2013 Confederations Cup Battle For Third Match Preview: Uruguay Vs. Italy

Venue: Salvador
Date:  30 June 2013

The Verdict:  Italy finishes 3rd in Confeds Cup (2-1)

Cesar Prandelli shall enter Salvador with high hopes that Gli Azurri will finish third in the 2013 Confederations. And why not? The squad forced the Spaniards into a 120-minute match that ended in a 7-6 penalty score in favor of La Roja.

Although it could have secured a spot in the final, what is more important to Prandelli is his team’s ability to “compete with the best,” and this explains why the Italians have higher winning possibilities than Uruguay.

Prandelli is expected to use the 3-4-2-1 formation, which pressed the Spaniards, but opened plenty of opportunities for them. Italy might take advantage of it to stop unprecedented attacks from Forlan and Cavani. The formation’s weakness, however, is the absence of a powerful striker to complete a strong finish.

With this regard, Alberto Gilardino must step up his game. The latter was Prandelli’s choice to substitute for Mario Balotelli when he was injured during the encounter against Brazil. Gilardino has the experience, knowing that he once held the trophy for Italy in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Yet, in the event where he fails to rise in the occasion, Prandelli will still have Sebastian Giovinco and of course, Stephan El Shaarawy to secure the goals for them.  

Other than Gianluigi Buffon is another veteran that Gli Azurri brings during the Uruguay encounter. With a World Cup title and experience to boot, he is definitely, one of the best goal keepers to depend on, most especially during penalties and free kicks. However, Prandelli might have second doubts on whether Bonucci should take a shot again.

There is no question why Italy is the heavy favorite in the match. The squad put up a great show against Spain that exemplifies not only its potential to grab Confederations Cup title, but also another World Cup trophy.



Photo Credit: Zimbio

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2013 Confederations Cup Finale Preview: Spain vs. Brazil

It’s a match made in heaven: the defending champions versus the 2010 FIFA World Cup and 2012 UEFA EURO Cup holders.

This may come as a surprise, but Spain seems at a disadvantage in the finals. La Roja barely escaped the clutches of Italy in the semifinals when the latter forced them into a penalty shoot-out. If it wasn’t for Leonardo Bonucci’s mistake, Gli Azzurri might’ve taken the victory.

Also, Brazil’s playing style could pose a problem for the Spaniards. Neymar and Co. are known for their creative yet fast-paced play, which makes up for the fact that they have a slighter build than the Europeans. The Canarinho will likely not allow the game to extend to a drama of penalties like Italy did.

Another point against La Roja is the gap in preparation time between them and the Brazilians. According to the FIFA website, midfielder Juan Mata admitted that playing twice a week for one year has “physically diminished” them, while Iker Casillas said that the match against Gli Azzurri was a wake-up call.

Should Brazil win the Maracana match on June 30, it will be their third straight Confederations Cup. As for Spain, they’ll improve upon their third place finish in the 2009 competition no matter what happens. 

Photo credit: Zimbio  

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2013 Confederations Cup: Spain Overturns Italy 7-6 in Penalty Shoot-Out

Spain burst Italy’s hopes of appearing in the 2013 Confederations Cup finals with an anticlimactic victory last June 27.

Neither team was able to score for 120 minutes, forcing a penalty shootout which Spain won 7-6. Jesus Navas’ spot-kick, combined with Leonardo Bonucci’s failure to score in the shoot-out, sealed the fate of Gli Azzurri.

Italy looked crippled without Mario Balotelli, with the likes of Christian Maggio, Daniele De Rossi, and Claudio Marchisio missing several opportunities to shoot in the first half. Fernando Torres flew past Andrea Barzagli to try and convert a point, only to be intercepted by Gianluigi Buffon.

At the start of the second half, La Roja regained control of the ball, but Buffon’s excellent goalkeeping skills ensured that the match would be at a stalemate. Also, Xavi’s goal in the last few seconds was blocked by De Rossi before Howard Webb blew the whistle, signaling the beginning of extra time.

Despite the increased pressure from Spain in the second half of extra time, La Roja was still as goalless as their opponents, necessitating the penalty shootout. Ironically, Buffon was unable to sustain his momentum in this round, letting Spain score 7 of 13 points made there.

Spain will face Brazil on June 30. 

Photo credit: Zimbio

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2013 FIFA U-20 Match Preview: Paraguay vs. Greece

So far, Paraguay and Greece are tied in Group D. Whether the same trend will apply to their scores in their June 28 match remains to be seen, though.  

La Albirroja had a shaky start in the first-round of the qualifying tournament. They had to down Bolivia 5-1, and pull off the same feat with hosts Argentina. Also, their balanced team and attacking prowess weren’t enough to nudge them ahead of a draw with Mali, not to mention scoring only a single point against Mexico. Paraguay has potential, but they have to work a bit more if they want to increase their dominance and presence in Turkey 2013.

Like Paraguay, Greece is considered one of the strongest teams in their continent. The Greeks have experience to their advantage, what with their appearance in four out of the last six UEFA U-19 European Championships, and their routing of Spain and Portugal 4-1 and 3-2, respectively. The hopes of Kostas Tsanas’ team are also resting on Giorgos Katidis, Dimitris Diamantakos, Kostas Stafylidis, Charis Mavrias, and Giannis Gianniotas.

Onlookers would be hard-pressed to see a sure victor in this match up. In any case, expect either a draw, or Greece to come out on top.

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Paulinho Brings Brazil To Confed Cup Finals

Brazil advances to the finals with Paulinho scoring the heroic goal on the 86th. The down the wire match ended with a 2-1 victory in favor of the Selecaos.

Sealed with a seemingly sarcastic kiss meant for La Celeste’s Alvaro Gonzalez, Neymar did the honors of throwing a free kick after Brazil earned a corner. With all precision and might, Paulinho defied the Uruguayan defence and converted.

