adminAmong the eight participating nations in this year’s Confederations Cup, which starts tomorrow, are some of the world’s best footballers as they compete over 16 matches and six different venues to give a glimpse of what is in store in Brazil 2014.
From world champions Spain, to goal-line technology, to the romance of Tahiti’s involvement, the tournament will be sure to attract the attention of football fans across the world.
Having started as a relatively small-time affair between the winners of four continental cups, the Confederations Cup is now of paramount importance.
This year’s tournament, as it did for South Africa in 2009, Germany in 2005 and Japan and South Korea in 2001, gives Brazil the perfect opportunity to fine-tune its hosting skills ahead of putting on one of sport’s greatest events next year.
The state of their stadiums, transport links, ticket sales, marketing campaigns and many other factors will be being tested out ahead of the next year’s showpiece.
There were 160,000 of the 826,628 tickets remaining ahead of a ‘last-minute sales stage’ at the start of June.
“These figures prove that the Fifa Confederations Cup including four Fifa World Cup champions in the line-up is a highly anticipated event,” said Thierry Weil, Fifa marketing director.
“The Brazilians will provide the global TV audience with a glimpse of what kind of stadium atmosphere to expect in 2014: full stands and a great reception for all teams in return for football at its best on the pitch.”
While the Confederations Cup is very much regarded as a practice event for the following year’s World Cup, Spain’s Cesc Fabregas has been quick to stress the importance of the tournament to the players.
He said: “We will treat the competition as a World Cup or a European Championship; that feeling that you can finish your career after taking the European Championship, the World Cup and the Confederations is very important for us and for the fans even more.”
Hosts and reigning Confederations Cup champions Brazil boast an array of attacking talent in their squad as they bid to lay down a marker ahead of next year’s World Cup.
Veterans Ronaldinho and Kaka may have been surprise omissions by the head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, but with Barcelona new boy Neymar and Chelsea’s Oscar in their ranks, the Samba boys have no shortage of fire power.
The 21-year-old Neymar completed a £48,6m move from Brazilian club Santos to Spanish champions Barcelona earlier this month.
He has scored 20 goals in 33 appearances for his country and over the last few years was linked with moves to Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid.
He helped Santos to their greatest run since Brazil legend Pele stopped playing for the club in the 1970s, helping them win the 2010 Brazilian Cup, the 2011 Copa Libertadores and three straight Sao Paulo state championships.
“We could lose out in terms of experience, but we will make up for that with the enthusiasm which the young players bring,” said Scolari, who has also overlooked Chelsea’s Ramires and the former Milan striker Alexandre Pato for the tournament.
Brazil, who drew with England in a warm-up match, are ranked at a lowly 22 in the world but will be fancied by many to claim their third consecutive Confederations Cup success, and their fourth overall.
They know they will not have things their own way though, with the current world and European champions Spain also naming a strong squad for the tournament.
Spain contain a number of English Premier League stars in their ranks, including Fernando Torres, Juan Mata and Santi Cazorla, while possessing a talented midfield including Xavi and Andres Iniesta.
“It’s almost impossible to have every player who merited a place,” said coach Del Bosque. “Cesc Fabregas, (David) Villa, Torres and Soldado are our four strikers. You could just as easily ask why we didn’t include (Imanol) Agirretxe, Iago Aspas, Michu.
“We can’t bring in everybody. We’ve deemed it fit to call up Soldado because he’s had a great season. We’ve called up those players who are going to help us have the best tournament.” — BBC Sport.
Online Reporter