All I got was this stinking jersey?

The US had the lead 2-0 in the Confederations Cup in South Africa, but lost to Brazil 3-2.

Regardless of the loss, this was the best that the US team has done in International soccer in years. Hats off to both the US and Brazilian national soccer teams.

US President Barack Obama holds a soccer jersey given to him by Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (R) before a round table session at the G8 summit in L'Aquila, Italy July 9,

Source: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2009-07/10/content_8407065.htm


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US soccer team defies odds to reach semis of Confederations Cup

(South Africa) The US claimed an unexpected Confederations Cup semi-final spot, by beating Egypt 3-0 in Rustenburg and profiting from an equally heavy defeat for Italy at the end of the group matches.

In a dramatic finale to Group B, the US went through in second place on more goals scored than world champions Italy, who lost 3-0 to Brazil in Pretoria.

The US finished with a goal difference of minus two along with the Italians but scored four goals in the group to Italy's three.

The Americans now play Spain in the first semi-final on Wednesday.

Egypt were last in the standings with a goal difference of minus three. Egypt had earlier defeated the world champion Italian team.

Comeback kings

It was an amazing comeback by the US, made almost surreal by a crowd seemingly unaware of what the US team had done.

The US had started the day in last place after two defeats in their first round matches, scoring a single goal and conceding six, and only a fervent fan would have given them a chance to making the final four.

A scrambled goal by Charlie Davies in the 21st minute gave the US a deserved half-time lead after a busy opening period but they entered the field for the second half with energized, having learned that Brazil were 3-0 up on Italy.

The Americans, who suffered two harsh dismissals in their two previous matches, must have thought their hard luck was continuing when the New Zealand referee Michael Hester waved away appeals after a shot from Jozy Altidore was clearly handled off the line by Hani Said six minutes into the second half.

But they continued to press forward and captain Landon Donovan dragged a square pass into the path of Michael Bradley for the second goal.

The 63rd-minute strike was followed eight minutes later by a third and decisive goal as Clint Dempsey got his head to a cross from Jonathan Spector.

Egypt threatened rarely after that and looked a pale shadow of the team that had beaten Italy on Thursday and narrowly lost to Brazil in a seven-goal thriller last Monday.

The absence of injured striker Mohamed Zidan proved costly although the African champions did have the early initiative, including a bizarre goalmouth scramble in the 13th minute when the ball ricocheted around as if it were in a pinball machine.

english.aljazeera.net/sport/2009/06/2009621222047392293.html

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Big Soccer Upset: Egypt beats Italy in Confederations Cup

www.chinaview.cn 2009-06-19 09:00:38

JOHANNESBURG, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Egypt made a historic breakthrough on Thursday by upsetting World Cup winner Italy 1-0 in the Confederations Cup in the South African economic hub of Johannesburg.

The narrow 3-4 loss to South American champion Brazil did not dampen the fighting spirit of the Pharaohs in the inter-continental tournament, but seemed to inspire them to achieve the greatest success in record books.

It was also a new record in African soccer history as the Azzurri has never lost to an African team, despite more than a dozen of attempts from the continent.

Egypt acted as a "troublemaker" for Italy, although the latter owned more control after the kick-off. The Pharaohs' counterattack efforts bear fruit five minutes before the interval when midfielder Mohamed Homo scored with a pinpoint header from Egyptian pivotal forward Mohamed Aboutrika's inswinging corner.

The Azzurri intensified their onslaught in the second half. Egyptian veteran goalkeeper Essam Al Hadari, however, made brilliant saves and kept Italy at bay. The most fatal threat came with just minutes remaining as Vincenzo Iaquinta hit the crossbar.

Italian coach Marcello Lippi said that all the sides were very good. He considered several saves of Al Hadari as very difficult.

Both Egypt and Italy have collected three points in Group B, enabling the four teams in the group to have the possibility to progress into the semifinal. The other two squads were the Untied States and Brazil.

Brazil beat the United States 3-0 on Thursday in Pretoria, ensuring a semifinal berth of the Confederations Cup. Italy defeated the United States 3-1 on Tuesday in the same South African city.

Brazil will play with World Cup winner Italy on Sunday in Pretoria while the United States is scheduled to have a game with African champion Egypt in Rustenburg.

That left a better chance for the Pharaohs to grab the semifinal slot in Group B as Italy had to face the challenge of South American champion Brazil which was among the favorites in the tournament.

news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/19/content_11565645.htm

 

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