The Brazilians took an early lead in the match. Paulinho’s through ball landed on the genius Neymar, but the determined Fernando Muslera denied the latter. Unfortunately for Muslera, the ball ended right in front of Fred, who took the winning shot and left the Uruguayans trailing.

La Celeste had their chance in the 14th minute. A foul fished by Diego Lugano sent Diego Forlan into the penalty. It could have been a sweet giveaway if not for Julio Cesar, who denied Forlan’s attempt.

Nevertheless, Uruguay was still, able to secure the equalizer. As the Selecaos’ defence crumbled, Edinson Cavani took advantage of the field ruckus and ensured that his low-footed shot touches the net.

Not wanting to disappoint the crowd, Scolari responded with substitutions. Bernard entered for Hulk while Hernanes replaced Oscar. The move gave Brazil the attacking strength that eventually turned the tables around.

With twenty (20) years of rivalry, Uruguay once again, failed to topple Brazil in the tournament.

Brazil heads toward Rio De Janeiro to wait for the winner in the Spain-Italy match. On the other hand, Uruguay shall have its bid for the third place battle in Salvador. 

Photo Credits: Zimbio

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2013 FIFA U-20 Match Preview: Korea vs. Nigeria

The upcoming match between Korea and Nigeria is shaping up to be a tight one.

For one, both teams proved that they can give tournament favorite Portugal a run for its money. Korea surprised the European team with a come-from-behind draw, thanks to the efforts of Kim Hyun and Ryu Seungwoo. Nigeria didn’t do so bad against Bruma and Alberto Aladje’s team either, though the Flying Eagles weren’t fortunate enough to overcome their 2-3 loss to Portugal.

Nigeria, who has appeared in this championship nine times, also has Abdul Ajagun and Aminu Umar to rely on for their scoring needs. There’s also Kayode Olarenwaju who’ll serve as the perfect support for these two. As for Korea, they have a cohesive lineup in the shape of Hyun, Seungwoo, Sim Sangmin, and Han Sunggyu. The last two made the beautiful play which enabled Hyun to make a nice goal.

The Flying Eagles may have better firepower, but the Koreans have a deeper team. As long as Nigeria doesn’t keep missing goals the way it did against Cuba, they’ll do just fine against the Asian team. The June 27 match may end up in a draw, or a win in favor of Nigeria.

 Photo credit: kandschwar (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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2013 FIFA U-20 Match Preview: Portugal vs. Cuba

Fresh from their defeat against Nigeria, Cuba isn’t likely to see its fortunes improve as it faces the tournament favorites on June 27—Portugal.

The team led by Edgar Borges already downed Nigeria 3-2 the other day. Unlike the Flying Eagles, Portugal will not allow scoring opportunities to slip by unnoticed. In particular, striker Alberto Aladje and winger Bruma can easily blaze through the defenses of untested opponents like Cuba.

Raul Gonzalez’s team will have to use up all their speed and strength if they are to stand a chance against Portugal. However, their status as debutants, combined with Portugal’s dominance on the field, means that it’s exceedingly unlikely that they’ll win this match. The Cubans haven’t made an appearance in the international scene since the 1938 senior FIFA World Cup, so they have a lot of catching up to do.

Edgar Borges and Co. need a high-scoring victory over Cuba if they are to secure their top spot in Group B. As for the Cubans, their consolation is that they’ve been presented with this great opportunity to make a name for themselves, and that they have plenty of chances to do better next time.

Prediction: Portugal will win by at least 3 points over Cuba, which will score only one or no goals. 

Photo credit: marktci from Toronto, Canada (Flickr) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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U-20 Match Preview: Ghana Vs. USA

Venue: Kayseri

The Verdict: Ghana Continues In U-20 Feat as USA exits, 2-1

A hard-fought victory is Ghana’s only option to advance in FIFA’s U-20. The Black Satellites is at the edge of exiting Turkey when it lost its opening match against France and just recently, Spain. After clinching the championship trophy last 2009, Ghana struggles for failing to snatch a point and being pushed at the bottom of the Group stage.

USA’s situation is no different from the Black Satellites. The squad was also thrashed twice in the tournament. Luckily, for the Stars and Stripes, they managed to force a draw against France. However, the team merely hangs by a thread. Beating Ghana is their best option to advance.

Both trapped in a “do or die” situation, the encounter in Kayseri tend to favor Ghana.

Black Satellites sported a stronger defence. Sellas Tetteh and his men brag four (4) GAs, whereas Tab Ramos takes the runner-up spot with five (5). The latter’s defence ruckus caused a costly penalty in France’s favor.

Meanwhile, despite its lost against Spain, Ghana’s game control was evident. This is most especially true during the equalizer rally in the second half. The mere fact that Spain was pushed to change its strategy to penetrate through the Ghanaian wall was a massive display of impressive defence.

Ghana’s scoring prowess shows more teeth than that of USA. Team USA’s Alonso Hernandez and Luis Gil have yet to find their chemistry in executing winning passes. Gil even failed to convert a penalty that could have shifted the momentum to their side. A cloud of doubt looms as to whether Gil and Hernandez can put up a challenge against the Black Satellite’s Clifford Aboagye and Yiadom Boakye.

Ghana is definitely a heavy favorite by both supporters and bookies. As for the betting side, Asian handicaps are already given to Team USA. 

Photo Credit: Zimbio

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2013 Confederations Cup Match Preview: Spain Vs. Italy

Venue: Fortaleza
Date: 28 June 2013

Prediction: Italy Exits Brazil

Injuries, weak defence and poor scoring caused Italy to lose its campaign in the Confederations Cup. On the other hand, the all mighty Spain is comfortably looks forward to securing the only international trophy that it lacks.

Spain and Italy will continue their rivalry in the Confederations Cup. After losing the Euro Cup to Spain last year, Gli Azurri seeks revenge. Yet, Italy’s present form foresees a repetition of failing to clinch the coveted silverware.

