Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez has rivalled Eric Cantona in the oddest football soundbite stakes with a beauty about maintaining the balance between attack and defence.
Ahead of his side's last-16 match with South Korea, he said: "There's a saying among coaches that football is like a short blanket: it covers your head or it covers your feet, and if it covers your head, your toes are in the air."
France striker Thierry Henry has hinted he feels karma may have had a role in his country's disastrous World Cup campaign.
Henry helped secure France's place in the tournament when his handball went unpunished and led to the goal that beat the Republic of Ireland in a play-off.
But after France finished bottom of their group in South Africa, with only one point from three games, Henry said: "They always say you get what you deserve."
United States coach Bob Bradley believes his side can capitalise on finishing top of their group, ahead of England, by reaching the final.
Bradley's side take on Ghana in the round of 16, with the winner facing either Uruguay or South Korea in the quarter-finals.
"If we continue to build on the successes so far we can go to the end," Bradley said.
"We try hard not to get ahead of ourselves but at the same time everybody has this idea that if everybody gives their best effort, if everybody puts everything they have into it and if things go our way then we can travel far."
www.bbc.co.uk
USA came on this competition as clear outsiders. Two first games (Italy 1-3 and Brazil 0-3) just confirmed the dark predictions. But in the third game against Egypt (who had defeated Azzurri and lost narrowly to Brazil), Americans played a perfect game. Bob Bradley changed defensive 5-4-1 formation into 4-4-2. It resulted with three goals, by Davies, Michael Bradley and Dempsey, for a convincing 3-0 win. Brazil beat Italy by the same scoreline and USA became the first team in Confederations Cup history who qualify from the group stage with three points and a negative goal difference. Then they shocked Spain making the greatest win in their history. Although defending the entire game, USA used two big mistakes in opposite’s defence and brake Spain’s 15 games winning streak. Now, they’re just one step far from the trophy, but need one more miracle. Bob Bradley has to make one change, midfielder Michael Bradley is suspended after became the third American to be sent off during this tournament.
The defending champions are contesting their fourth Confederations Cup final. After a debatable start on the bench of national team, Carlos Dunga has instilled a level of discipline and tactic that, so far, give the tremendous effect. World Cup 2010 qualification is almost secured and in this Confederations Cup campaign they have looked extremely comfortable. They’re unbeaten in 15 games (eleven wins and four draws), seven wins in a row and kept 11 clean sheets during those 15 games. After the first chaotic game, against the Pharaons (4-3 win), Dunga consolidated the squad and they noticed three victories. Two convincing 3-0 wins (USA and Italy) and had some problems only in the semi-final (1-0 at the end). South Africa were defending the whole game and Brazil, although dominating, didn’t have the clue. Till two minutes before the end when Danny Alves scored from a free-kick and booked the ticket for the final. Dunga has no injury concerns, but several players looked tired in the semi-final after six games in 20 days. Mentioned Alves will probably substitute Maicon.
