Confederations Cup

[Bamboo Grove]

I've never watched this competition before but have to say the football has been very entertaining. Even tonight with Spain and Italy going to the penalties after a goalless draw. At one stage in the end of the match the shots where something like 14 - 14 and Italy could have scored 4 in the first half. Even the penalty shoot-out was of high quality. Really looking forward to the final on Sunday: Brazil vs Spain. Forget the defensive tactics of World Cup and European Cup, this is real football.

[Bamboo Grove]

Today or actually tomorrow morning (Monday 05.00, I guess) Thai time Brazil vs Spain. Should be very entertaining. Don't know if you're able to watch it there but if you can, don't miss it.

[BaaBaa.]

Is the final on Thai TV? I've just got normal cable.

Brazil are going to get thrashed on home soil.

[Big Boy]

Baabaa., this would be a good time to take advantage of the FREE UK TV trial http://www.thaiexpat.tv/aff.php?aff=033 . The match is on BBC at 04:35 tomorrow morning (Thai time).

Alternatively this would also give perfect 'UK' viewing on BBC http://uk.newfreevpn.com/setup-uk-free-vpn/ . The available free UK channels change, but BBC is usually one of the available channels.

Both services will work equally well, and it'll be as good as watching it in the UK. Simply hook your laptop to the TV via HDMI cable.

[sateeb]

Is the final on Thai TV? I've just got normal cable.

Brazil are going to get thrashed on home soil.

[Big Boy]

I enjoyed the game, which Brazil never looked in danger of losing. Not sure if Brazil were really good or Spain well below par. Well done to Brazil, whatever.

[Dannie Boy]

I enjoyed the game, which Brazil never looked in danger of losing. Not sure if Brazil were really good or Spain well below par. Well done to Brazil, whatever.

They'd have both made England look 2nd or even 3rd rate by comparison!! I thought Brazil were good and were able to make tight passes in small areas, something England just cannot do. Best team won and I thought the penalty miss (which was a bit soft anyway) would have unlikely to have changed the outcome had it gone in.

[Big Boy]

They'd have both made England look 2nd or even 3rd rate by comparison!!

Very debateable - different styles I agree, but England always sometimes play better when the opposition doesn't have an 11 man defence. Something we rarely see until the latter stages of a tournament.

[Dannie Boy]

They'd have both made England look 2nd or even 3rd rate by comparison!!

Very debateable - different styles I agree, but England always sometimes play better when the opposition doesn't have an 11 man defence. Something we rarely see until the latter stages of a tournament.

Assuming we qualify for the World Cup, we'll find out next year and as much as I want our guys to do well, I just don't think we have the technical ability to compete with the likes of these two.

[Big Boy]

I hope I'm wrong, but I can't see us progressing very far if we get to the finals either. Problem is, even if we do qualify, we'll have to survive a few 11 man defences before we see if the team can play football.

[Bamboo Grove]

Brazil were surprisingly good. No way had I expected them to control Spain the way they did. The matadors could't find their fluent passing game at all and didn't have much space at all. They are used to keeping the ball and passing it around in the opponent's half and then go for a quick break-through now they couldn't do this at all. Also Brazil were able to make Spain's defence very vulnerable. I just hope teams in Europe will be able to play the same way against Farcelona this coming season.

On the other hand, I already dislike Neymar, he makes some famous divers look amateurs. Skillfull player, that I can't deny, though.

[BaaBaa.]

Is the final on Thai TV? I've just got normal cable.

Brazil are going to get thrashed on home soil.

Don't worry, I've just lumped on United for the title and Spurs to win a cup.

[BaaBaa.]

I hope I'm wrong, but I can't see us progressing very far if we get to the finals either. Problem is, even if we do qualify, we'll have to survive a few 11 man defences before we see if the team can play football.

With Hodgson in charge we'll be playing with an 8 man defence, if we even qualify.

[Big Boy]

Did you see the match live? If so, what solution did you use?

[BaaBaa.]

Did you see the match live? If so, what solution did you use?

Brazil? No, I've not seen it, but I've seen a few of their games in the build up and read and listen to a Brazilian Journalist (and Liverpool fan) who contributes to The Anfield Wrap podcast and RAWK forum called Fernando Duarte. They just haven't been vintage Brazil for a good while, Dunga was using a more European pressing game, maybe the newest coaches system is finally coming to fruition.

If you're talking about England and Hodgson then I've seen enough to last me a lifetime, the whole system needs ripping up, Stuart Pearce gone from the U21s is a start.

We haven't got bad players, but we get average players picked because of who they play for, Danny Welbeck scored 2 goals as a striker for Manchester United last year and he's straight in the squad, Tom Cleverley has played every game under Hodgson and touted as the next big thing, he's about 24 and has a handful of games in the Premier League.

The press don't help either, their opinion holds far to much sway.

It's the old boys club nonsense, Steve Bruce, Mark Hughes, Complete dross but keep getting jobs, at least the likes of Brendan Rodgers and Paul Lambert have studied different methods around Europe, where as others get a job because they used to be decent players.

We won't win in an international tournament in the next 20 years Imho. Hodgson and Pearce, the two most influential figures on our national game, Jesus wept.