First off, injuries bogged down Cesar Prandelli’s side. Adding to his list of injured players is the striker Mario Balotelli. Super Mario suffered a thigh injury after a heart-thumping encounter against Brazil.

Prior to Balotelli’s exit, the Italians are already missing the presence of Andrea Pirlo and Ricardo Montelivo. The same thing holds true for Ignazio Abate who dislocated his shoulders early on in the tournament. Although reports say that Pirlo and Montelivo will be seeing action in Fortaleza, this does not guarantee a knock-out performance knowing that Prandelli still has the World Cup qualifiers to think about. Italy’s head honcho might resort to a 3-5-2 formation and El Shaarawy making his debut in the tournament. El Shaarawy’s entry is Prandelli’s way of countering the Spaniard’s invincible defence.

Now talk about Spanish defence, Vicente del Bosque and his men had conceded a single goal in the tournament. Italy conceded four (4) against Brazil—the lowest that the team ever had. This perspective exemplifies Spain’s scoring strength.

Since the Confeds Cup kicked-off, La Roja had already scored fifteen (15) goals. Ten (10) of them was against the minnow, Tahiti. Nevertheless, far more important is the scoring appetite of David Villa, Fernando Torres and Roberto Soldado. Aside from the three, David Silva, Juan Mata, Pedro Rodriguez and Jordi Alba can rip the Italian’s net in the match. 

Spain stands as heavy favorites for this match with Asian handicaps already handed over to Italy.



Photo Credits: Zimbio

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2013 Confederations Cup Match Preview: Brazil vs. Uruguay (Semi-Finals)

The verdict of the FIFA gods is out: Brazil and Uruguay will face off for the first semi-finals match of the 2013 Confederations Cup. (The second semi-finals match will take place on June 27, local time, between Spain and Italy.)

Of the four semi-finalists, Uruguay is the team most likely to land in fourth place. It can be argued that the only reason coach Oscar Tabarez’s team made it this far is their clobbering of Tahiti 8-0, which isn’t saying much considering the Oceanic team’s record. To their credit, they were able to keep the dominant Spaniards at 2-1 even though they lost, which means that Brazil would be wise not to let their guard down on June 26 (local time).  

As for Brazil, they pretty much have a sure spot in the finals. The way their players move the ball around the court is beautiful to watch. Also, as seen in their last match against Italy, they have a knack for neutralizing saves from the opposing team’s goalkeeper. And they have Neymar, who just scored in three straight Confederations Cup matches and is set to join FC Barcelona.

Whoever wins in the other semi-finals match will determine whether Brazil will have their third straight Confederations Cup. If Italy wins, Brazil can quickly dispatch Gli Azzurri without much trouble like they did last time. If Spain will be their opponent, the June 30 match in Rio De Janeiro will be the epic match to end all epic matches. 

Prediction: Brazil wins

Photo credit: Fotos Gov/Ba (Neymar) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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Brazil Set To Meet Uruguay In Confeds Cup’s Semis

Brazil has plenty of reasons to celebrate its 4-2 win against Italy in the Confederations Cup. 

Dante scored his first competitive goal, Fred made his first double and with Neymar making his third strike, the battle in Salvador highlighted the Selecao’s strong bid for the silverware.

Several minutes before the half-time, Dante broke the seemingly long spell of failed attempts and defensive attacks, when he converted off of a piece situation and put Brazil on the lead on the 45th.

Italy responded with the combined efforts of Mario Balotelli and Emaneule Giaccherini. Giaccherini right footed shot has no intentions of wasting Super Mario’s backheel. Unfortunately for Gli Azurri, the equalizer ended with Balotelli nursing a strained thigh.

Amidst the possibility that the Italian striker may not see the semis, a Christian Maggio Foul sent football prodigy, Neymar into the penalty line. Unwilling to disappoint his supporters and the opportunity to take the lead, Neymar scored his third consecutive goal in the tournament.

The 66th minute of the match was almost a premonition for the Italians. Fred made his first goal in the match, only to be countered by Giorgio Chilellini on the 71st. Fred finally made his finishing touches with a right-footed shot that marked not only Brazil’s victory, but his first double.

Italy’s loss to Brazil was the first time that Gli Azurri conceded four (4) goals in the match.

As for Scolari and his men, the three (3) consecutive wins were no less than a morale booster. Prior to the tournament, the Selecaos’ scoring and style of play have been the center of issues and controversies. Yet, with its successive and deciding victories, naysayers can only watch in silence and glee.



Photo Credit: Zimbio

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Chicharito Redeems Mexican Pride

Mexico exits Brazil but with heads held high after pulling a victory against Japan. The match ended with a 2-1 score in favor of El Tri. The triumph was Mexico’s first and last in the 2013 Confederations Cup.

Jose Manuel de la Torre and his men may have struggled throughout the tournament, following two (2) consecutive wins against Italy and Brazil. Chicharito, however, redeemed the squad’s pride after nailing two (2) goals in Belo Horizonte.

Chicharito started his scoring barrage after converting a header from Andres Guardado on the 54th. Six minutes after, the Manchester United striker extended the lead upon scoring another header. It could have been a hat-trick if not for Kawashima’s great save.

Japan tried to snatch the victory. Yet, Shinji Okazaki’s goal came late for the Blue Samurais. With only four (4) minutes left in the match, time was in favor of the Mexicans.

Mexico is one of the favorites of the tournament. But their failure to clinch a single win eliminated the squad from advancing.

Prior to the Confeds Cup, Mexico has been criticized for its poor performance that pushed the squad into the third spot of the qualifiers. A cloud of doubt among spectators loomed during their entry into the said event.

However, El Tri’s striker rose to the challenge and for the last time in the tournament, gave Mexico something to be proud of. Chicharito stressed that the triumph is a great boost to their seemingly lost confidence.

Mexico and Japan both played for honor and pride’s sake. Although both teams were determined, it was the more experienced Mexico that emerged as the match victor.

