please log in to view this image 15th June 2013 - 30th June 2013 Brazil are the hosts and all six of the tournament venues will be used in the 2014 World Cup including the venue for the final; the Estádio do Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro. The eight nations competing are: Brazil - World Cup 2014 Hosts Spain - World Cup 2010 Winners Japan - AFC Asian Cup Winners 2011 Mexico - CONCACAF Gold Cup Winners 2011 Uruguay - Copa America Winners 2011 Tahiti - OFC Nations Cup Winner 2012 Nigeria - Africa Cup of Nations Winner 2013 Italy - Euro 2012 Runners-up (invited, due to Spain being World Cup 2010 winners and Euro 2012 winners) There are 135 places between the highest FIFA ranked nation, Spain (1st) and the lowest FIFA ranked nation, Tahiti (135th). In fact, there are 105 places between Tahiti and the next lowest ranked side, Japan (30th) - so to call them huge outsiders would be an understatement! Two Saints players are taking part in this year's competition; Maya Yoshida for Japan and Gaston Ramirez for Uruguay. Group A 1. Brazil : W3,D0,L0, GD+7, Pts 9 2. Italy : W2,D0,L1, GD0, Pts 6 3. Mexico : W1,D0,L2, GD-2, Pts 3 4. Japan : W0,D0,L3, GD-5, Pts 0 15/06: Brazil 3-0 Japan --- --- --- Neymar 3', Paulinho 48', Jô 90+3' (Brazil) 16/06: Italy 2-1 Mexico --- --- --- Pirlo 27', Balotelli 78' (Italy) --- Hernández 34' (pen) (Mexico) 19/06: Brazil 2-0 Mexico --- --- --- Neymar 9', Jô 90+3' (Brazil) 19/06: Italy 4-3 Japan --- --- --- De Rossi 41', Uchida (og) 50', Balotelli (pen) 52', Giovinco 86' (Italy) --- Honda (pen) 21', Kagawa 33', Okazaki 69' (Japan) 22/06: Italy 2-4 Brazil --- --- --- Giaccherini 51', Chiellini 71' (Italy) --- Dante 45+1', Neymar 55', Fred 66', 89' (Brazil) 22/06: Japan 1-2 Mexico --- --- --- Hernadez 54', 66' (Mexico) --- Okazaki 86' (Japan) Group B 1. Spain : W3,D0,L0, GD+14, Pts 9 2. Uruguay : W2,D0,L1, GD+8, Pts 6 3. Nigeria : W1,D0,L2, GD+1, Pts 3 4. Tahiti : W0,D0,L3, GD-23, Pts 0 16/06: Spain 2-1 Uruguay --- --- --- Pedro 20', Soldado 32' (Spain) --- Suárez 88' (Uruguay) 17/06: Tahiti 1-6 Nigeria --- --- --- Vallar (og) 5', Oduamadi 10', 26', 76', J. Tehau (og) 69', Echiéjilé 80' (Nigeria) --- J. Tehau 54' (Tahiti) 20/06: Spain 10-0 Tahiti --- --- --- Torres 5', 33', 57', 78', Silva 31', 89', Villa 39', 49' 64', Mata 66' (Spain) 20/06: Nigeria 1-2 Uruguay --- --- --- Lugano 19', Forlán 51' (Uruguay) --- Mikel 37' (Nigeria) 23/06: Nigeria 0-3 Spain --- --- --- Alba 3', 88', Torres 62' (Spain) 23/06: Uruguay 8-0 Tahiti --- --- --- Hernández 2', 24', 45+1', 67' (pen), Pérez 27', Lodeiro 61', Suárez 82', 90' (Uruguay) Semi Finals 26/06: Brazil 2-1 Uruguay --- --- --- Fred 41', Paulinho 86' (Brazil) --- Cavani 48' (Uruguay) 27/06: Spain 0-0 Italy (Spain win 7-6 on penalties) Third Place Playoff 30/06: Uruguay 2-2 Italy (Italy win 3-2 on penalties) --- --- --- Astori 24', Diamanti 73' (Italy) --- Cavani 58' 78' (Uruguay) FINAL 30/06: Brazil 3-0 Spain --- --- --- Fred 2' 47', Neymar 42' (Brazil) BRAZIL ARE THE CONFEDERATIONS CUP WINNERS Top Scorers 1. Fernando Torres (Spain) - 5 = Fred (Brazil) - 5 2. Neymar (Brazil) - 4 = Abel Hernández (Uruguay) - 4 Maya & Gaston Watch Maya v Brazil - Played the full 90 mins --- 'Made one or two vital interceptions by being in the right place at the right time as Brazil looked to thread the ball around their opponents.' (goal.com) Maya v Italy - Played the full 90 mins --- 'Managed to hold off Balotelli but suffered with Giovinco's speed, and his misjudgement allowed Italy a foothold in the match.' (goal.com) Maya v Mexico - Substitute, came on after 65 mins --- He did make an impact when he came on as Japan looked a lot more solid with his presence on the park. (goal.com) Gaston v Spain - Played the first 45 mins, subbed off at half-time --- 'Very disappointing debut in major international competition. He was substituted at half-time, and rightly so, as he was completely lost on the pitch.' (goal.com) Gaston v Nigeria - Did not feature Gaston v Tahiti - Played 65 mins, subbed off --- He wasn't at his best either, and was constantly fooled by the Tahitian centre-backs when trying to win the ball back. Disappointing. (goal.com) Gaston v Brazil - Did not feature Gaston v Italy - Did not feature
