Road to the World Cup 2010

[pfeifere1]

2009 FIFA Confederations Cup
Final

Italy 1-2 USA

9' O. Onyewu (L. Donovan) - USA
45' V. Iaquinta (A. Gilardino) - ITA
52' C. Dempsey (R. Rogers) - USA



Clint Dempsey does it again with his second consecutive game-winner.


USA Finishes On Top

In a rematch of the opening match in group play for Group B, the United States took on Italy for the FIFA Confederations Cup Final. The action started early with the USA winning a corner kick just nine minutes into the match. Landon Donovan's corner found the head of a cutting Oguchi Onyewu. The defender made no mistake as he flicked the ball over Gianluigi Buffon's head and into the roof of the net giving the Americans a 1-0 lead. Just as the United States looked poised to take the lead into the break, Alberto Gilardino grabbed the ball in the midfield, beat a couple defenders and sent the ball through to Iaquinta who easily slotted it past Tim Howard, just inside the near post in the 45th minute. The second half action started just as quickly as the first half. Clint Dempsey had been given no room all night but continued to demand the ball. In the 52nd minute he was rewarded for his persistence and beat two defenders en route to his 18 yard shot that just found its way past Buffon and into the far, side netting. The celebration was wild as the entire United States team piled on top of the most clutch player ever to don the American uniform. It was just right that he would score the game-winner as the Americans held on to the lead throughout the constant Italian pressure of the second half. In the end the Americans would win their first ever FIFA tournament and lifted the cup proudly. With a trip back to South Africa already booked there are very high expectations to next summer's World Cup Finals for the Americans.



GOLDEN SHOE AWARD



FERNANDO TORRES - ESP (7 goals)

SILVER SHOE
CLINT DEMPSEY - USA (4 goals)

BRONZE SHOE
ALBERTO GILARDINO - ITA (3 goals)


GOLDEN GLOVE AWARD



TIM HOWARD - USA

[orion523]

A Confederations Cup? Wow! They're going to make a bronze of you in FIFA land LOL.

[pfeifere1]

Quote: Originally Posted by orion523

A Confederations Cup? Wow! They're going to make a bronze of you in FIFA land LOL.

It was fun to do this in the middle of qualifying. I was contemplating doing the Gold Cup as well, but I think it's time to get to the World Cup!!

[pfeifere1]

I've been crippled by the flu for the last couple days and I'm finally starting to feel a little better, so this will be back up and running this weekend. Who would have thought the flu could be caught in the middle of a heat wave in July?!?!

Sorry for the delay!

[pfeifere1]

The Hex
October 10, 2009
Mexico City

Mexico 0-2 USA

13' E. Johnson (S. Holden) - USA
78' E. Johnson (E. Castillo) - USA



Eddie Johnson collects the ball before dispatching it into the side netting.



Starting XI Rest, Result The Same

With the starting XI not making the trip, Klinsmann decided it would be a great chance to get some experience for the inexperienced. In a trip to Azteca with nothing at stake, the Americans played calm, cool and collected en route to an easy 2-0 victory. Team USA got things started with Eddie Johnson's bender past Ochoa, who was left helpless in the 13th minute. The Americans took the 1-0 lead into the half and would extend it with a 78th minute insurance goal by Johnson. This was the first win at Azteca by the Americans, which bodes well heading into the World Cup Finals in just eight months.


Around the Hex

Mexico 0-2 United States
Canada 1-0 Costa Rica
Suriname 2-1 Guatemala

CONCACAF Hex Standings
TEAM	W	D	L	GD	PTS
X United States	9	0	0	+22	27
X Mexico	6	0	3	+5	18
Canada	4	2	3	+6	14
Costa Rica	3	2	4	-1	11
Guatemala	1	1	7	-16	4
Suriname	1	1	7	-16	4

X Qualified for 2010 World Cup in South Africa

[pfeifere1]

The Hex
October 17, 2009
Washington D.C.


USA 0-0 Canada



USA fans are ecstatic as they finish qualifying unbeaten.


USA, Canada Okay With Draw

The Canadians only needed a point to secure their trip to South Africa and that they did in a 0-0 draw away to the US. It was an eventful game with tremendous goalkeeping on both sides as well as some lucky bounces off the woodwork. Fans of both sides were happy after the game as they will both be able to book their tickets to South Africa. The United States looked to play spoiler with their attacking chances in the second half, but Lars Hirschfeld kept the score all knotted up, bringing the Canadians to their first World Cup Finals since 1986.


Around the Hex

United States 0-0 Canada
Guatemala 0-2 Mexico
Costa Rica 1-0 Suriname

CONCACAF Hex Standings
TEAM	W	D	L	GD	PTS
X United States	9	1	0	+22	28
X Mexico	7	0	3	+7	21
X Canada	4	3	3	+6	15
Y Costa Rica	4	2	4	0	14
Suriname	1	1	8	-17	4
Guatemala	1	1	8	-18	4

X Qualified for 2010 World Cup in South Africa
Y Qualified for Play-Off with CONMEBOL

[pfeifere1]

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa

Qualified Nations

Argentina
Australia
Brazil
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
Congo DR
Costa Rica
Ivory Coast
Czech Republic
Egypt
England
Germany
Ghana
Holland
Iran
Italy
Japan
Korea DPR
*Latvia
Mexico
Paraguay
Portugal
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Slovakia
South Africa
Spain
Turkey
Ukraine
United States

* Denotes first ever World Cup Finals

[pfeifere1]

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa

Group A
South Africa
Saudi Arabia
United States
Russia

Group B
Germany
Latvia
Iran
Cameroon

Group C
Italy
Ivory Coast
Serbia
Costa Rica

Group D
Portugal
Egypt
Turkey
Korea DPR

Group E
Holland
England
Canada
Ghana

Group F
Brazil
Australia
Japan
Czech Republic

Group G
Spain
Slovakia
Paraguay
Congo DR

Group H
Argentina
Mexico
Ukraine
Chile