This recently concluded duel was also the second time that the two teams met in the said tournament. In both matches, Mexico had the final say. 

Photo Credit: Zimbio

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Spain Advances to Semifinals with 3-0 Over Nigeria

Despite an aggressive first-half play by their opponents, Spain cruised to the semi-finals with a 3-0 win against Nigeria last Sunday in Fortaleza.

Nigeria, led by Ahmed Musaab, kept Spanish goalkeeper Victor Valdes on his feet with seven scoring opportunities, an incredible feat against La Roja. Spain wasn’t its usual formidable self, and missed several goals in the first half.

The red-and-yellow team was fortunate in that Nigeria couldn’t take advantage of their scoring opportunities as well. Still, the green team’s defenses were no match for the Spanish attack led by Jordi Alba and Fernando Torres.

Alba scored the first goal in the match three minutes into it after a superb pass from Andres Iniesta. Striker Roberto Soldado, for his part, failed to extend Spain’s 1-0 lead over Nigeria at halftime.

On the Nigerian side, Jospeh Ideye took a dribble from Efe Ambrose, but couldn’t convert it into a goal seven minutes before halftime. Also, Mohammed Gambo missed a scoring chance courtesy of Musaab at the 73th minute.

Soldado was replaced by Torres at the 60^th minute. The Chelsea striker caught a well-executed cross from Pedro to score the match’s second goal, which is also Torres’ fifth out of six goal attempts in the 2013 Confederations Cup.

In no time at all, Spain took over the role of aggressor. At the 88^th minute, Alba sealed Nigeria’s fate with a goal that was his second and Spain’s third.

Coach Vicente del Bosque’s team will face Italy Thursday evening for the semifinals.

Photo credit: Steindy (talk) 13:11, 13 July 2010 (UTC) (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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Uruguay Eliminates Tahiti 8-0, Lands Semi-Finals Spot

Uruguay secured itself a slot in the semi-finals after railroading Tahiti 8-0 today. 

It was the third straight loss for the 2012 OFC Nations Cup winners, who will go home as the bottom-ranked team in Group B and the entire competition. Tahiti had previously lost to Nigeria 1-6 and Spain 0-10.

Of Uruguay’s eight goals, four were made by Abel Hernandez. The 22-year-old striker wasted no time as he struck a Nicolas Lodeiro corner within the first two minutes of the game. Around twenty minutes later, Hernandez got past Gilbert Meriel’s defense for Uruguay’s second goal, and Diego Perez chipped in the third goal not long afterwards. By the 45^th minute, Hernandez made Uruguay’s fourth goal.

Lodeiro made a shot at close range within the first 10 minutes of the second half. At the 67^th minute mark, Hernandez took advantage of a penalty to make his fourth and final goal for the match. Substitute Luis Suarez rounded up Uruguay’s goals in the 81^st and 89^th minutes.

For Tahiti, the large gap in experience between them and the other teams was their undoing. “The hard reality is that there is an abyss between professional football and our amateurs,” laments Tahiti manager Eddy Etaeta. “But in spite of the losses and the goals we kept playing fairly and I must thank my players who were wonderful.”

Uruguay will battle Brazil on June 26 in Belo Horizonte. Should Uruguay win that match, they will go against either Spain or Italy on June 30 for the finals.

 Photo credit: Jimmy Baikovicius from Montevideo, Uruguay [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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Forlan Marks 100th Cap As Uruguay Win Against Nigeria

Diego Forlan celebrated his 100th cap with style as he clinched Uruguay’s 2-1 victory against Nigeria at Arena Fonte Nova.

Forlan snatched the lead when he converted a cross from Edinson Cavani during the 51st minute. Yet, more important than the triumph is the fact that Forlan is now joining Italy’s Andrea Pirlo in the list of players who have had 100 caps.

After a disappointing defeat against Spain, La Celeste is now pitted to advance in the Confederations Cup.

The Super Eagles had several attempts to force a draw. But their efforts remained futile. Stephen Keshi and his men was unable to retain the momentum they had during the Tahiti encounter.

Uruguay’s full control showed early on the match. Diego Lugano finished Cavani’s failed backheel to get the upper-hand in the 19th minute.

Nigeria answered quickly when John Obi Mikel scored on the 37th. Unfortunately, the Super Eagles failed to recover when Forlan scored the deciding shot.

La Celeste’s recent win makes them a strong contender to join Spain in the semis. The latter had already secured a record-breaking win (10-0) against Tahiti.

As for Nigeria, Stephen Keshi and his squad has no other option but to beat the incumbent World Cup champion, should they wish to remain in the tournament. Certainly, it will be an uphill battle for the Super Eagles. Spain benefitted from the 10-0 win and only needs a point to advance. Should they (Nigeria) lose, this will end their Confederations Cup stint in Brazil.

While Nigeria is in deep trouble for facing Spain, Uruguay can relax a bit. The latter will go against the crowd-favorite, Tahiti.



Photo Credit: Zimbio

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Spain Scores Record Breaking Win Over Tahiti

Estadio Do  Maracana saw the World Cup titleholder, Spain lambasted the brave Tahiti with an all-time high 10-0 win last Thursday. The victory earned the football giants a spot on the semis and a world record.

The Spaniards was off to a scoring rage during the match. Fernando Torres missed a penalty, but scored four (4). Davild Villa mad a hat-trick, while David Silva had two (2) and Juan Mata scored a goal.

Nevertheless, Tahiti unleashed a good fight in the second half and even managed to come up with several saves.

La Furia Roja’s performance is the biggest victory ever made in any FIFA tournament. The previous record belonged to Brazil, which thrashed Saudi Arabia with an 8-2 win in 1999. This was not the first time that Spain pulled off a wide victory gap against its opponent. In 1933, the squad trampled Bulgaria with a 13-0 win.

