vela has stopped being a maggot.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Little Pea :cool:

What a don he still is.

[Pepe]

Dat defending. :harold:

[John Arne]

The Spanish commentating thing of shouting "Gooooooooooooooooallll" really is fucking awful.

[Pepe]

Little Pea :cool:

What a don he still is.

Apparently he is 29 already. Fuckin' hell.

Guardado must be 40 by now then.

[Pepe]

Oh dear. :D

[John Arne]

Not sure what that means, but I finally found one after being swarmed with popups/fake links.

I see Vela has stopped being a maggot.

Do yourself a favour, download Acestream (http://acestream.org/) and then just visit either one of these sites for a HD (or SD) Acestream link;
http://www.livefootballol.me/
https://soccerstreams.net/

[Pepe]

Shambles.

[Pepe]

That review shite. :sick:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:harold:

Get fucked Portugal.

[Pepe]

:cool:

[Giggles]

What happened in this? Duff, Kerr, and Hamann have been waffling for the past ten minutes about video refereeing rather than the game itself.

[Giggles]

They're still on about it :moop:

[-james-]

Lol, Chile goal goes to VAR and gets ruled out for offside. He was level. Good laugh.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Can we agree yet that video replays are for the bin?

[-james-]

They won't look so bad next world cup when sin bins and multi-ball power plays have been rolled out.

[John Arne]

I know the Confederations Cup has always been a bit shit, but I don't remember it being this shit...

Team news

Australia
Ryan; Degenek, Sainsbury, Wright; Leckie, Milligan, Mooy, Behich; Luongo, Rogic; Juric

Germany
Leno; Kimmich, Mustafi, Rudiger, Hector; Goretzka, Rudy, Stindl; Draxler, Brandt, S.Wagner

2-0 Germany, then.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Sandro Wagner is going to have a field day.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Too easy.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Asian football seems to be going the same way as African football at the moment, i.e. they've got to a certain level and now it's all stagnating because the economic structures aren't there to make their football any better top to bottom, or give it any depth.

I guess China is the one exception to that but they are so shit to begin with it's hard to see them doing much any time soon. Australia though, you could have a dynamic system there but instead it's some crap franchise league with a salary cap that creates bugger all decent players.

[John Arne]

Streuth.

[Disco]

I always expected it to be 'strewth' but I've no idea why.

[Giggles]

I thought like Disco.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

At least Neuer knows that he wont be losing his position.

[John Arne]

Now that we have VAR and Goal Line technology - what exactly is the point of the 5th and 6th official?

[Giggles]

Was there ever any?

[Pepe]

Jobs.

[John Arne]

Was there ever any?

I don't think I can honestly remember a time when I saw them make a decision, or even remotely help the ref.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I don't think I can honestly remember a time when I saw them make a decision, or even remotely help the ref.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj9QGP9C7n8

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Leno :harold:

[SvN]

I don't think I can honestly remember a time when I saw them make a decision, or even remotely help the ref.

I watched a thing a few months ago where Collina (I think) went through certain real-life scenarios and explained what went on, and how the communication from the goal line assistants helped them to make the correct call. They're there to communicate with the other officials about things that they have a unique vantage point to see. Not sure what you're expecting to see in terms of "seeing them" help make a decision.

[John Arne]

I watched a thing a few months ago where Collina (I think) went through certain real-life scenarios and explained what went on, and how the communication from the goal line assistants helped them to make the correct call. They're there to communicate with the other officials about things that they have a unique vantage point to see. Not sure what you're expecting to see in terms of "seeing them" help make a decision.

Well, you know - seeing them talk to the ref (was that not obvious???) - If they are always talking to them with the radio, then that's fair enough - it's just whenever I see them, they just stand there, and barely say a word (unlike the regular chats with the linos) - either in person, or to the radio mic.

[SvN]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2iku17

Give it a watch if you get chance, it's genuinely quite interesting to see how it all works.

[John Arne]

Cheers.

[CJay]

NZ are dominating Pepe's lot here. Well deserved goal.

[Pepe]

Shit, someone throw a stream my way.

[CJay]

It's streaming on ITV here - you can probably Hola your way on, or something.

https://www.itv.com/hub/itv4

[Pepe]

Asks me to login. :moop:

[CJay]

Is it not on in the US?

Marquez just came on. He won the tournament in 1999. :|

[SincereTheRebel]

Is it not on in the US?

Marquez just came on. He won the tournament in 1999. :|

38 years old and is still on the international scene.

[Pepe]

Probably, but I'm in the lab. Not that being home would make a difference, I don't have a TV.

Found a stream now though. :thbup:

[Pepe]

Thirty eight years old. He was done at least six years ago.

[John]

He was already a complete liability by the time he left Barcelona, so probably about eight years ago.

[Pepe]

That's probably right. Then again, I can't remember a Mexican defender who isn't a liability.

[CJay]

What a farcical ending. :D

[CJay]

How did the NZ player not get booked for that reaction?

Oh, he finally did.

[John Arne]

Just watch the "brawl" - Mexico :face: all fake headbutts, and then kick someone and runaway - embarrassing - if you want to act big and hard - do something, don't pretend to do it and kick someone and leg it. Knobheads.

[SincereTheRebel]

I dont understand why footballers dont throw hands like they do in other sports when there is a problem. Actually thinking about it, football is the only sport where diving and play-acting is accepted and done on a regular. So that probably explains it. Pussyholes.

[Spoonsky]

Sincere?!

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mustafi is a fucking nutcase.

[CJay]

Jean Beausejour is still an international-level footballer? Last time I heard of him he was playing in the Championship with Birmingham, I'm sure. Chile's team barely seems to have changed since 2010.

