A dress rehearsal of sorts to the FIFA World Cup to be held in the country next year, Brazil hosts the FIFA Confederations Cup from Saturday. The host country, reigning world champions Spain, and the representatives of each world football federation take the stage in this two-week tournament set to test the preparations of the host nation to hold the world’s biggest sporting event. The hosts go into the tournament as favourites, but with European finalists Spain and Italy in the mix, as well as Uruguay, the tournament is sure to throw up some intriguing football and contests.
2013 FIFA Confederations Cup Odds
Brazil 7/5
Spain 13/8
Italy 6/1
Uruguay 10/1
Mexico 12/1
Nigeria 25/1
Japan 33/1
Tahiti 1500/1
Brazil won the tournament when it was last held in South Africa in 2009, beating the United States in the final, and they have a great opportunity of lifting the trophy again on home soil. As hosts, they qualify automatically for the tournament, and therefore have not had any competitive football since the Copa America in 2011. This tournament will go a long way in determining whether the squad that has been assembled to win the World Cup next year is on the right track. You feel that anything but a convincing victory will not go down well in the host country.
European and World Champions Spain will again be a force to be reckoned with, although it remains to be seen whether the hunger to carry on building on the legacy they have built over the last five years remains. In any event, you expect them to reach the semi-finals, from which point anything could happen. Spain have been grouped alongside Uruguay, Tahiti and Nigeria, and will be expected to proceed to the next round with the South Americans. Uruguay, at 10/1 are the dark horses for the tournament, and at those odds, represent decent value. The 2011 Copa America winners have a settled squad and will be keen to upset the hosts on their home soil.
With Brazil in the other group are Italy, Mexico and Japan. This is a tougher group to call, with a rebuilding Italy side not expected to create too much of a stir, as they failed to do in the last edition of the event, where they crashed out in the group stages. Mexico will fancy their chances of progressing to the next stage, as will Japan, who would do well to get through this tough group for them. Brazil and Italy as favourites to get through, but don’t be too surprised to see Mexico get out of this one alive.
Once the four semi-finalists are settled, as mentioned above, anything could happen, and it will be a case of which team is up for it the most after a long and tiring club season. But you have to fancy the Brazilians on home conditions, only for fear of the repercussions should they fail to win.
Check out the tournament’s official website to keep up with the latest coming out of Brazil.
Tagged With : Confederations Cup • FIFA