Confederations Cup starts on Saturday, so might as well have a thread for it.

 

There are two groups of four teams:

 

GROUP A

Brazil

Japan

Mexico

Italy

 

GROUP B

Spain

Uruguay

Tahiti

Nigeria

 

Here's a wikipedia link to the full squad lists:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_FIFA_Confederations_Cup_squads

 

Some Chelsea players are involved. David Luiz and Oscar are in the Brazilian squad. Azpilicueta, Mata and Torres are in the Spanish squad and Mikel is Nigeria's #10.

 

I must admit, I don't think I've ever seen Tahiti play. All but one of their players play in the Tahiti First Division.

 

Brazil plays against Japan in the opening match of the tournament on Saturday. On Sunday, Mexico plays against Italy and Spain plays against Uruguay. Tahiti plays against Nigeria on Monday. Those matches on Sunday seem like the most interesting matches of the "first round" of matches. Italy plays against Brazil on 22nd of June and that could be a good one. No offense to South Africa, but I'm glad we won't be hearing the vuvuzela wall of sound in these matches. I remember hearing it in the previous Confederations Cup and it didn't take long for me to make up my mind about them. I'm assuming samba will be the soundtrack for this tournament.

I don't pay much attention to Oceania football since Australia moved to the Asian confederation...but somehow Tahiti (140 in the world) and Solomon Islands (146) somehow both finished above the only moderately good team, New Zealand (57), in the OFC Nations Cup.

 

Don't know how they managed it, don't know any of their players, but I know that's who I'll be supporting in this competition haha

...somehow Tahiti (140 in the world) and Solomon Islands (146) somehow both finished above the only moderately good team, New Zealand (57), in the OFC Nations Cup.

I remember back in my student days, the local Finnish club had a New Zealand international in the team (Noah Hickey). I remember being stunned to see him included in New Zealand's 2003 Confederations Cup squad. I can't remember if he actually played during the tournament, though. 

I remember back in my student days, the local Finnish club had a New Zealand international in the team (Noah Hickey). I remember being stunned to see him included in New Zealand's 2003 Confederations Cup squad. I can't remember if he actually played during the tournament, though. 

 

A substitution appearance, and 2 starts in their 3 games. (according to wikipedia)

He's a half decent pundit nowadays, with New Zealand being so rugby-centric he is more or less the only former player consulted by the media on matters of football.

Sad we are not in this tournament, especially after being up 2-0 inside 10 minutes on Mexico.  Still, seeing how they have drawn the last 2 qualifiers and we've won both, I guess I can't complain.  

Game just kicked off. Glad to see David Luiz and Oscar starting, gutted that Rambo isn't there to top it off..

Oscar should have stayed number 10..

Come on Japan.

Great goal Neymar, well i'm sure out of the thousand shots he has one will go in

Edited June 15, 201313 yr by Scott Harris

In fairness it was a cracking goal.

Is it just me or is the video lagging behind the commentary?, spoiled the goal because as Marcelo crossed it in all you could hear was ,"Neymarrr!!"..ope it's rectified.

In fairness it was a cracking goal.

Is it just me or is the video lagging behind the commentary?, spoiled the goal because as Marcelo crossed it in all you could hear was ,"Neymarrr!!"..ope it's rectified.

 

It's on BBC THREE if you can get it. 

Paulinho!, 2-0.  

 

Paulinho and Gustavo in the double pivot, I wouldn't mind either in Chelsea blue...

Paulinho looks good, but I hear Spurs want him. 

Paulinho looks good, but I hear Spurs want him. 

 

We've been linked with him even before we made the trip to Japan, but I've always heard Inter have been the most interested in him.  He would go for a fair amount of money, IMO, 20m+. Gustavo could be a bargain buy, given that Bayern rely on Javi Martinez.  I wonder if Romulo is in the squad as well, I thought he was pretty solid last summer in the Olympics.  I believe he plays in Russia now.  

Delete.

Edited June 15, 201313 yr by bluelion111

How many fouls are Brazil going to be allowed to do without getting booked?

Oscar playing very well so far. No matter how much the commentators love Neymar, I still think Hazard looks better.

Lovely ball

All they wanted to talk about was Neymar, well Oscar was well ahead of him again today. All this talk about Neymar is so annoying, he's a good player but a few flicks, that he never seems to pull off against decent defenders, doesn't make him one of the best in the world.

Neymar gets the plaudits from the commentators and the hero accolade from the crowd but for me its Oscar MoM, he does the simple things well and shows more intelligence on the ball, runs well off the ball and tracks back well.

Neymar gets the plaudits from the commentators and the hero accolade from the crowd but for me its Oscar MoM, he does the simple things well and shows more intelligence on the ball, runs well off the ball and tracks back well.

 

Exactly, all i seen from Neymar today was a great goal, everything after that was rubbish. Dribbling got him nowhere again, passing was average, greedy. Oscar seems to be getting better and better and he barely gets a mention.

Spain tonight hoping Azpi and Mata start,doubt it though.

Spain tonight hoping Azpi and Mata start,doubt it though.

Neither will start. Del Bosque prefers the players who once served him well, even if other players play three times better.

Edited June 16, 201313 yr by Damnation

Japan were poor last night, Brazil walked all over them, especially in the first half.