Question:
Confederations Cup Report: France Hand New Zealand Five Of The Best
06/22/2003. France handed out a 5-0 thrashing ensure that New Zealand finished Group A without a point.
Olivier Kapo put Les Bleus 1-0 up on 17 minutes, and Thierry Henry doubled the lead not long after.
Djibril Cisse made it 3-0 on 70, and two injury time strikes from Ludovic Giuly and Robert Pires rounded off the win. France will now get a 'home' semi-final tie at the Stade de France in the next round.

Answer:

Confederations Cup Report: France Hand New Zealand Five Of The Best
06/22/2003. France handed out a 5-0 thrashing ensure that New Zealand finished Group A without a point.
Olivier Kapo put Les Bleus 1-0 up on 17 minutes, and Thierry Henry doubled the lead not long after.
Djibril Cisse made it 3-0 on 70, and two injury time strikes from Ludovic Giuly and Robert Pires rounded off the win. France will now get a 'home' semi-final tie at the Stade de France in the next round.

Answer:

Confederations Cup Preview: Cameroon v. USA
06/22/2003. BACKGROUND
The meeting between Cameroon and the United States on Monday will be the first ever. Cameroon have already booked their place in the semi-finals, but will be determined to maintain their momentum and make sure they finish top of their group. USA, meantime, will be looking to end the tournament on a positive note having succumbed in their first two matches.
The African giants only need a point to secure pole position in the group and avoid a semi-final with Group A winners France. Their prize for coming top will be a semi-final with Colombia, which would be highly more desirable than meeting the host nation and European Champions.
The Indomitable Lions coach Wilfred Schaefer said on Saturday: "We are now going to prepare for the third game as we intend to win it too."
USA have the CONCACAF Gold Cup on the schedule next month already, and manager Bruce Arena is still waiting for some of the current roster to make an impression worthy of calling them into camp for that competition; one which Arena takes much more seriously because it involves matches against teams the Americans may see in World Cup qualifying.
TEAM FORM
Cameroon's last six matches: WWLWLL
Cameroon have won both their matches so far 1-0 thanks to goals in the last ten minutes. First they beat Brazil thanks to an 82nd minute strike from Samuel Eto'o. They waited even later to beat Turkey as it took a stoppage time penalty from Geremi to break the deadlock against the Europeans.
USA's last six matches: LLWWDW
The United States have looked the worse side in tough one-goal losses to Turkey and Brazil. After going one-up on Turkey, the American defense gave up a penalty kick and then allowed Sanli Tuncay to get open for a quick jaunt past netminder Tim Howard. Against Brazil, the defense gifted the world champions the only goal of the match whilst Howard kept the scoreline respectable as he affirms Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to sign the 24-year old in July.
TEAM NEWS
As much as Cameroon are seeking to win on Monday it is their third match in five days and Schaefer is certainly going to be refuffling his starting line-up and making the most of his 23-man squad in order to prevent burn out.
On this subject he said: "Obviously we will have changes to make as many players like (Marc-Vivien) Foe and (Bill) Tchato are exhausted."
Chris Armas will be back in the fold for USA manger Bruce Arena on Monday. The midfielder will earn his 50th cap. Forward Taylor Twellman will sit out the clash with Cameroon due to an upper respiratory infection. Young stars DaMarcus Beasley and Landon Donovan may also be given a deserved rest as they both have gone the full ninety in the previous two matches. Tricky attacking midfielder Kyle Martino and flashy Columbus Crew striker Jeff Cunningham may make their first appearances as a result.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
CAMEROON: Kameni, Mettomo, Atouba, Song, Njanka, Geremi, Epalle, Idrissou, Djemba Djemba Ndiefi, Job
USA: Howard, Vanney, Bocanegra, Califf, Hejduk, Lewis, Armas, Martino, Stewart, Mathis, Cunningham

Answer:

