2013 FIFA Confederations Cup: Group Stage [R]

Thank you. The last few threads were inexplicably taken over by a few English fans talking about England for some reason lol . Back to real business. A lot of iconic/legendary nations participating in this tournament: Brazil, Spain, Uruguay, and Italy. Also, Mexico and Japan + Nigeria should be fun to watch. Big fan of Japanese football, so I hope they do well. This might be the most fun Confed Cup of all time IMO

 

Had New Zealand qualified, it would be perfect, but Tahiti won OFC cup, so they deserve to be here. I hope they can keep the scoreline low.

 

I will drop the gauntlet and say Brasil will get eliminated in the group stages. It hurts me to say this but lately our form has no been that good. Mexico will play hard against us. They are confident since they have beaten us twice. Italy is a tough team. The matches against Chile and England has given me no confidence in this team.

 

The teams and how they qualified.

FIFA
30 October 2007: Brazil named host country for 2014 World Cup


FIFA
11 July 2010: Spain celebrate after winning 2010 World Cup.


AFC
29 January 2011: Japan celebrate after winning 2011 AFC Asian Cup.


CONCACAF
25 June 2011: Mexico celebrate after winning 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup.


CONMEBOL
24 July 2011: Uruguay celebrate after winning 2011 Copa America.


OFC
10 June 2012: Tahiti celebrate after winning 2012 OFC Nations Cup.


UEFA
28 June 2012: Italy celebrate after reaching UEFA Euro 2012 final.
(The other finalist, Spain, had already qualified as 2010 World Cup winners, assuring their opponent in the final a place in the tournament.)


CAF
10 February 2013: Nigeria celebrate after winning the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

 

There is no way Brazil will not qualify. Both Italy and Mexico have been in poor form. Japan has had poor results recently as well although it may be due to the fact that they already qualified for the WC.

 

That's a crazy statement. You must work for FIFA rankings that has them at all time low of 22nd despite having the best back four I can ever remember a selecao having. Let's see what Brazil team paying a non friendly match for the first time in almost 2 years looks like. My preview has them winning the Confederations Cup - but what do I know
http://www.golazovideos.com/2013-confederations-cup-why-brazil-will-win/

Most interesting teams to watch from US perspective have to be El Tri (does the train wreck stop or does Chepo get fired) and Japan (don't get to seem them often so might be under rating Samurai Blue).

Of course Italy should be fantastic to watch given their talent and potential of Balotelli to something great or crazy at any moment. Uruguay might be dangerous too as I suspect being suspended will make Suarez hungry to do something special (or horrible). Spain are loaded, Nigeria would be interesting but have too many injuries IMO and Tahiti are the sacrificial lamb.

I CAN'T WAIT. Should be best football of summer as I suspect every team wants to win more so than past Confederations Cups due to differing factors.

 

I'm living in a University residence this summer and I'm completely surrounded by Europeans (French, Irish (especially), English, German, Latvian, Dutch etc). I'm frankly a bit surprise that there's such general excitement over this year's Confederations Cup. From what they tell me, I've gathered their general opinions of each team:

Group A
- Brazil: A lot of respect for Brazil, who many view as the all time greatest football nation. Most I spoke to don't really know that Brazil's been "struggling" as of late. Brazil has such a "mystique" that most Europeans feel they'll be back to "normal" at any moment. People will always be "in awe" of Brazil. We've been inundated with their magic for so many decades that they're impossible to underrate.

- Japan: This one stems from a general fascination with the "mystery" that is Japanese football. Most can't name 3-4 players from the NT, but they have massive respect for their passion and rapid progress since the 90s. Remember that people in Europe can't wake up early to watch Japan play, so these tournaments are a rare treat for them to watch the "Samurai Blue". Also "anime" is big amongst people in their 20s, so they have another reason to cheer for them.

