I tried to go the entire Confederations Cup without writing about it, and I managed to. Tons of people outside of Africa are complaining about the noise produced by the now infamous vuvuzela horns in South Africa. I'm not going to, it doesn't bother me.

It may be because I'm an American, maybe I'm used to artificial stadium noise. Be it fake crowd noise pumped in by the stadium's PA system (I'm looking at you, Indianapolis Colts), those God forsaken thundersticks, or any number of other things. I guess the fake noise makers are almost a neccesity at American sporting events given that you have to have a hedge fund to attend many of them and people with hedge funds tend to not be as loud at sporting events as people without hedge funds, but ticket pricing is another argument for another day. Back on topic, the vuvuzela doesn't bother me.

In fact the vuvuzela hasn't always been a problem in Europe either as this clip from Espana '82 demostrates... 

Yes, I know, that was 1982 and times change, but the vuvuzela is actually a big part of South African football, they didn't just break it out for this cup, they're often present at PSL matches.

I know, it's noisy, and most of you aren't used to it, but it's part of their culture and this is their World Cup. It's Africa's first major sporting event, and people should allow them to be themselves at the event. Thus far South Africa has done a good job, the Confederations Cup came off very well and I expect the World Cup will go smoothly. South Africa is a country with many problems, but they're doing the best they can.

Remember, the South Africans never complained about your culture.

I'm very proud of our team. Our players showed incredible heart and passion, they played with a pride and intensity we rarely see from American male national teams. Last summer the basketball team showed it as they swept to victory in Beijing but usually players look at national duty as a waste of time. That isn't the case with our soccer team, maybe because of soccer's international standing. But I was particularly impressed with the players and their level of passion throughout the Confederations Cup.

I wasn't impressed with Bob Bradley's tactics. He seemed scared and overly cautious. He waited until Brazil equalised to make a change and did the wrong things when he made them. Again, I can't fault the players he brought on, they did what they were asked, but I have to ask why he picked them.

Our most dangerous players were Landon Donovan and Charlie Davies, both looked especially dangerous when they got the ball out wide exposing Brazil's weakness on the wings by getting the ball away from Brazil's strong spine. Bradley's change was to bring on Sacha Kljestan and Jonathan Bornstein. Bornstein made since, he's a pacy wide player with an ability to get into the box, Kljestan did not. In certain situations I like Sascha Kljenstan, he provides a nice option at times, but today wasn't the time for him. Many question Bradley's reliance on players he coached at club level, and their questions may have merit.

Aside from his sub there is the question of Bradley's tactics. After taking the lead he again seemed content to go into his now infamous bunker. We don't have the players for this. Our defenders play their best when pressure isn't being heaped on them, and in particular Brazilian pressure. You could tell the defenders were tired. While Tim Howard is one of the world's top goalkeepers he remains human, he is not superman, there is no superman. Howard was heroic today, and while you may look at the scoreline and say he let in three, you don't see the saves he had to make thanks in large part to the bunker tactics.

Our team has changed, this new generation of American players has brought good attacking promise, and it must be used. Bradley isn't tapping it correctly with his tactics, and if the Brazil game wasn't proof enough, look at Costa Rica and El Salvador. Or Italy. That tactic doesn't work for us, that tactic doesn't work for anyone. It's antiquated and exposed.

I am no manager, I never claimed to be, but I'd have brought on Freddy Adu. Freddy would've provided the same thing Donovan, Dempsey and Davies did, he would've provided what was working.

Again, I'm proud of our players. They deserve us to be proud of them, we should all be proud of them. I just feel upset that Bradley's current tactical scheme may be doing our players a grave disservice.

Hats off to Landon Donovan. You're a hell of a player, it's time everyone admits that.

Congratulations to Brazil. What is this? Trophy number 84? Heh.

It's not like the US has never won anything before, they've lifted the regional Gold Cup on several occasions and each time it means something, but it doesn't mean what this does.

This isn't the World Cup, not by a long shot. It's a dress rehersal for the big show next summer, but it does mean something, it's a serious competition. Quietly the Confederations Cup means a lot, particularly to those outside of Europe but even that didn't stop the Europeans from sending strong squads this year, they weren't ordered to, but they came to win.

Today marks the first time an American men's team has reached a FIFA final. This has generated somewhat of a buzz in the United States. The sport struggles for positive publicity here - indeed, many will take any small opportunity to ridicule it - but this team, and this performance has managed to produce it. The Americans were hammered twice, once by the team they face today, to start the tournement, after two matches it looked like a lost cause. Needing a five goal swing in the final group matches the American side put in a brave performance to beat Italy's impressive conquerers Egypt in the third group match and got a massive favor from Brazil as the Samba Boys completely put Italy to the sword in the other fixture. 3-0, 3-0. A six goal swing, they had done it.

