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FIFA’s Confederations Cup has demonstrated precisely why major international tournaments should be held in football crazy nations. The crowds in Brazil for this tournament which has previously been viewed by many a pundit as glorified friendlies has helped give the tournament a feel that was missing in many of the previous editions of this tournament.
An attempt has been made to make this event relevant to the masses of football fans across the planet. For the first time in recent memory the UK media is actively engaged in covering the tournament. In 2009, every match was on in the United States but the coverage is enhanced this go-round which compliments the general growth of the game in the nation over the past four years. When the United States beat Germany in the 1999 Confederations Cup, I had to follow the game via text commentary and months later got to properly see the match. Such was the anonymity and identity crisis this tournament suffered back in the day.
In 2009, the tournament got lots of hype in the United States especially following the USA’s 2-0 shock semifinal win over Spain, but the context of the victory to this day remains missing. Was it a meaningful victory, a blip on Spain’s otherwise flawless record over the past six years or simply an American win in a glorified friendly after the USA had struggled to get out of the Group Stage?
Italy’s 4-3 victory over Japan yesterday where the Japanese did everything but get a result was arguably the greatest match in the history of this tournament. The riveting drama had the feel of a World Cup knockout stage match largely because of the contribution of the Brazilian crowd. Japan, a side I personally rate highly and have stated previously would be the best non-European or South American side at World Cup 2014 won lots of supporters over even if they were eliminated from the tournament yesterday.
The Azzuri who should be a genuine contender to win World Cup 2014 will benefit from the “walk-through” aspects of the Confederations Cup as they prepare for next summer’s big show. But this tournament has me thinking that in the future the Confederations Cup should be held in separate locations from the World Cup to generate energy and enthusiasm during the actual event.
FIFA has labored to make this event relevant to the world of football. The best way to do so would be to rotate this tournament among footballing nations and not take it to Qatar for instance in 2021. It for example could be a major tournament brought to England before the next round of bids for the World Cup (2026 and 2030) is received and determined. &nbsp;FIFA should strongly consider de-linking this event from World Cup hosting and allow it to breathe on its own.

FIFA Confederations Cup Should Always Be Held in Footballing Nations

FIFA Confederations Cup Should Always Be Held in Footballing Nations - World Soccer Talk

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As Brazil continues to host the Confederations Cup, Premier League teams will have a number of their scouts in the country searching for new players to sign, while also keeping an eye on their own players. Ten years ago, there were hardly any Brazilians and Spaniards in the Premier League, but nowadays almost every team in the top four has at least a Spaniard in their ranks.
The hosts have called up the Chelsea duo of Oscar and David Luiz, but Big Phil has surprisingly omitted Ramires. Another player that should have been included based on his performances this year is Manchester United’s right back, Rafael. The young Brazilian has improved by leaps and bounds compared to his previous seasons and would be quite annoyed at his exclusion. Although relegated, QPR’s Julio Cesar made the final cut and is Brazil’s starting keeper. The perpetually Tottenham linked Leandro Damiao is also included and will be keen to follow Neymar to Europe, so expect some great displays from him. Currently employed by Internacional, he is exactly the type of player that Spurs have been looking for, someone that can combine Adebayor’s and Defoe’s skills into one.
The Spanish national team are World and European Champions, but are also the team with the most amount of Premier League players. As usual, Spain’s midfield includes a goldmine of talent. In Santi Cazorla, David Silva and Juan Mata, Del Bosque has included three of the Premier League’s best midfielders. Santi has unequivocally been Arsenal’s player of the season and with 12 goals and 13 assists, he will be a great addition to the Spanish team. Mata has for a second season been one of Chelsea’s best players and was voted by Chelsea’s fans as the player of the season. He has won the Champions League and Europa League with Chelsea and deserves a place in the Spanish team. Unlike the two other midfielders, Silva did not have a memorable season, but is one of the few midfielders that has had a standing place in the national team.
Surprisingly, Javi Garcia has been included in the squad and that is probably down to the fact that Spain lacks defensive midfielders. Cesar Azpilicueta and Nacho Monreal have both been called up and although Jordi Alba will most likely be Spain’s starting left back, it will most likely be that César Azpilicueta will feature as Spain’s right back ahead of the aging Arbeloa. Fernando Torres received a call up after his strong end to the season. Soldado is his real competition, since Villa has barely played all season and has fallen out of favor at Barcelona, but he is another player constantly rumored to be on the lookout for a Premier League team. And before we forget, Pepe Reina has been included but will remain the understudy to Casillas in the Spanish goal until one of them retires.
Japan come to the Confederations Cup as Asian Champions and they also have two Premier League players in their ranks, both having only spent one season England. Shinji Kagawa is certainly the best Japanese player at the moment and after impressing with Dortmund, winning back to back to Bundesliga titles, his transfer to United was not only seen as a coup but also a marketing scheme. The Japanese had a few injuries along the way, but overall scored 6 goals in 20 appearances for the club. More importantly, he combined well with Van Persie and was able to complement RVP by interchanging positions and runs into the box. The other player is Southampton’s Maya Yoshida, who had a good first season in the Premier League after transferring from Dutch side VVV-Venlo. Quite frankly, there have only been a total of 6 Japanese players that have played top flight English football so far.
The “love him or hate him” Luis Suarez will certainly be playing a big role in Uruguay’s attempt to advance to the final. He’s been the only member of the team that has been actually performing. Currently vying for a move away from the Premier League, he needs to impress his suitors on the world wide stage yet again. Gaston Ramirez has faired well, having arrived as Southampton’s record signing, scoring 6 and assisting in 3 goals. More will be expected from him the next season as Southampton battle to stay in the Premier League.
Uruguay has a pool of talent waiting to be tapped by Premier League teams. The first name on the list has been on the radar of all European top sides, and having guided Napoli to a second placed finish, Edinson Cavani is worthy of all the attention. Rumors are that he won’t be at Napoli next season with the most likely suitors coming from the Premier League and Juventus. Another top player, recently relegated with Palermo, is Abel Hernandez who has the ability to score and set up goals with ease.
With only two Premier League players in their squad, the Nigerian national team doesn’t look to English shores like they used to or rather, the Nigerian players aren’t as skilled as they used to be. The Chelsea duo of Victor Moses and Obi Mikel are both present, and were also the only two Premier League players to be present during Nigeria’s recent African Cup of Nations victory. Under Stephen Keshi, the team doesn’t include all the big names fans are used and he has selected from both African based players and European based players to build a well balanced team. While players will be showcasing their goods, there are few that will attract big Premier League teams.
The last team to include a Premier League based player is Mexico. Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez hasn’t had the best of seasons at Manchester United, but with the likelihood of Rooney’s departure, he may find more opportunities at the club. The Little Pea is Mexico’s star player and one of few European based players alongside Guardado and the Dos Santos. Arsenal reject Vela has been shunned by the national team after ironically rejecting recent call ups.
As for Tahiti, they have the same amount of Premier League based players as Italy, 0. Since Super Mario Balotelli’s departure, the Premier League lacks an Italian national team player, but constant speculations linking De Rossi to England may change that.
To sum it up there, Chelsea is the Premier League side with the most number of players represented at the FIFA Confederations Cup. Let’s hope all of the Chelsea players, and the national team players from other Premier League sides, make it through the entire tournament without getting injured.