- Mexico: Generally, that Mexico will do very well in the group stage, but flunk when they play a game that (as the Italians say) "is played with a knife between their teeth" (IE: a big game, an elimination game). Considering Mexico's history in the World Cups and Copa americas, this is pretty accurate. Considering their population (110+ million), this could be their big chance to "shed" that "ultimate underachievers" tag. I wish them well.

- Italy: Growing up in England, my view of Italy is very different (i've noticed) from most Europeans outside lol. I respect their grit, history, mystique for the "big games", but they're basically public enemy #1 in this tournament (judging by the 20-30 ppl I've spoken to). lol. A LOT of Italians in Toronto (where I'm staying) though. I suspect they'll make it top 4, but it will be a struggle with Japan around.

Group B
- Spain: utmost respect for their current team. Many consider them the greatest NT squad of all time. There seems to be some bitterness involved. I get the feeling that they're sick of Spain, but can't help but admit they're amazing. The Italians really don't like them though lol.

- Uruguay: Absolute fascination from nearly everyone I've spoken to. In Europe, Uruguay's considered a footballing miracle. Their famous 100 + year history/mystique is on par with all the legendary nations, and they only have 1/2 the population of Scotland. Most are watching them with a lot of interest as always.

- Tahiti : Not much, sadly. No one knows much about them, but they hope to see them cause a surprise or 2.

-Nigeria: People I've spoken to have a big soft spot for African football. A few are predicting that they may be a surprise winner. Others were glad to finally see Nigeria back at the top of African football (after Ghana's short rise recently). A lot of people have great memories of Nigeria's special team in 1998 when we were kids. They might be the most popular African team based on that alone.
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Semi final prediction

Spain vs italy

Brazil vs uruguay



Should be exciting.

 

I am a Brazuka though and through. The problem for me is that our recent form has not been that great. We have not been consistent. Plus the last time we played Italy it ended 2-2. Mexico has beatne us twice in a row so their confidence is high. We have alot of youth talent however Neymar has regressed so badly since the year started it is frightening. I really do not expect us to win the Confed Cup or the World Cup next year. It seems the hiring of Scolari was too little too late. I am not the only one. In Brasil the sentiment is that we can't compete with the like of Spain or Italy.

 

Pretty excited for this tournament.

Predictions for this one? I'm going Brasil 2-1.

 

Wow, what a goal from Neymar. Can't stand this guy but what a goal.

 

Unfortunately for them at the moment, I don't think Mexico could score a goal if you placed the ball on the spot and took away the keeper...they do have a spectacular keeper in Corona, however, so they'll always stay in the match.

 

The Japanese respect these guys WAY too much. Their obsession with the Brazilian game is sort of showing through right now, they look petrified outside of Honda.

 

Someone please hack the shit out of Neymar and Dani Alves...

 

Pitch looks pretty dreadful.

 

x2, +1, etc. But look at all the space Japan are giving them

 

I was thinking the same thing, its really taking away from the passing quality. Bounces every 3 yards.

 

My 20 minute observations:

-Japan either sucks, is jet lagged, or inexplicably star struck

-The Brasillian players don't seem to like each other very much. Body language is betraying their indifference at best to each other

-Hulk, Oscar and David Luiz are the best players Brasil have. Neymar looks surprisingly slow, and despite the awesome goal, anytime he tries to actually take someone on who isn't 5 yards off, he's dispossessed.

-I'm sad that Dani Alves isn't wearing his snood/neck cushion anymore.

 

Brasil looking a little vulnerable. They are resulting to hacking the Japanese players to stifle transition/counter play but Japan are still creating a few chances.

 

I can see Julio Cesar letting in a soft goal in this game. He's had some poor clearances.

 

When was the last time you saw a Brazilian team dropping 9-10 guys behind the ball like that? Pretty wild.

I like Fred, fwiw. Paulinho seems like a player too.

 

They aren't really very good. Whole is far less than the sum of its parts.

 

Yeah, to be fair I think I the pitch is making these teams look a lot worse than they are. It is in really terrible shape. Almost impossible to play balls along the ground to get a clean touch.