2-0. It is the most famous scoreline in American soccer. Known mostly for it's symbolence against heated rivals Mexico, it has taken on new meaning following the Confederations Cup semi-final against world number 1 Spain. Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey provided the goals and Tim Howard the heroics as they pulled off a victory many saw as impossible at kickoff.

This is a proud moment for fans of the United States national team, they follow the team through thick and thin and though often critical, they're also very proud and very protective. Today, whether they win or lose, their boys have made them extremely proud.

TV - 2:25 EDT ESPN (En) & Univision (Es).

South Africa did everything they could to make the 2009 Confederations Cup a story of underdogs. Up against seemingly impossible odds against the superpower of superpowers Bafana Bafana fought bravely and lost by the most narrow of margins.

It was a superbly taken, razor accurate free kick from substitute Dani Alves that crushed South Africa's dreams of reaching their first final and doing it on home soil. For 88 minutes the crowd at Ellis Park were energetic and hopeful as they watched their heroes look Brazil directly in the eyes and not back down. Lead by the inspired play of Everton's Steven Pienaar the hosts frustrated Brazil time after time. Goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune was nearly cast into the role of hero as he made some big saves to keep the Brazilians at bay.

Indeed at times luck played a role for South Africa but their heart and bravery cannot be denied. it was a harsh ending for South Africa but their adventure will provide them a much needed boost as the prepare to host the big show next summer. For now they will look to Rustenburg where Spain await at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, to the South Africans, this match means a lot.

Meanwhile the United States will partake in their first ever FIFA men's final as Spain's conquerers will take on the same Brazil team that beat them by three goals in the group stage.  Brazil have won the trophy twice in the past in addition to their five World Cups.

Before the match FIFA will take time to honor the late Cameroon midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe prior to the match.

The somewhat reviled FIFA Confederations Cup starts this weekend at Ellis (Coca-Cola) Park in Johannesburg when the hosts, South Africa take on Iraq in the opening match.

In recent years the tournament has been labeled a waste of time in an already crowded calender by many people, including myself. Indeed this year the United States is unlikely to send a full side as the team is mandated by CONCACAF to send an "A" selection to the regional championship, the Gold Cup, which starts on July 4th.

What the Confederations Cup does do is give South Africa, who are taking a major step in hosting the World Cup next year, a chance to work out any kinks before the curtain raises on the big show next year. Recently a group of South African tourism ambassadors offered American bloggers (sadly, not this one) an all-expenses paid trip to cover the Confederations Cup. This was done in hopes that the bloggers would expose their fellow Americans to South Africa, and hopefully encourage Americans to spend tourism dollars in the Republic. An innocent move which has somehow attracted the ire of those guardians of traditional media in America, as the excellent Tom Dunmore wrote about at Pitch Invasion.

Controversy aside, there is a lot of football to be played this month, and South Africa is eager to show off their progress to the football world both on and off the pitch, but lately Bafana Bafana have left a lot to be desired, leaving the stadiums and hospitality as the likely saviors of South Africa's showcase.

Group A sees the hosts given a somewhat favorable draw as they face European giants Spain, Asian champions Iraq, and Oceanian minnows New Zealand. Obviously Spain will move on from this group, they simply have too much firepower for their relatively weak opponents, but the chase for the qualifying spot could be very fun to watch. Despite their struggles and shortcomings, South Africa will feed off the energy of their supporters and play above their level which may see them spring a surprise on an Iraq team that has disappointed since winning the Asian Cup in 2007. New Zealand are no doubts seen as the whipping boys of this cup having come from the OFC micro-confederation, but they do have some players in Europe and a team in the improving A-League.

Group B is where the action will be. It features two excellent sides in Italy and Brazil, along with two wild cards in Egypt and the USA. Though it seems a foregone conclusion that the former two will advance, don't be so sure. The Americans are surprisingly strong against Italy and have produced some decent results against Brazil. Egypt also pack explosive attacking power in Al-Ahly maestro Mohamed Aboutrika. With that said, the Americans are struggling recently and need to improve quickly to avoid getting embarrassed.

Overall I believe Brazil will prove too strong for everyone and win the Confederations Cup. While Italy and Spain are sending strong teams, Europeans traditionally don't take it as seriously as South Americans and that could prove a tipping point.