Guide to Premier League Players at the Confederations Cup

Guide to Premier League Players at the Confederations Cup - World Soccer Talk

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While we’re less one than year away from the first match of FIFA World Cup 2014, the FIFA Confederations Cup starts tomorrow. The tournament, which is a dry-run for the World Cup, features eight teams from around the world competing over two weeks. The teams competing are Brazil, Spain, Nigeria, Mexico, Italy, Japan, Uruguay and Tahiti.
The eight teams represent every confederation, hence the name of the tournament.
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<h1>Teams:</h1>
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Here’s a closer look at the teams that are battling to win the trophy:
 Brazil (ranked 22nd) – Playing host nation this time around, the Samba boys will be playing in their own backyard with the most fanatical of football fans behind their back. Felipe Scolari’s troops have won the last two editions of the competition in 2005 and 2009. However with Brazil recently dropping out of the top 10 in FIFA rankings, the normally brilliant side will go into the competition without the ‘favorites’ tag. But with confidence brewing, it would be foolish to rule out any hope for the Brazilians in claiming the title for the 3rd consecutive installment.
Mexico (ranked 17th) – Simply a team that should by no means be underestimated. The Pumas qualified after prevailing against a highly fancied USA side in 2011 Gold Cup, and with their talented crop of players, a magical run may be on the cards despite a very poor performance in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers.
Italy (ranked 8th) – Boasting an outfit with a mixture of youthfulness and experience, Italy will prove to be one of the frontrunners in this years competition. Despite a humiliating early exit from the World Cup in 2010, Italy pounced back two years later as they shocked Germany en-route to the European Championships final where they lost to eventual champions Spain. Their resurgence is not over yet and this is the ideal stage to prove their skeptics wrong.
Japan (ranked 32nd) – Despite becoming the first nation to qualify for the World Cup,&nbsp;the Samurai Blues head into this year’s competition as ‘underdogs’. However ever since Alberto Zaccheroni was appointed as coach, the AFC Asian Champions have played 32 matches consisting of 23 wins, nine draws and five defeats.
Spain (ranked 1st) – Undoubtedly favorites heading into the upcoming tournament, they are the current World and European Champions. However if their lacklustre performances of late have been a cause for concern for many Spaniards. Nevertheless, with the team comprised mostly of Barcelona players, and with the side playing under the ‘tiki taka’ philosophy, it’s hard to see anyone standing a chance against them as La Roja look to secure the only international trophy that has eluded them up until this point.
Uruguay (ranked 19th) – The 2011 Copa America winners come into this competition with a chance of coming out with silverware. Boasting an attacking force comprised of the controversial Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani and Diego Forlan, this side may prove too tough to contain as they look to continue their good form heading into the World Cup.
Tahiti (ranked 138th) – The OFC Nations Cup winners head into the competition as complete underdogs. Not much is expected of them, however the fact that they made it to this competition itself is already an achievement worth praising and a decent outcome from this tournament will definitely put this nation on the footballing map.
Nigeria (ranked 31) – Surprises are not a foreign aspect when it comes to Nigerian football. Their recent Africa Cup of Nations triumph was enough to even surprise themselves, and who know, maybe they could spring a few surprises against the World’s top teams this summer.
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<h1>Venues:</h1>
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Despite security concerns with most of the venues, it has been confirmed that six stadiums will be used to host this summer’s competition.
These stadiums are fashioned in a typical South American style and the fanatical football fans will definitely provide an insight into the party-like atmosphere that will take hold of the country during next summer’s World Cup.
The stadiums are:
Brasilia — Estadio Nacional. Capacity: 71,000
Belo Horizonte — Estadio Mineirao. Capacity: 62,500
Fortaleza — Estadio Castelao. Capacity: 64,800
Recife — Estadio Pernambuco. Capacity: 46,000
Salvador — Arena Fonte Nova.Capacity: 55,000
And last but not least, the infamous…
Rio de Janeiro — Maracana. Capacity: 77,000
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<h1>Players to watch:</h1>
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Juan Mata- Spain
