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Already this Saturday will start the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil. The tournament will feature the eight strongest national teams from their regions.
Every four years, the tournament moves to Brazil this time, where the 2014 World Cup will also take place. In total, eight teams will compete in the tournament, which are divided into two groups - A and B.
The Confederations Cup will start from June 15th to the 30th. The group winners will be determined on June 23rd. From each group, two teams will advance to the semifinals. The winners of the pairs will compete in the final.
Group A
1. Brazil (tournament hosts) 2. Japan (2011 Asian Cup champions) 3. Mexico (2011 Gold Cup champions) 4. Italy (2012 European Championship runners-up)
Brazil - hosts of the Confederations Cup. Also champions in 2009, who defeated the South African footballers in the final. The Brazilians are undeniable favorites to triumph once again, as the tournament will take place in their country and in front of their spectators.
Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (QPR) Diego Cavalieri ("Fluminense") Jefferson ("Botafogo") Defenders: Daniel Alves (Barcelona) Jean ("Fluminense") Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid) Marcelo (Real Madrid) David Luiz (Chelsea) Rever (Atletico Mineiro) Dante (Bayern Munich) Thiago Silva (PSG)
Midfielders: Paulinho (Corinthians) Fernando (Gremio) Luiz Gustavo (Bayern Munich) Hernanes (Lazio) Oscar (Chelsea) Lucas (PSG) Jadson (Sao Paulo) Forwards: Neymar (Barcelona) Fred (Fluminense) Hulk (Zenit) Damiao (Internacional) Bernard (Atletico Mineiro)
Japan reached this tournament as Asian Cup champions in 2011, who defeated Australia in Qatar. Footballers from the Far East are not underestimated, as they can pose significant problems for any team in the battle for the title.
Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Standard) Shusaku Nishikawa (Sanfrecce) Shuichi Gonda (Tokyo) Defenders: Yasuyuki Konno (Gamba) Yuzo Kurihara (Yokohama F.Marinos) Masahiko Inoha (Jubilo Iwata) Yuto Nagatomo (Inter) Atsuto Uchida (Schalke) Maya Yoshida (Southampton) Hiroki Sakai (Hannover) Gotoku Sakai (Stuttgart)
Midfielders: Yasuhito Endo (Gamba) Kengo Nakamura (Frontale) Makoto Hasebe (Wolfsburg) Hajime Hosogai (Bayer) Keisuke Honda (CSKA) Hideto Takahashi (Tokyo)
Forwards: Ryoichi Maeda (Jubilo Iwata) Shinji Okazaki (Stuttgart) Mike Havenaar (Vitesse) Takashi Inui (Eintracht) Shinji Kagawa (Manchester United) Hiroshi Kiyotake (Nurnberg)
The Mexican national team goes to Brazil due to winning the 2011 Gold Cup tournament. In it, the Mexicans defeated the U.S. footballers after a tough battle. Mexico has already won the Confederations Cup once, back in 1999.
Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa (Ajaccio) Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul) Alfredo Talavera (Toluca) Defenders: Severo Meza (Monterrey) Francisco Javier Rodriguez (America) Hector Moreno (Espanyol) Diego Reyes (America) Jorge Torres Nilo (Tigres UANL) Carlos Salcido (Tigres UANL) Hiram Mier (Monterrey)
Midfielders: Jesus Zavala (Monterrey) Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul) Jesus Molina (America) Hector Herrera (Pachuca) Javier Aquino (Villarreal) Andres Guardado (Valencia) Angel Reyna (Pachuca) Pablo Barrera (Cruz Azul)
Forwards: Giovani dos Santos (Mallorca) Oribe Peralta (Santos Laguna) Javier Hernandez (Man Utd) Raul Jimenez (America) Aldo de Nigris (Monterrey)
Italy entered this tournament entirely by chance, as the runners-up of the European Championship did not have a guaranteed spot, but Spain already had an invitation to the Confederations Cup after winning the 2010 World Cup. The Italians, like the Brazilians, are considered favorites in the group.
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus) Federico Marchetti (Lazio) Salvatore Sirigu (PSG) Defenders: Ignazio Abate (Milan) Davide Astori (Cagliari) Andrea Barzagli (Juventus) Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus) Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus) Mattia De Sciglio (Milan) Christian Maggio (Napoli)
Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (Fiorentina) Antonio Candreva (Lazio) Alessio Cerci (Torino) Daniele De Rossi (Roma) Alessandro Diamanti (Bologna) Emanuele Giaccherini (Juventus) Claudio Marchisio (Juventus) Riccardo Montolivo (Milan) Andrea Pirlo (Juventus)
Forwards: Mario Balotelli (Milan) Stephan El Shaarawy (Milan) Alberto Gilardino (Bologna) Sebastian Giovinco (Juventus)
Group B
1. Spain (2010 World Cup champions) 2. Uruguay (2011 Copa America champions) 3. Tahiti (2012 OFC Nations Cup champions) 4. Nigeria (2013 African Cup of Nations champions)
Spain entered the Confederations tournament as the 2010 World Cup champions. Vicente Del Bosque's team would have also received an invitation as European champions. The Spaniards are undeniable favorites, who also aim to defend the title of world champions in 2014.
Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid) Victor Valdes (Barcelona) Pepe Reina (Liverpool) Defenders: Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid) Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) Gerard Pique (Barcelona) Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea) Jordi Alba (Barcelona) Ignacio Monreal (Arsenal) Raul Albiol (Real Madrid)
Midfielders: Javi Martinez (Bayern Munich) Xavi (Barcelona) Andres Iniesta (Barcelona) Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) Santi Cazorla (Arsenal) Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona) David Silva (Man City) Juan Mata (Chelsea) Jesus Navas (Sevilla)
Forwards: David Villa (Barcelona) Roberto Soldado (Valencia) Pedro (Barcelona) Fernando Torres (Chelsea)
The Uruguayan national team qualified for the tournament by winning the 2011 Copa America. They easily defeated Paraguay and secured a place in the Confederations Cup. Recently, the Uruguayans have not shown excellent form, but they, like the Spaniards, remain favorites in the group.
Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray) Martin Silva (Olimpia) Juan Castillo (Danubio) Defenders: Andres Scotti (Nacional) Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica) Diego Lugano (Malaga) Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid) Sebastian Coates (Liverpool) Martin Caceres (Juventus) Matias Aguirregaray (Penarol)
Midfielders: Alvaro Gonzalez (Lazio) Alvaro Pereira (Inter) Walter Gargano (Inter) Egidio Arevalo-Rios (Palermo) Diego Perez (Bologna) Cristian Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid) Gaston Ramirez (Southampton) Nicolas Lodeiro (Botafogo) Sebastian Eguren (Libertad)
Forwards: Luis Suarez (Liverpool) Edinson Cavani (Napoli) Diego Forlan (Internacional) Abel Hernandez (Palermo)
Tahiti triumphed in the 2012 OFC Nations Cup final, where they clashed with New Caledonia. Tahitian footballers are considered outsiders in the tournament, but no team can underestimate their opponents.
Goalkeepers: Gilbert Meriel (Tefana) Mikael Roche (Dragon) Xavier Samin (Dragon) Defenders: Rainui Aroita (Tamarii) Edson Lemaire (Dragon) Teheivaril Ludivion (Tefana) Stephane Faatiarau (Tefana) Vincent Simon (Dragon) Nicol Vallar (Dragon) Yannick Vero (Dragon) Tamatoa Wagemann (Dragon)
Midfielders: Ricky Aitamai (Venus) Stanley Atani (Tefana) Heimano Bourebare (Tefana) Henri Caroine (Dragon) Alvin Tehau (Tefana) Jonathan Tehau (Tamarii) Lorenzo Tehau (Tefana) Yoann Tihoni (Roni) Forwards: Steevy Chong-Hue (Dragon) Samuel Hnanyine (Dragon) Teaonui Tehau (Dragon) Marama Vahirua (Panthrakikos)
The Nigerian national team qualified for the Confederations Cup as the champions of the 2013 African Cup of Nations. In the final, Stephen Keshi's team narrowly defeated the surprising Burkina Faso. Nigeria is likely to compete with Uruguay for the second place in the group and a spot in the semifinals.
Goalkeepers: Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers) Austin Ejide (Beer Sheva) Vincent Enyeama (Maccabi) Defenders: Efe Ambrose (Celtic) Francis Benjamin (Heartland) Elderson Echiejile (Braga) Azubuike Egwueke (Warri Wolves) Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars) Godfrey Oboabona (Sunshine Stars) Kenneth Omeruo (ADO Den Haag)
Midfielders: Emeka Eze (Enugu Rangers) John Obi Mikel (Chelsea) Fegor Ogude (Valerenga) John Ogu (Academica Coimbra) Ogenyi Onazi (Lazio) Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers) Michael Babatunde (Kryvbas) Nnamdi Oduamadi (Varese) Forwards: Joseph Akpala (Werder) Muhammad Gambo (Kano Pillars) Brown Ideye (Dynamo) Ahmed Musa (CSKA) Anthony Ujah (Koln)
2013 Confederations Cup stadiums
