2013 FIFA Confederations Cup Preview

Brazil the home of football are set to host the ninth edition of the FIFA Confederations Cup in a couple of weeks and it will set the stage for the FIFA World Cup next year.

The tournament features a nations from all over the confederation of the world including hosts Brazil and UEFA giants Spain, both sides are joint favourites for the title (Brazil have the edge in the odds from Betfair.com), the Brazilians on their home turf and the Spanish who have conquered all before them in the last eight years of international football. The most successful nation is Brazil who have won the title on three occasions and they will looking to defend the title at home.

Group A sees hosts Brazil playing the AFC champions Japan, CONCACAF champions Mexico and UEFA Euro runners-up Italy in a exciting pool which sees the likes of Brazil’s Neymar and Oscar playing against Italy’s Mario Balotelli. Group B boasts the FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro champions Spain who play CAF champions Nigeria, OFC champions Tahiti and CONMEBOL champions Uruguay.

Brazil – The host nation’s squad boasts a collection of youth and flair with old heads including the likes of Neymar, Lucas Moura, Oscar and Julio Cesar, Dani Alves and Thiago Silva and the Canarinho team look to be one of the favourites to win the competition.

Spain – The World Champions lay out one of the strongest squads in Confederations Cup history with the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Pique, Fabregas, Davis Silva, Javi Mertinez, Juan Mata and Santi Cazorla making the squad.

Italy – The second team from the UEFA Confederation the Italian squad looks to be one of the most promising national teams in world football as the squad features several starlets including Stephan El Shaarawy, Mario Balotelli, Alesso Cerci and Matta De Sciglio.

Uruguay – Seen as the dark horse of the tournament Urugauy may be one of the favourites for this competition as their attack is one of the best in the world with the likes of Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani and Diego Forlan teaming up front.

Brazil v Italy and Spain v Uruguay look to be the most heated group matches while Nigeria, Mexico and Japan are the underdogs of the tournament with little known about OFC side Tahiti. A dream final would be Spain v Brazil but on most occasions this will not happen but I am predicting an exciting tournament which may see the likes of local teams Uruguay or Brazil the champions.

The players who may shine in this tournament will be Brazil’s Neymar, Oscar and Lucas Moura, Italy’s Mario Balotelli and Stephan El Shaarawy, Spain’s Xavi Hernandez, Juan Mata and Gerard Pique and Uruguay’s Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani. This tournament will bring flair in abundance from all directions of the globe and it kicks off on the 15th of June with hosts Brazil playing AFC champions Japan in the opening match at the historic Estadio do Maracana.