Meanwhile, despite of Spain’s record-breaking feat, Team Fenua remained as crowd favorites. Brazilian spectators cheered for the minnows while the power team was welcomed with taunts and jeers, much to the delight of Team Fenua’s boss, Eddy Etaeta.

Etaeta expressed his team’s disappointment for not scoring. Nevertheless, he stressed that their loss became more meaningful since they “won the hearts of the Brazilian republic.” He added that the team is now more popular in Brazil than in its own territory.

Prior to match, Team Fenua gave lei garlands to their opponents as a sign of friendship and respect.  Tahiti will soon meet Uruguay in Recife.



Photo Credits: Zimbio

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2013 Confederations Cup Match Preview: Mexico vs. Japan

Date: 23 June 2013 
Venue: Belo

The verdict: Japan Redeems Pride, 3-2

Japan and Mexico have already lost their bid for the Confederations Cup trophy. Their upcoming match, however, promises a spectacle of pure and unadulterated struggle for national pride and honor.

With both teams passionate enough to prevent a disgraceful slip to the bottom, Japan exemplifies a stronger determination to redeem its fallen squad.

It is never hard to hail Mexico as favorites. It had the upper-hand during their last encounter in 2005. Yet, eight (8) years after and with their recent performance, Japan proved to be in a much better form and have a better chance of going home with heads held up high.

Throughout the tournament, El Tri had only scored once, thanks to Javier Hernandez’s penalty kick. This gives a clear picture of the squad’s declining ability to dive closer to the net and its struggling defence as well.

However, the Blue Samurais showed a different story. After failing to score against Brazil, Zaccheroni and his men subjected Italy to a down the wire battle and fired three (3) goals. Indeed, it was a match where the Italians should have never won if not for Sebastian Giovinco’s last salvo.

Mexico’s lackluster performance also gives the impression that Hernandez is the only force that Japan has to reckon with. But then again, it is another different story for the Japanese’s side. Against El Tri’s Hernandez, Zaccheroni has playmakers, Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa to boot.

Japan has come a long way since the tournament started. Yet, it is also worthy to mention that the team has also improved tremendously. The adjustment has been quick. And victory is coming fast to the first team that has qualified in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. 

Photo Credit: Zimbio

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2013 Confederations Cup Match Preview: Italy Vs. Brazil

Date: 23 June 2013 
Venue: Salvador

The verdict: Italy Bows Down To Brazil, 2-1

Brazil and Italy shall meet in a deciding match to vie for the top spot in Group A of the Confederations Cup. Both teams are already entering the semis. But with the Selecaos playing more comfortably at home, Brazil has all the edge to emerge as the group leader.

What the numbers tell
Gil Azurris and The Selecaos are tied with six (6) points each. However, Felipe Scolari’s squad has a better goal difference and will only need a draw to clinch the victory. This leaves Italy with several options. It goes either for a scoring rampage or save its energy for World Cup titleholder, Spain.

Neymar and Super Mario
Neymar and Mario Balotelli are impressive in their previous games. Neymar scored Brazil’s first two opening goals. Balotelli made two crucial shots for Italy. Both rose to the occasion and delivered. But Neymar has the scoring momentum.

Super Mario hardly passed through the Mexican defence and his scoring attempt materialized only along the sides of the penalty line. This does not disregard Balotelli’s goal contributions, but in this battle, he will be better off as a defender. Italy is in dire need to put a stop against Brazilian scorers.

Team form
Brazil won 4 out of 6 of their most recent matches while Italy never lost in their last 8 encounters (4 wins and 4 draws).

In terms of injury, only David Luiz suffers from an injury. The player broke his nose after going against Mexico. Luiz will still go against Italy wearing a protective mask.

Meanwhile, David De Rossi will not be seeing action in the upcoming match. De Rossi got two yellow cards during the team’s encounter against Japan.

It is hard to question Italy’s last performance. However, it is also true that Japan almost drained their energy. Fatigue may soon sink in. With the odds in its favor, Brazil will definitely take full advantage of every opportunity they have to secure this victory. 


Photo Credit: Zimbio

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Italy Goes To Confed Cup Semis

Italy secured its spot in the Confederations Cup’s semis after its heart-pounding 4-3 triumph over Japan.

Sebastian Giovinco scored the deciding goal upon converting a cross from Claudio Marchiso on the 86th minute.

The match was never an easy feat for the Azurris. Chris Prandelli and his men struggled throughout the first-half that resulted to Japan’s first two (2) goals. Keisuke Honda after a great tackle with Gianlugi Buffon, converted a penalty kick that put Japan on the lead. On the 33rd minute, Manchester United’s Shinji Kagawa nailed a left-footed shot that almost sealed Italy’s fate in the match.

Japan’s Barcelona-like approach—putting pressure and keeping possession seemed to work, but only temporarily. Danielle De Rossi answered back with a header off a corner from Andrea Pirlo on the 41st minute and on the 50th, Atsuto Uchida scored his own goal.

The odds slowly shifted into the Italian side when Mario Balotelli had his chance to take part in Italy’s goal scoring rampage. More popularly known as Super Mario, Balotelli converted a penalty, thanks to Makoto Hasebe’s handball.  Balotelli’s shot handed the lead to the Azurri.

Unfortunately, the reversal of roles continued. Yasuhito Endo’s cross to Shinji Okazaki reclaimed the lead for Japan on the 69th. It could have been an early celebration, not until Giovinco scored the great upset.

Despite of the win, Prandelli acknowledged the match’s difficulty. Buffon, on the other hand, shared a similar sentiment and gave credit to Japan’s impressive performance. Buffon described the match as something that “they shouldn’t have won.”

Meanwhile, Zaccheronni admitted Italy’s scoring capabilities. Japan’s head honcho shared how their opponents’ international experience brought the squad ahead of Blue Samurais.

Italy’s will soon face Brazil to compete for the top spot on the group.