Confederations Cup Prediction: Cameroon v. USA
06/22/2003. Both teams know their fates already, but Cameroon still have something to play for--the right not to face France in the semifinals. The United States should give the Indomitable Lions a lively game, however, seeing as how the African champions will either be trotting out an extremely exhausted side or several green players.
Prediction: 1-1 draw

Answer:

Confederations Cup Preview: Brazil v. Turkey
06/22/2003. BACKGROUND
The rematch of last year's semifinal clash between Brazil and Turkey couldn't have been better set up as this scrumptious showdown for all respects a knockout match. Both teams are vying for the second and final qualification spot in the group that is being dominated by Cameroon. A tie would suit the Turks as that would mean they would go
through by virtue of having tallied more goals.
Senol Gunes' side scored two during what was a cultured opening win against USA but were then blanked by Cameroon a couple of days back despite having again managed to put some really good stuff together. That 1-0 loss is already a distant memory, however, as they are set to butt heads with the World Champions.
The Turks have been counting down the days till the Brazil clash since the Confederations Cup fixture list was first revealed as they were twice narrowly defeated by the Seleçao in Asia a short summer ago. Both matches
were fiercely competitive and the Turks are still ruing the fact that they came out on the short end both times (2-1, 1-0) despite having more than held their own.
"We played well in our two games against them in the World Cup," recalls Mehmet Sagir. "And this will be our chance to take our revenge."
Brazil may have brought a young and inexperienced side with little cohesion to France but those excuses won't work for manager Carlos Alberto Parreira he returns home next week empty-handed. One of the inalienable rights of all Brazilians seems to be to win football tournaments with any set of players.
Ronaldinho certainly has livened things up for the pentecampeo in the tournament thus far, but the rest of the world is still getting to know the panache of this group of twenty-three samba kings. The question is, perhaps, does this group of players know what happened the last time Brazil took part in a tournament in France? The opportunity of redemption against the French on their home turf should be all the motivation Parreira's boys need to defeat talented Turkey for the third straight time.
FORMGUIDE
Turkey's Last Five Matches: LWWWL
Geremi's injury-time penalty condemned the Turks to their first loss since being thrashed by the Czech Republic in a friendly at the end of April. Leading up to the Cameroon defeat they had won three in a row and performed well in all of their victories.
Brazil's Last Five Matches: WLWDD
Despite blasting Nigeria ahead of the Confederations Cup, Brazil succumbed to Cameroon on a late Eto'o beauty. They bounced back with an early goal and win against the United States. Against the Americans this hodge-podge version of the Selecao really began to click, albeit against a nearly equally hodge-podge side. What version will be on display against Turkey is anybody's guess.
LATEST TEAM NEWS
Turkey: Gunes' starting lineup for Monday is tough to predict as he has shuffled his deck repeatedly already and likes to keep his cards close to his chest. The Brazil game is obviously being taken very seriously,
however, so expect the Turks to lineup with their strongest available XI. That still won't include their most prolific striker Nihat Kahveci, who has literally just finished his last game of the season for Sociedad, while Hasan Sas, Ilhan Mansiz Hakan Sukur and Emre are also unavailable due to having been afforded a much needed summer break.
Brazil: Parreira is keeping his plans for Turkey close to his vest, and is not expected to tip his hand until the Selecao take the pitch on Monday. However, the players rested against the United States underwent a more thorough workout on Sunday than Saturday's starters so several chnages could be in the works. What we do know, however, is that Luis Fabiano and Ricardinho are both questionable with injuries.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Turkey: Tuncay Sanli looked his side's most potent player again last game but he was denied a goal by the heroics of Cameroon's athletic shot-stopper. The Fenerbahce forward looks very much in the mood, however, after having
an international debut to remember against the US by drawing a foul for the opener and then stylishly swooping for the winner.
Brazil: Adriano socred an opportunistic winner against the Americans on Saturday, snatching the ball away from the indecisive Gregg Berhalter before hacking the ball past Tim Howard for the game's only goal. The Parma forward could cement himself into some of Parreira's future plans with another huge contribution against Turkey.

