European and South American teams have been kept apart as Spain take on Italy while Brazil face Uruguay in the Confederations Cup semi-finals.
With last night’s results going largely as expected, with Spain and Uruguay prevailing over Nigeria and Tahiti respectively, we should have two good games going into the next stage.
Japan and Mexico’s elimination was already confirmed from Group A, and now Nigeria and Tahiti will be joining them getting the plane home from Group B. That leaves Brazil as winners of group A, and Spain with the top spot in Group B.
Spain, who are looking to complete the remarkable honor of winning every major international trophy they can, will have to get past Italy if they want to make the final. Meanwhile, Brazil will face off against their rivals Uruguay as they look to win the competition on home soil.
Brazil vs Uruguay
Brazil is being counted on to win this tournament, and so far they’re off to a great start. Three straight wins in the group round, all by two or more goals, has the hometown fans electrified in the World Cup.
Since the tournament’s inception in 1992, Brazil has won three times, more than any other country. That includes back-to-back wins in 2005 and 2009. A win here would make it the first team to three-peat a Confederations Cup, breaking the record of two straight which it shares with France (2001 and 2003).
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For Uruguay, this tournament is, perhaps, an all-or-nothing endeavor. If it doesn’t right the ship in World Cup qualifying, this could be the only major tournament it plays this four-year cycle.Five points behind Ecuador and Chile in CONMEBOL qualifying, Uruguay is battling Venezuela, whom its tied with, for the right to play an AFC team in a two-leg qualification playoff. If it reaches that playoff it would be heavily favored, but Uruguay’s struggles make bowing out before that distinctly plausible.
A win—or at least a good fight—against Brazil would improve its confidence and momentum going forward.
For Brazil, their key player can’t be anyone but Neymar, who has scored in all three matches thus far this tournament. He’s scored in a variety of ways, too, flashing a deadly finish in both the run of play and on set pieces.The future Barcelona man has acclimated himself well with the Brazilian fans, and has provided them—along with Barca supporters—plenty of reasons to be excited for the next 14 months.
Uruguay will only go as far as Luis Suarez takes it. After another deft season at Liverpool, Suarez had a nice group stage, tying Neymar with three goals scored. Granted, two of those came against listless Tahiti, but the other came against Spain, who rarely ever surrenders in these tournaments.
It should also be interesting to track Diego Forlan, who only started one match in group play. Uruguay’s former best player has lost a step (or five), but he’s still one of the most dangerous finishers in football.Brazil’s defense has looked creaky, so Forlan, already with one goal this tournament, might get some open looks.
Prediction: Brazil 2 – 1 Uruguay
Spain vs Italy
Spain, the world’s prohibitive “best team,” is looking to avenge an upset in this round four years ago; as noted above, the Americans shocked the world with a 2-0 victory in South Africa.
But this one is even more personal. Spain vs. Italy is a rematch of the final at Euro 2012, where Spain piled on four goals in a 4-0 victory. Italy, a proud football nation, is still traumatized by the defeat, and looking to avenge it in a big, showy way.
Should Spain go on to win the whole thing, it, in conjunction with the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, would be the senior team’s third consecutive major tournament victory. Italy is looking to block Spain’s legitimate claim to the title of “best team ever.”
For Spain, everything starts in the midfield. And in the Spanish midfield, though there’s a plethora of options, everything starts with Xavi.Neymar’s future teammate at Barcelona, Xavi is, and has been for a while, the best passer in all of football. He is precise and creative, setting up Spain’s potent possession game, but also daring to move forward with bravery.
Italy’s defense has looked shaky all tournament, allowing three goals to Japan (that easily could have been more), and Xavi always exploits poor coverage; which brings us to Italy, whose defense will be far more important than its offense. And the anchor of that defense, as he’s been for oh so long, is keeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Buffon has looked a bit long in the tooth in Brazil, though, not that his defense has done him any favors. Still, ceding eight goals in three games is not like the veteran keeper, and against Spain he’ll face the best offense he’s seen all tournament, and with Torres coming into some semblance of form, he will have his work cut out.
With Mario Balotelli sidelined by a thigh injury, Italy loses its most powerful offensive weapon. Its best—nay, only—chance of advancing is keeping Spain at or under two goals.
Prediction: Spain 3 – 1 Italy