Photo Credit: Zimbio

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Brazil Advances To The Semis, Neymar Did It Again

Neymar repeated history when he scored Brazil’s first goal against Mexico and rallied the Selecao’s 2-0 win in the Confederations Cup. The Brazilians are now ensured of a spot in the semis and will soon meet Italy after defeating Japan. 

The uprising young player opened the match with a bang when he volleyed a goal in the 9th minute. It was not the first time that the new Barcelona recruit made a grand opening for Brazil. The battle against Japan also witnessed Neymar’s spectacular shot.

Unfortunately, for Mexico, Brazil’s stellar player also knows how to execute a strong finish. Several minutes before the match ended, Neymar made a clearing for Jo and forcing the Mexicans to wave the white flag.

Brazil and Mexico had a long-standing rivalry that began when El Tri crushed the crowd-favorite Selecaos. As Scolari stressed the Olympic upset remained “fresh” in the player’s mind. Their most recent victory in one of the most prestigious football tournaments, served as  their sweet redemption over a snatched silverware last 2012.

On the other hand, Neymar cannot help but express his joy over their hard-fought triumph. The young striker was delighted in the squad’s impressive performance. He stressed the team’s “improvement” and “confidence” in reaching the final stretch of the tournament.

Brazil currently sits on the front row of Group A along with Italy. Both teams accumulated six (6) points after securing their consecutive wins.

Gil Azurris and The Selecaos will both advanced to the semis and battle for a top place in the group.


Photo Credit: Zimbio

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Jordan Books Third Place in Group B After 1-0 Win Over Oman

Around six hours after Australia shocked Iraq 1-0, Jordan posted a similar score against Oman at the King Abdullah International Stadium in Amman.

Like the Socceroos, Jordan found its footing late in the game. Oman dominated the first half, leaving Jordan scoreless at first. Qasim Said’s counter-attack was saved by Jordan keeper Amer Shafi, while Ismail al-Ajmi’s grazed the left post at the 26^th minute mark.

Khali Bani Ateyah made a superb run on the right flank and passed the ball to Ahmad Ibrahim, who made the 57^th strike that sealed Oman’s fate. Ateyah previously lost a ball from a cross by Odai Alsaify.

Oman tried to recover in the last 10 minutes, but could get only one good kick through Jordan goalkeeper Amar Sabbah courtesy of Saad Al Mukhaini.

Oman needed only a draw to advance to the next round.

According to Jordan Football Association Vice President Salah Sabra, “This is a great win for Jordan… We are looking forward to getting ready for Uzbekistan after this crucial win against Oman. Jordan is prepared for all scenarios at this stage.”

This victory is Jordan’s revenge for its earlier 2-1 away loss. With 10 points under its belt, Jordan will face Group B third-placer Uzbekistan on September 6 and 10. The victor of this match, in turn, will take on the fifth-ranked South American team in the intercontinental playoffs on November 15 and 19.

Meanwhile, Japan and Australia, as the Group B top two, will go to Brazil. 

Photo credit: TimesofOman.com

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Australia Routs Iraq 1-0, Qualifies for 2014 FIFA World Cup

Unfortunately for Iraq, their opponent last Tuesday had a knack for making late, match-breaking goals.

Josh Kennedy from The Land Down Under kicked past goalkeeper Noor Sabri at the 83^rd minute mark to defeat Iraq 1-0 and qualify Australia for its third consecutive World Cup.

Kennedy was a last-minute substitute for veteran Tim Cahill. This move courtesy of Coach Holger Osieck paid off, as the 30-year-old striker teamed up with Mark Bresciano to make that winning goal.

It’s a surprising result, considering how the Australians fared against the Iraqis throughout the game. Mark Schwarzer struggled to contain the young and energetic lineup of Iraq; conversely, Brett Holman and Robbie Kruse had a hard time getting past their opponent’s defense. There was also the bad weather hampering the performance of both teams. Australia also fared badly in the Asian qualifying rounds, with only one out of their first six matches won.

Luckily, the psychological boost provided by the home court and the 80,000-strong fans, combined with the experience of the Socceroos, ensured that Australia will see Brazil this year.

“I’m proud of everybody,” said captain Lucas Neill. “It’s been a really tough campaign. We’ve stuck at it, showed mental strength. Sorry, it wasn’t pretty. But we’ve beaten what was in front of us and pushed ourselves on to a very exciting tournament.”

Australia now ranks second in their AFC group behind Japan. 

Photo credit: Camw (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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Iran and 3 Other Squads Acquire 2014 World Cup Ticket

In another down the wire Asian qualifying match, Iran outclassed its archrival, Korea Republic with a 1-0 victory to secure its World Cup berth next year. 

Iran earned its sweet revenge after Reza Ghoochannejhad nailed a left-footed shot off of a counter-attack against Kim Younggwon on the 59th minute. Korea Republic tried to regain momentum and made several attempts to score an equalizer, yet, the prolific Rahman Ahmadi denied them twice.

The Iran-Korea Republic encounter is one of the most anticipated rivalries in the Asian World Cup qualifiers. In 2010, Taeguk Warriors forced a draw that ended Team Melli’s 2010 World Cup campaign. After a 4-year wait, Iran answered back, inflicting an almost similar degree of disappointment. The rivalry became even more intense as word war broke between Choi Kang-hee and Carlos Quirioz prior to the deciding game. 

But despite of losing to Iran, Korea Republic has no reason to be depressed. The squad still, qualifies for the World Cup by virtue of goal difference over Uzbekistan. Joining them is Australia, which defeated Iraq with a 1-0 score.

The win against Korea Republic earned 16 points for Iran and secured the top spot in Group A. Yet, what is even more important is the country’s 4th World Cup appearance.  As a result, the country’s Sports Ministry is set to celebrate the victory in Tehran.

Iran’s first entry into the World Cup began in 1978. However, the squad failed to rise above the group stage. Their next attempt happened in 1998 where they secured a great win over USA. Iran made it again in 2006. Yet, history simply repeated itself when Team Melli got stuck in the group stage.