Answer:

Confederations Cup Prediction: Brazil v. Turkey
06/22/2003. This pressure-cooker looks to be decided at the last possible moment. All Turkey need to do is hold Brazil to a draw, and Senol Gunes will have his side in the semifinals. Brazil have been a bit mysterious thus far, and without the usual array of stars on hand the pentecampeo are even harder to predict. But we think we know how it will turn out. The Turks will fall victim to tired legs.
Brazil over Turkey 1-0

Answer:

Confederations Cup: Zico Rues Costly Error
06/23/2003. Japan coach Zico was left to rue a costly error as he side were left packing their bags and making an early exit from the Confederations Cup.
The Asian Champions, who were runners-up in 2001, were beaten 1-0 by Colombia to miss out on a spot in the semi-finals.
Giovanni Hernandez made Yasuhito Endo pay for gifting the South Americans possession in his own half.
"In several of our matches recently, we've played good football but then lost - and it's been the same again tonight," said Zico.
"To succeed in football, you have to be good in every aspect of the game and tonight we made a few errors in the middle of the park.
"The Colombian goal came from a small mistake which had major consequences. They found out where our weak points are."

Answer:

Santini Pleased With France's Progress
06/23/2003. Sunday's 5-0 Confederations Cup demolition of New Zealand by France should have gone some way towards rallying the French behind their national team.
Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires – who scored against the Kiwis after having converted a penalty in the less convincing 2-1 victory over Japan – had called on fans not to be too critical of France's re-jigged team after they made hard work of beating a spirited Japanese side.
In the immediate aftermath of that win, Pires had said: "I think you have to be indulgent with France tonight because the team had a new face, with new players.
"It's the first time we've played together so you can't expect the world.
"The most important thing was to quickly get into the rhythm of the competition, given that most of the players had been on holiday for three or four weeks -- which they'd needed."
Coach Jacques Santini had made 10 changes for the Japan side from the team that beat Colombia 1-0 in the opener, but is without influential stars Zinedine Zidane, Claude Makelele, Patrick Vieira and David Trezeguet for the Confederations Cup campaign, in which France have now reached the semi-finals.
Pires had stressed that qualifying for the semi-finals was the objective for the group phase, which was achieved in some style after the New Zealand victory.
Having won all three group games, Santini warned that there is far more to come from his team. Speaking after the rout of the Kiwis, he said: "We are in a progression phase and I think we will be even better on Thursday."
Les Bleus will face world champions Brazil or World Cup semi-finalists Turkey, who meet today.
"We had two or three first objectives in this Confederations Cup," Santini added. "The first one was to win to keep the group dynamics going and stay at the Stade de France for the semi-finals.
"We also successfully operated a players' turn-over with players recuperating in between matches."
With France outclassing New Zealand in a one-sided affair, Santini observed: "I was very happy with the first 25 minutes, and satisfied with the collective performance my team have accomplished."

Answer:

Wenger Slams Confederations Cup
06/23/2003. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is annoyed his players Robert Pires and Thierry Henry have been denied a proper summer rest by the Confederations Cup – and criticised the competituion in his usual forthright way.
In an interview in Monday's edition of the France Soir newspaper, Wenger described the Cup as unnecessary and said it prevented players from obtaining crucial rest.
"What's the point of it? Nothing," Wenger was quoted as saying.
"I'm against this Cup, which no one will remember in 10 years time."
France qualified for Thursday's semi-final, after winning all three of their group phase games – 1-0 against Colombia, 2-1 against Japan and 5-0 last night against New Zealand.
Wenger is anxious that Pires and Thierry should not be stretched too far, having just concluded an exhausting season in the English Premier League.
"Footballers hardly have any holidays. There is a lack of respect shown to players," Wenger said, adding that the Confederations Cup served only to "annoy clubs, coaches and players who are tired."
France, as holders, failed to progress beyond the opening group phase of last summer's World Cup, with their squad looking distinctly jaded. The previous year, they had also travelled across the globe to play in and win the 2001 Confederations Cup in Japan and South Korea.
And Wenger believes the gruelling international schedule leaves players burnt out ahead of major competitions.
"Sandwiched between a World Cup and a European Championships, I am against this competition," Wenger added.