His game time may be limited with Xavi, Iniesta and Fabregas all above him in terms of selection order, but the time he gets on the pitch may be vital since he’s such a game changer for club and country.
Edinson Cavani- Uruguay
He is an absolute goal machine. With widespread interest in the player, there is no doubt potential suitors such as Real Madrid and Manchester City will be keeping a close eye on this lad’s performances.
Shinji Kagawa- Japan
He didn’t produce his best football for Manchester United last season due to injury problems. However he has proven to be deadly when fully fit. His recent exploits against Australia in their crucial World Cup qualifier proved that he is, simply put, a world-class player. His combination with Keisuke Honda has particularly proven lethal.
Neymar- Brazil
Barcelona’s newest acquisition will be the focal point of media scrutiny throughout the competition. Despite his undoubted talent and skill, he has been out-of-form of late and this competition may prove to be a catalyst needed in getting himself in form again. Not to mention, a tournament from which he will gain vital experience.
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<h1>Groups:</h1>
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Group A
Brazil 
Japan 
Mexico 
Italy
Group B&nbsp;
Spain 
Uruguay 
Tahiti 
Nigeria
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<h1>Where to watch the Confederations Cup</h1>
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<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2013/05/09/2013-confederations-cup-tv-and-internet-schedule-for-usa-june-15-30/">Confederations Cup TV and Internet schedule for viewers in United States</a> 
<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2013/05/09/espn-announces-coverage-plans-for-2013-fifa-confederations-cup-on-us-television-and-internet/">ESPN’s coverage plans for 2013 Confederations Cup</a> 
<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2013/06/12/espn-announces-commentators-and-pundits-for-2013-confederations-cup/">Schedule of ESPN’s commentators and co-commentators for Confederations Cup</a>
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<h1>Matches to watch (Group Stage):</h1>
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Japan vs Brazil (Saturday, June 15, 2:30pm, ESPN/WatchESPN)
Brazil are undoubtedly favorites heading into this match. Boasting the likes of Neymar, Oscar and Hulk, Scolari’s side have what it takes to be crowned champions. Despite youthfulness, the side evidently lack experience with only three players left over from 2010 World Cup in Dani Alves, Julio Cesar and Thiago Silva. The side still don’t seem to be playing on the same wavelength and a sense of unity needs to be instilled into the player’s mindset. Their recent run of poor form is a worrying sign. However their 3-0 win against France was a timely confidence booster.
Japan go into this match having already secured a ticket to next year’s World Cup. The Japanese side can boast a wealth of experience, an advantage which Brazil themselves lack. The combination play down the middle of the pitch between Honda and Kagawa has proven lethal and their quick counter attacks have the ability in catching the Selecao off guard.
Nevertheless, an enticing match lies ahead. Brazil have fallen to their lowest point since the inception of FIFA ranking, while Japan will enter this match with confidence. Don’t be surprised if the Asian powerhouses progress past the group stage.
Uruguay vs Spain (Sunday, June 16,&nbsp;5:45pm, ESPN/WatchESPN)
This opening match for both sides may prove vital as they look to progress to the elimination round. On one hand, Spain are World and European champions. On the other, you have a talented Uruguayan side who finished fourth in 2010 World Cup and won the 2011 Copa America.
Uruguay boast a formidable attacking line-up in Suarez, Cavani and Forlan, whilst Spain have been rocked by Xabi Alonso’s injury and also have been unable to find an ‘ideal striker’.
Nevertheless it will be an intense tactical battle. Spain will most likely dominate possession and it will be important that Uruguay play a defensive style of football capable of blocking out Spain’s attacking attempts and frustrating La Roja. However it is equally as important that Uruguay play quick counter attacks that are capable of catching Spain’s defense off guard, as so many teams have done in the past.
Spain will need to be patient in attack. Chances will definitely come, and it is crucial that the chances they are presented with are made full use of.
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Follow Crpnan on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CrowzarY">@CrowzarY</a>

2013 FIFA Confederations Cup Preview

2013 FIFA Confederations Cup Preview - World Soccer Talk

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