It's a strange competition, the only reason it really seems to exist is to give the following year's world cup hosts a dress rehearsal, and it doesn't really seem to be taken all that seriously by the big teams (last time it was almost won by the USA). I expect Brazil will be keen to win it though so it will be interesting to see how they do, given some decent opposition for a change.
I will be donning my Tahiti kit for this one Also, judging by the struggles faced with preparing many of the World Cup stadiums, I'll be amazed if this tournament passes off without incident...
Special mention must also be made that this tournament will be the 10th anniversary of Marc-Vivien Foe's tragic death. He collapsed on the pitch and shortly passed away during Cameroon's semi-final match with Colombia at the 2003 Confederations Cup in France. Our thoughts are still with Marc and his family and long may his legacy continue.
Update: Gaston Ramirez and Maya Yoshida have been selected for Uruguay and Japan's preliminary tournament squads. Tadanari Lee has not been selected for Japan. Whether or not this is down to injury remains to be seen. If not, it may be considered a little harsh considering it was his goal that won Japan the 2011 Asia Cup - a victory which meant they were invited to play in this years Confederations Cup. Also, the competition in Brazil is in danger of being marred by poor and unfinished stadiums. The roof of Salvador's stadium collapsed over the weekend after heavy rain and the outside of the Maracana Stadium in Rio (host venue for the final) remains a construction site and is only partially finished.
Lee scored that goal from the bench though, so he wasn't in the first team at the time, and he hasn't exactly set the world alight since then has he? He hasn't even been a first-team player for Tokyo! I can see why he's not been picked.
Slightly OT, but while we're talking about international call-ups, Ward-Prowse is in the England squad for the U20 world cup.
I agree with you entirely. I was merely pointing out that some people may consider the decision not to select him a little harsh based on his contribution to the Asia Cup victory. For the record, I don't think it's harsh and it's little suprise that he hasn't been selected because he has really been off form for a while now. Maya, on the other hand deserves his place in my opinion.
Yasuyuki Konno is a very experienced and popular centre half and Tomoaki Makino is another quite highly rated centre back as well. However, neither of them are as good as Yoshida.
Just under 2 weeks until the Confederations Cup begins. England take on Brazil in the Maracana stadium this evening which will be a welcome warm-up for the cup competition. Let's hope it goes without an hitch for Brazil and the events of this week can be put behind them. For those that are interested, I will do my best to keep this thread updated with news, results and stats from the tournament. And of course keep a keen eye on our two stars, Maya and Gaston.
Gaston's in! He's made the final 23 man Uruguay squad. Now we wait on Japan's annoucement to see if Maya makes it (i'm almost certain he will). As DTLW pointed out, Davide Astori has been selected for Italy's final 23 as well. From the squad selections, it would appear that most of the sides are taking this tournament very seriously indeed. Check out: http://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/teams/index.html for news on each nations' squad selections.
Maya Yoshida named in Japan squad for Confederations Cup. He's also called up for a World Cup Qualifier against Iraq next week.
Maya and Gaston are definites now. That's great news for them and for the club. I believe they are the first Saints players to be called up to a senior international tournament since Kenwyne Jones was called up for Trinidad and Tobago in the 2006 World Cup.
I might be wrong but think Saganowski made Euro 2008. Feel Ramirez would have benefitted from a break and a full pre-season with us, but not much we can do about it. Will def try and catch these games as they're on the beeb