Answer:

Confederations Cup: USA and Cameroon In Goalless Draw
06/23/2003. The United States and Cameroon drew 0-0 in one of the two final Group B matches of the Confederations Cup. The USA dominated the game but their forwards were unable to convert their chances.
Cameroon had already qualified for the semi-finals at the top of the group, and finish with two wins and a draw. In contrast, the USA, who had lost both their first two games, finish with this solitary but creditable point. Cameroon will play Colombia in one semi-final, while Turkey - who drew 2-2 with Brazil in tonight's other game - will meet holders France

Answer:

Confederations Cup Report: Furious Finish But Turkey Eliminates Brazil
06/23/2003. Turkey gained a huge measure of revenge on Brazil, who defeated the Europeans twice last summer en route to their fifth World Cup title, when they drew the Selecao 2-2 in St. Etienne. The Brazilians fail to make it beyond the first round in a major competition for the first time in over a decade and half, while Turkey will face hosts France in the semifinals as the second place finishers from Group B.
The match had a furious finish, with two goals being scored in the final quarter hour and Ronaldinho controversially sent off just seconds after Brazil had futilely equalized in injury time. Only a win would have seen the Brazilians advance
The first half went exactly how the Turks did not want, however, beginning with a Sanli Tuncay goal called back in the 19th minute for fouling Lucio. Less than ten minutes later the world champions were celebrating a goal by Adriano. The Parma forward gave Brazil the lead in his second straight game when he beat Barca-bound Rustu Recber with his left foot. But for all the glamour of Brazil and as much as they dominated stretches in the first half, Carlos Alberto Parreira's men showed poor resolve compared the Senol Gunes's side.
Within ten minutes of the second half Turkey had drawn level. Juan was on his own page defensively and Gokdeniz Karadeniz beat the offside trap to beat Dida. Brazil never seemed to regain the rhythm they found in the first half, and Turkey stepped up the pressure and defensive intensity. On 67 Ronaldinho began conjuring up some magic near the Turkish goal, but the Turks were able to send the ball out for a corner before the Paris St. Germaine supremo could finish his incantations.
With Brazil playing the offside trap and pushing forward for the winner, Leverkusen's Yildiray Basturk blazed through the "trap" in the blink of an eye and after Dida was forced off his line, he found Okan Yilmaz for an easy task. Suddenly Turkey were ahead 2-1 with ten minutes left.
From there some theatrics by Ronaldinho and Alex, the type more suitable for the local watering hole, were met by yellow cards from center official Markus Merk. But the two play-actors hooked up for an injury-time equalizer nonetheless.
As Ronaldinho was retrieving the ball out of the back of the net to bring it back to midfield, the Brazilian playmaker was met with some resistance from goalkeeper Rustu Recber, and from the ensuing tussle the curly-haired player was sent off by Merk with a second yellow, and Recber received a yellow as well.
And so the match ends with salt being poured onto the Brazilian wounds, while Turkey sings the praise of manager Senol Gunes.
Who says the Confederations Cup is not exciting?

Answer:

Henry Feels No Sorrow For Brazil
06/24/2003. France striker Thierry Henry says he doesn't feel sorry for Brazil after they were knocked out of the Confederations Cup by Turkey last night.
"We're not going to feel sorry for Brazil," he said. "They're five-time world champions. They're still a great side.
"They came here without many of their best players. So they don't have to worry. It's not a good result for them but we have bad times too and we are still here."