Korea Republic, on the other hand, finished with 14 points and nailed its 8th consecutive World Cup qualification.



Photo Credit: Zimbio

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2014 World Cup Qualifiers Match Preview: Korea Republic Vs. Iran

Venue: Munsu Football Stadium
Date: 18 June 2013

Munsu Football Stadium shall witnessed one of the most awaited rivalries in the World Cup’s Asian qualifiers as Korea Republic meets Iran this 18 June 2013. What is at stake? It is no other than an automatic ticket to Brazil.

The battle between Team Melli and Taeguk Warriors is never their first encounter. The two have already met in six (6) World Cup qualifiers and the upcoming face-off becomes even more intense as word war between Choi Kang-hee, and Carlos Quiroz spreads through the World Wide Web. Nevertheless, whether it is on the web and on the field, it is evident that Choi and his men have the upper hand. Indeed, there is a high possibility that Taeguk Warriors will soon Japan in Brazil.

Korea Republic’s strength goes beyond playing in its own territory. Rather, it stems from the fact that it only needs a draw to qualify. Team Melli, on the other hand, has no other option but to win the match.

The above-mentioned scenario looked like a repetition of what transpired in 2010 World Cup qualifiers where Taeguk Warriors forced a draw against Team Melli, much to Iran’s disappointment. It was a come from behind win for Korea Republic. But now, the situation is a bit the same, except that there is a reversal of roles. In this match, Iran trails. Apparently, Taeguk Warriors has all the power to repeat history.

Both sides have their own dose of injuries and players who will be missing the match. Korea Republic’s Park Jongwoo is suspended and Kim Namil is nursing an injury. Similarly, in Iran, Ashkan Dejagah’s injury will also keep him in the bench. Nevertheless, the latter’s very own Reza Ghoochannejhad shall take Dejagah’s scoring responsibility.

But here is the catch, Park and Kim may not play, but Choi still has, Asian Football Confederation’s best player, Lee Keun Ho. Along with him is Lee Dong-gook who has already secured 10 goals out of their 30 encounters against Middle Eastern squads. It is therefore not very surprising to see Team Melli throw the white towel.

Should Korea Republic qualify, this will be their 8th consecutive World Cup appearance. What is the verdict? Korea Republic as favorites and Iran receiving the Asian handicap.



Photo Credit: Zimbio

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Spain Topples Uruguay, Takes An Early Lead In The Group Stage

Spain is off to an early start in their 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup when they snatched a 2-1 victory against Uruguay. 

The exciting battle in Recife might serve as a premonition to what Spain plans to achieve in the tournament. The match saw La Furia Roja dominate. Fabregas had his early attempt, but to no avail. However, Pedro’s right-footed shot sealed the first goal of the match. Unfortunately for La Celeste, the Spaniards are in the mood to score.

On the 30th minute, Soldado converted a through ball from Fabregas that left Uruguay trailing. Tabarez and his men rallied for an equalizer. Yet, the shot came late. On the 88th minute Uruguay finally hit the net, thanks to Suarez’s precise free kick. With only 2 minutes left, it was evident that time was in favor of the Spaniards.

Despite of losing to Spain, Uruguay’s head honcho saw the squad’s improvement during the match. Oscar Tabarez admitted that the result was “catastrophic,” yet, Uruguay’s evident progress was enough to salvage its “professional image.” It can be remembered that La Celeste previously lost their 2010 World Cup bid after a 1-0 loss against Switzerland in the group stage.

As for La Furia Roja, the win puts them on the top spot of Group B. Spain’s big boss, Vicente del Bosque described their triumph as their ticket to the semi-finals. Bosque, however, admitted that the match’s last minutes kept him on his toes.

Described as a preview to the World Cup, the Confederations Cup shows how a squad will most likely perform in the most awaited sporting event.



Photo Credits: Zimbio

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Italy Wins 2013 Confederation Cup Match with Mexico

For Andrea Pirlo, it was a sweet victory to cap off his 100^th international match.

Thanks to the dynamic duo of Pirlo and Mario Balotelli, Mexico bowed down to the Gli Azzurri 1:2 last June 16 (local time) at the Maracana.

In the first half, Balotelli made a kick powerful enough to hand the lead to the Italians. All throughout the game, the forward proved to be too much for the Mexicans’ defense to handle, though Jose Corona saved El Tri from getting phased out early with great saves on Balotelli.

Meanwhile, Javier Hernandez took advantage of an Andrea Barzagli foul on Giovani dos Santos to answer Balotelli’s efforts and earn Mexico its 1-1 win.

Corona was helpless against the 34-year-old Pirlo, whose top left-hand corner kick eluded the Mexican goalkeeper in the 26^th minute.

During the second half, defender Javier Aquino was replaced with Hiram Mier, and Gerardo Flores was moved into midfield. Meanwhile, the Italian side benched Claudio Marchisio for Alessio Cerci, while Emanuele Giaccherini moved to the center of the pitch and was instrumental in aiding Balotelli for Italy’s win.

The Gli Azzurri will face Japan next. Japan previously went against Brazil, and lost 3-0. 

Photo credit: Piotr Drabik on Flickr

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Tahiti Steals The Limelight During Nigeria’s 6-1 Victory

Nigeria claimed its first victory in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup as they ravaged Tahiti with a 6-1 triumph in Belo Horizonte last 18 June 2013.

In one of the Confederations Cup’s finest moments, Nnamdi Oduamadi raked a hat trick for the Super Eagles. Nevertheless, it was Jonathan Tehau’s historic shot that highlighted the match.

Tehau, scored Team Fenua’s first goal in the said tournament. The memorable header came during the 54th minute and the minnows’ refusal to throw in the white towel was more than enough to set the whole crowd roar in awe.

Tahiti is literally a new player in the tournament. With the Oceania trophy under its belt, the squad earned its spot in the Confederations Cup. The team that was only watched by a hundred of people was welcomed with a warm celebration by millions.

