At the Confederations Cup, the action takes a backseat to the hints of the 2010 Experience

The Confederations Cup is a godsend this time of year. I mean, as much as I love MLS, there is almost nothing to watch once the season ends, and regardless, I’m ecstatic about any excuse to get some of the world’s best teams together (and New Zealand). Plus, this is saving us from hearing exclusively about Ronaldo, Ribery, Tevez, etc. over the next month.

Let’s just clarify something: a lot can happen in a year, and in no way does this tournament definitively predict anything. Certainly, the 8 teams show how they react to the big stage, and the more high-profile matches are excellent previews of what could come, but that’s the thing: we have no clue what’s going to happen. These teams might lose form, or not even make it to 2010, like Egypt is threatening to do in Qualifying. There are clearly other teams outside the Confederations Cup who look like strong candidates, like England and the Netherlands. Matches like France-Brazil from 2006 are why the World Cup is always so enthralling: forget how teams have been playing recently, anything could happen.

No, the tournament’s biggest upside is the overflowing excitement that it creates for the World Cup. Seeing the culture in South Africa gives some of the best indications we could have received: that 2010 will have few logistical problems, and that it will have one hell of an atmosphere. In other words, the 2010 Experience is going to live up to expectation. Those damn horns in every stadium are going to get obnoxious, but with all that national pride in every stadium, atmospheres like the ones we’re seeing certainly send chills down your spine. Get excited. The countdown to the World Cup is on.

Random thoughts from the first round of games:

·      --- I don’t care who you’re playing, a hat trick like Fernando Torres’ deserves a hearty standing ovation. Better teams would have fallen to the strikes he produced.

·      --- Funny how Alexi Lalas sounds disappointed in their performance when he says at halftime that “for New Zealand, it’s basically over”. Wasn’t it basically over when they, you know, arrived? I understand that anything can happen in this wonderful sport, but come on, no team wins that gives away a 5^th goal through the last defender’s legs.

·      --- Goals like Kaka’s first one make him worth 56 million pounds. No way the Egypt defenders could have done more without bowling him over, he had that ball within 3 feet of him the whole time. Incredible.

·      --- Discussing it at halftime of Brazil-Egypt, you have to love how American commentators want to make it seem like Conor Casey is doing a great job as the U.S.’ supporting striker. Holding the ball up for others is necessary to allow others to get upfield, but it’s not very helpful when you lose the ball half the time. We need American commentators who don’t feel obligated to be ridiculously optimistic about almost everything American.

·      --- Brazil-Egypt was a perfect advertisement for soccer. It had everything to excite the mainstream crowd: pace, skill, power, superstars, goals, controversy… in other words, everything Iraq-South Africa lacked.

·      --- I love the way Egypt plays. Their style is much more European than African, possession-based without sacrificing attacking spirit. If they can snap out of their qualifying funk, 2010 will be more entertaining for it.

·      --- As always, Mohamed Aboutrika is showing that he is an unbelievable playmaker, and frankly it’s a shock he hasn’t played in Europe. As the story goes, he stays in Egypt because he is satisfied playing in his homeland, and he feels no need to chase glory in Europe, but it’s a shame that the world misses out on seeing his skill regularly.

·      --- Ahmed Al Muhamadi only has himself to blame for that ending. That’s why you stand on the far post on set pieces, not just near it. Pitiful display of sportsmanship too.

·      --- There is way too much to talk about in the U.S.-Italy game, it’s getting it’s own separate post.

Should be an exciting second round of games, with most of the semifinalists to likely be decided. You’ll be sure to hear from me.