Confederations Cup

Just kicked off and Neymar has scored a wonder goal to kick the competition off. A very good way of proving some doubters wrong I suppose.

Just switched on and missed it!

Wonderful from Neymar but did he catch it cleanly?  I thought he shinned it a bit but it doesn't matter. Great goals tend to be shinned anyway (Rooney's overhead kick).

Japan look pretty poor to be honest.

As good as Brazil are they have a few passengers in that time I think.

It's not a vintage Brazil team by any stretch of the imagination but they were rank going into the 2002 World Cup and we all know what happened there.

Amazingly they are clear favourites to win the World Cup. 3/1 at the minute.

Prices adjusted purely because of this 25 minutes?

Hulk is also awful, surely people have realised this now?

No idea Juan but I'd want at least 8/1.

As soon as qualification is sorted out I'd imagine they'd drift out to about 5/1.

England are currently 20/1 but that'll go down to around 10/1 once they get there. Which is still awful value.

Crimey wrote:Hulk is also awful, surely people have realised this now?

Never understood the hype with him.

Crimey wrote:Hulk is also awful, surely people have realised this now?

I've been saying this for ages. He's just so, so bad yet somehow is immune from criticism. He runs like he's soiled himself.

FreekShow wrote:No idea Juan but I'd want at least 8/1.

As soon as qualification is sorted out I'd imagine they'd drift out to about 5/1.

England are currently 20/1 but that'll go down to around 10/1 once they get there. Which is still awful value.

Yeah I'd advise not placing nay bets until qualifying is over. I don't tend to look at the overall odds for tournaments anyway so I couldn't guess a price but Brazil as near favourites seems about right. Back against Spain at your own peril though.

I'm looking forward to Tahiti!

I want Mike Havenaar to come on!!

What are the odds on Tahiti anyway?

5000/1 with BetVictor.

Be nice if they could get something out of it. Nice thing about this competition.

Tahiti being there is fairly pointless. Makes the competition a bit of a farce

We taking bets on how many goals Tahiti will concede? I'm going for 22!

6 fingered tractor boy wrote:Tahiti being there is fairly pointless. Makes the competition a bit of a farce

Have they not earned the right though Olly?

Good luck to em.

39

JO!

how did Jo get in the Brazil squad let alone team?

Tough times Nando!

And he's scored!!!?

FreekShow wrote:

6 fingered tractor boy wrote:Tahiti being there is fairly pointless. Makes the competition a bit of a farce

Have they not earned the right though Olly?

Good luck to em.

I don't even know how you qualify, seems random teams are picked

They won the OFC Nations Cup in 2012.

The most recent confederation champions qualify, plus the hosts and World Cup winners. Italy also are in as Spain are Euro and World champs.

Isn't it the winners of each continental competition, as well as the world cup winners? Poor Tahiti though, they will struggle.

20/1 for England to win the world cup = lump on!

Well watched the game, Japan were woeful. Yeah, Neymar scored a great goal and obviously has talent but against top defenders it has so far proven difficult for him. Not a great Brazil side, why on earth does Fred & Jo get ahead of Damiao? Either he's injured or maybe it's telling us that he is not quite as good as we all keep hearing. Hulk is just awful and has been for years. All his game is, is run, run, run, cut inside and unleash powerful shots which go over or wide. £34m to Chelsea 

I don't think Spain or Germany will be worried by Brazil. Also did anyone see Isco's goal for Spain tonight, great goal.

Damiao is injured John

Hulk just seems strong and powerful to me. I've never really seen him do anything that's made me think "wow he's decent"

Duty281 wrote:Isn't it the winners of each continental competition, as well as the world cup winners? Poor Tahiti though, they will struggle.

20/1 for England to win the world cup = lump on!

I'm waiting for them to qualify Duty so I can lay them (bet against) on Betfair and make a killing.

I'd love to be proved wrong mind!

Thanks 6 fingered. Yeah, I would expect Damiao to surely be the main man come next summer playing alongside Neymar. Hulk is basically just a muscle player full of running but not much end product. There's a reason he went to Russia for the money instead of joining a top european team after Porto. He'll score the odd wonder goal and then go missing for months. Definitely think against better opposition that Brazil side will get opened up too easily.

Italy v Mexico - 20:00 BST
Spain v Uruguay - 23:00 BST

Sounds like a positively delightful Sunday evening, a taster of what the World cup will be next year. Although I gather Uruguay are struggling to qualify for the World cup.

FreekShow wrote:

Duty281 wrote:Isn't it the winners of each continental competition, as well as the world cup winners? Poor Tahiti though, they will struggle.

20/1 for England to win the world cup = lump on!

I'm waiting for them to qualify Duty so I can lay them (bet against) on Betfair and make a killing.

I'd love to be proved wrong mind!

#inroywetrust

Spain v Uruguay promises much but I expect it will deliver little.

Is the WC schedule 12.30pm, 5pm and then 7.45pm Brazil time? The confederation cup games are in the day aren't they in Brazil for more coverage? Staying up until 12 at night to watch the last game of the day will be a nightmare and that's usually the best game. 

Spain/Uruguay probably an anti-climax although you never know. Suarez will want to impress the Spanish to aid his move no doubt.

Shades of USA 94. I remember games kicking off at midnight.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIFA_World_Cup#Group_stage

According to wikipedia, games will be kicking off at 13:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00, and 19:00 local time for the group stage, last 16 and quarter-final games at 13:00 and 17:00 local time, the semis at 17:00 local time, and the final at 16:00 local time.

If anyone is watching the Football tonight and wants to chat whilst doing so, if you want you can PM me your skype and i will add you and we can chat during the games, everyone is welcome

Great free kick there. Pirlo seems to be getting better with age.

It was an amazing free kick, complete brilliance.

Decent game so far. Shocking defending there.

I think Ballotelli has had a very good game so far, what do you think Freekshow?

Great talent and a fascinating character is Balo Miky but too enigmatic for me.

When he's switched on and up for it he's quite unplayable. His performance against Germany in the Euro Semi's last year was awesome. He just doesn't do it enough.

I agree that he is a great talent and a fascinating character, i would say that he does let himself down at times due to some of his actions though.

That is strange goalkeeping!

Valdes, Albiol, Javi Martinez, Azpilicueta, Villa, Torres, Mata, Monreal, Cazorla, Silva, Jesus Navas, Reina

Spains bench would batter our first team

Huh, Balotelli had normal hair.  Is that a sign of maturity in the man now?

As always with balotelli, hes moments away from a moment of sheer stupidity