[Pepe]

This video shit. :sick:

[Danny]

I dont understand why footballers dont throw hands like they do in other sports when there is a problem. Actually thinking about it, football is the only sport where diving and play-acting is accepted and done on a regular. So that probably explains it. Pussyholes.

Sincere :drool:

[Lewis]

Nani. :cool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Such a shit game.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Quaresma :harold:

[Boydy]

Who travels from Chile for the fucking confederations cup?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What another shitter.

[Lewis]

The shame of getting donned out of this by Claudio Bravo.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fucking hell.

[Lewis]

Nani. :cool:

[Boydy]

Nani. :D

[CJay]

Wonderful. :lol:

[Pleb]

Well that was a barrel of laughs.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Pissing hell, that shot by Fabian was ridiculous.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

880514228351770627

[Giggles]

Just checked the score. Really out of touch, don't have a clue who any of the German scorers are.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I can understand not knowing Werner or Younes but Goretzka is THE NEXT BIG GERMAN THING.

He'll be at Bayern soon enough.

[Giggles]

If I'd seen his name and started guessing I'd maybe have said German after an hour.

[Pleb]

Pepe :(

[Reg]

Chile v Germany likely to be a good final, right? It'd be nice if Chile could muster up a couple of goals, though.

[Lewis]

I've just taken five minutes to recognise Matthew Upson, and even longer remembering who he played for other than Arsenal.

[Danny]

Brum and West Ham are the only ones I remember with any certainty

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I was sure he had played for Bournemouth.

[Reg]

Stoke, I think.

Turned this on for a bit but just haven't got the football fever.

[Giggles]

Watching this must be what watching the Lions is like. You're desperate for something and trying to build it up but deep down you know it's a glorified friendly.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

lol at Diaz.

[Lewis]

lol at Chile.

[Giggles]

I don't feel as bad for not knowing any of the Germans since they were saying on TV before the game they brought a B squad.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Hector is the first team LB and Kimmich is the RB (he was named in the team of the tournament for the last Euros) so it's not a complete B side.

Plus Goretzka, Werner, Rudy and Draxler are going to get a lot more minutes in actual matches.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Jara could have taken Werner's chin with him there.

Not sure why it's taking so long when it's so clear.

Edit: How the fuck is that only a yellow?

[Giggles]

They've wheeled out Fronaldo.

[Giggles]

Have they been paid to celebrate like this? :D

[niko_cee]

From the little I have seen of it, my impression of the 'VAR' is that if that becomes a feature of the game they are almost certainly going to have to adopt the 60 minute game clock idea, which is pretty much end of days stuff.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The 60 minute game clock would end football. The soul of the sport is free-flowing continuity.

[-james-]

The 60 minute game clock would end football. The soul of the sport is free-flowing continuity.

How does that work in cricket?

[niko_cee]

It's the slowest game in the world?

And even in that the DRS has removed some of the joy of watching it.

Edit: have you just misread soul of the sport (ie football) for soul of sport (ie all sport)?

[-james-]

Yes I have.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Was going to say, pretty much every other sport is less freeform than football, which is its enduring appeal. If you made it into cricket, then each team would have 300 set pieces from various parts of the field and the most goals wins. In other words, a Tony Pulis wet dream.

[Reg]

I must be missing something obvious - why would a stopping clock be so drastically different? Breaks from play happen already.

[John]

I must be missing something obvious - why would a stopping clock be so drastically different? Breaks from play happen already.

Once you have the mechanism for the clock to be stopped, there's no incentive to get the ball back in play with any urgency. It would be a couple of years max before games were being broken up like ITV dramas to fit more adverts in.

[Haystacks Horace]

I only seen the last 5 minutes of this tonight. Never heard of this tournament before is it the new world cup?

[GS]

Never underestimate the collective idiocy of the footballing elite.

[Haystacks Horace]

Never underestimate the collective idiocy of the footballing elite.

Is this aimed at me for the above comment? So not the world cup ok.

[Reg]

Once you have the mechanism for the clock to be stopped, there's no incentive to get the ball back in play with any urgency. It would be a couple of years max before games were being broken up like ITV dramas to fit more adverts in.
Right. Yeah, that would be awful.

I'm not sure about the 'couple of years' bit though. There'd be a tonne of resistance.

[GS]

Is this aimed at me for the above comment? So not the world cup ok.

No, it's in relation to the idea of 30 minute halves etc. etc.

[Haystacks Horace]

No, it's in relation to the idea of 30 minute halves etc. etc.

OK thanks. So three 30 minute halves, don't see the point unless like someone said it's a way for the TV people to squeeze an extra as break in there.

[Giggles]

OK thanks. So three 30 minute halves, don't see the point unless like someone said it's a way for the TV people to squeeze an extra as break in there.

The plan is two 30 minute halves isn't it? Stopping the clock when the ball is out of play so it's 30 minutes of actual play per half.

[Haystacks Horace]

The plan is two 30 minute halves isn't it? Stopping the clock when the ball is out of play so it's 30 minutes of actual play per half.

Ah right I see so it's going to be two thirds as long not an extra break. At least the players won't all be knackered in extra time.

[niko_cee]

This is a good shtick.

[Haystacks Horace]

Oh the clock stops. The penny drops. But why?

[Giggles]

To show ads.

[John]

They'd have to make it a hard thirty minutes like in American sports for the change to be worthwhile too. The worst part of the whole thing would be the inability to let play run until an attack was over or whatever. How many times would the whistle have to go in the middle of a cross or when a shot was half way between boot and net before people stopped knocking up death threats?