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Team USA: Defeat was not just on the pitch

Team USA.

Fit, disciplined, quick, tactical, skilled and they carry a goal-threat. Maybe a dark horse for next summer?!

Sadly they can't close out a game, last nights epic surrender of the FIFA Confederations Cup Final demonstrated a lack of belief that they could actually win it. From the moment the second half kicked off they looked like a team ready to lose, not one ready to win. 46 seconds later and Luis Fabiano had scored his 4th goal of the tournament and Brazil were back in it.

Team USA tried to maintain the level of the first half when they achieved their  2-0 lead, but another Luis Fabiano strike and a thumping header from Lucio and the match had turned. Brazil were the Champions.

Sadly we will never know if Team USA had actually managed to win an international tournament if it would have caused a shift in the American 'soccer- psyche' and if it would have achieved any significant media exposure in the US. The game still struggles to get past the monsters of Basketball and Baseball and potentially winning something could help change that, especially if they actually became legitimate 'World Champions' in a sport next summer.

For example, the homepage of the New York Times sports section does not lead with the thrilling encounter in Jo'Burg - oh no it is about a Baseball pitcher throwing four-in-a-row. However, even if the Baseball story is spectacular (which I am sure it is to those in the know) the football story falls way down below the fold, its even below the pecking order of a Pete Sampras interview!.

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We actually qualified? Awesome.

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Egypt needs to erect a statue after this man

Solid performance that claimed victory for an African nation over Italy for the first time in history.

I'm so proud to say, that Egypt was that nation....

Watch out world, we're comin!

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Stop. Play. Stop. Rewind. Play Again.

So the mighty FIFA Confederations Cup has kicked off.

Each of the reigning Confederations champions face-off in a tournament lower valued by the media than the Carling Cup Quarter-Finals. It is a tournament that sees the might of Brazil and the reigning World Champions Italy face the likes of Iraq and New Zealand, it is nearly as mis-matched as the Twenty20.

Still the tournament has started, and there have been some lively opening games - not least last nights encounter between Brazil and Egypt which ended in a 4-3 victory to Brazil, with Real Madrid's new signing Kaka scoring the winning penalty in the 90th minute. However, it is not Kaka getting the headlines but English referee Howard Webb - how he must of wished for a simple, quiet tournament to cement his trip back to South Africa next summer after the controversy from UEFA Euro 2008 (he gave a dodgy penalty). However, he has once again ended up in a spot of bother over a penalty - he has even had an official complaint filed against him by the Egyptian FA.

 However, the remarkable thing here is it is not a complaint about making the wrong decision, but for the way he made the right decision.

 To put this into context, Brazil were making a last push for a winner when a Lucio struck a volley and Egypt's  Ahmed El Mohamady made a dramatic block on the line before the ball was cleared. Webb signalled a corner to Brazil and then there was a flurry of players around the English referee. Brazilian's claiming a clear handball and El Mohamady acting like he had just been shot.

You can watch the highlights here;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8101788.stm

In the midst of the player reactions Webb is listening to someone on his radio - and this is where the issue lies. Webb clearly issues a corner, and then changes his mind post radio contact with another official. The Egyptians claim that the penalty was only awarded after the 4th Official saw the TV replay on a pitch-side monitor. Now only Webb and the other officials know exactly what happened but from what I can see that is the only logical explanation.

This incident replicates my own thoughts that the same happened in the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final when Zidane got sent off and despite being nowhere near the match action the referee returned to dismiss the player. However, in the same way as then FIFA have rejected the complaint

Clearly there is a massive debate about technology in football, but I still do not see why at the highest level it could not be brought in to the game. UEFA are adding two extra officials to the UEFA Europa League next season to keep a closer eye on the goalline but surely technology offers the solution. It would be quick and easy but would still have to be at the Referee's discretion to use the technology - as it is in Cricket with the 3rd Umpire. For moments like this it would ensure that decisions are right more often and would probably improve the general standard of refereeing as they would have extra support if required.

I am sure Mr Webb would join me and be in  favour of technology coming in to football and applied in this way, and which fan would not want to rule out the phantom goal destroying their dream...

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Azzurri o celesti?

Ma che razza di colore è la maglia dell'Italia?
Mi sembra di guardare l'Uruguay, ma senza l'indimenticabile Chino Recoba.

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Nuova, speciale, molto elegante

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