Euphoric, indeed, it was a euphoric encounter for Team Fenua. The goal shone a glimmer of hope for the underdogs. As stated by team captain Nicolas Vallar, the squad never expected to pull off a great show against Spain, however, the goal against Nigeria boosted the team’s morale.

On the other hand, Nigeria’s big boss, Stephen Keshi was also impressed by Tahiti’s performance. Keshi acknowledged the great fight exemplified by the team. He stressed that while it is true that Nigeria had the advantage, Team Fenua fought like “lions” and that they are a strong force to reckon with.

After the battle against Nigeria, Tahiti is set to meet the World Cup Champions, Spain.



Photo Credit: Zimbio

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2013 Confederations Cup Match Preview: Italy Vs. Japan

The upcoming match between Italy and Japan proved to be an uphill battle for the Blue Samurais. After failing to score against the crowd-favorite, Brazil, Zaccheroni and his men will have to go through blood and fire as they face the rest of the Gli Azzurri in Recife this 20 June 2013.

There’s no denying that Japan is a force to reckon with in the Confederations Cup. However, the current circumstances tend to favor Italy. Once and for all, the momentum lingers at Cesar Prandelli’s side. The tournament is a preview of what the squad has to offer in the World Cup and winning over a worthy opponent brings a strong sense of pride and chemistry among the players. The only challenge in here is for Prandelli to keep the fire burning and be wary of over confidence as it was also the reason behind their 2 consecutive losses during the previous Confederations Cup. 

Meanwhile, other than the victory over Mexico, Mario Balotelli is also a powerful force that Japan must face. His right-footed shot became the match’s deciding goal. It has been said that Super Mario tends to perform better under Prandelli’s tutelage and one can expect him to display the same degree of prowess and skill when he and his team meets Japan. 

Lately, the Blue Samurais seem to experience conversion problem. The likes of Shinji Kagawa and Honda have  been having difficulties in penetrating a tough defence. And fortunately for Italy, they have the veteran Gianluigi Buffon to remain on guard and keep Japan on their toes.

Italy is the favorite pick, obviously. Even in Asian bookies, the Gli Azzurri stands as favorites with Asian handicap handed over to Japan.

 

Photo Credit: Zimbio

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Brazil Kicks-Off A 3-0 Win Over Japan In The Confederations Cup

Host nation Brazil refused to lose in its own soil as it clinched a 3-0 win against the equally aggressive Japan last 16 June 2013.

Dubbed as the Confederations Cup’s “3rd fastest goal” football prodigy, Neymar scored the first goal of the match 3 minutes after the grand kick-off. The so-called “Messi’s heir” was eventually voted as Man of the Match.

Prior to the encounter, the young player has been under the scrutiny of naysayers due to his alleged lackluster performance in previous friendlies. Neymar, however, answered his critics via converting Fred’s pass with a right-footed shot.

Although Neymar’s goal was nothing short of being spectacular, Paulinho sealed Japan’s fate. The Selecao’s defensive midfielder secured 2 important goals. The first came in the 48th minute with Dani Alves’ help.  Japan’s Eiji Kawashima attempted a diving save, but to no avail. The ball simply passed through his hands. Paulinho’s deciding goal came after converting Oscar’s pass during injury time.

In 20 of Brazil’s Confederations Cup appearance, the squad has always emerged victorious whenever they scored the first goal. As a matter of fact, it has won 18 of the above-mentioned battles, whilst the 2 ended in a draw.

This is not the first time that Japan and Brazil met in competitive football. The two had their last encounter last 2005 where the Selecaos bagged a 4-0 win against the Samurai Blue. What transpired in Brasilia seemed like a mere repetition of their previous battle.

Scolari and his men are  now looking forward to continue their 9th undefeated consecutive win.  Their next match will be against Mexico on 20 June 2013.



Photo credit: Zimbio

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2013 FIFA Confederations Cup Match Preview: Nigeria vs. Uruguay

In the Uruguay vs. Nigeria match on June 21 (June 20, 16:00 Salvador time), we’ll see veteran experience battle it out with youthful energy.

Uruguay is still smarting from its 1-2 loss against Spain, but it may have a better chance of winning against Nigeria. Going against football behemoths can teach your team a thing or two about playing high-intensity football, after all.

The South American football club has excellent strikers in Edison Cavani and Luis Suarez. Nigeria, meanwhile, has formidable midfielders John Obi Mikel and Ogenyi Onazi. If the teams’ respective coaches utilize these players to their fullest potential, this underrated match can prove to be one of the most exciting to watch.

While we’re on the subject of coaches, Oscar Tabarez of Uruguay and Stephen Keshi of Nigeria deserve spots in the limelight, too. Tabarez likes to use the 4-4-1-1 formation, but he occasionally shifts towards 3-5-2, 4-4-2, and 4-3-3; likewise, Keshi’s 4-3-3 system for his players isn’t likely to change soon, considering how Nigeria fared with it.

In terms of overall strengths and weaknesses, Uruguay has the advantage of experience, while Nigeria has the advantage of youth. Eight of the Uruguayans are at least 30 years old, so despite their decreased mobility on the field, they can serve as guides to the other players. On the flip side, Nigeria may have younger and more energetic players, but their relative inexperience could work against them.

This match may be what Uruguay needs to boost the ego that Spain bruised—or not.  

Photo credit: Football.ua [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons 

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2013 FIFA Confederations Cup Match Preview: Mexico vs. Italy

Tournament favorites Italy will debut in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup with a match against CONCACAF champions Mexico on June 16. Let’s take a closer look at how the two teams might fare against each other.

Goalkeeping

Two of the world’s best goalkeepers will battle it out on Sunday: Jesus Corona and Gianluigi Buffon for Mexico and Italy, respectively. If Mexico’s CONCACAF games are any indication, the country’s hopes rest heavily on Corona and Guillermo Ochoa’s shoulders. Meanwhile, Buffon has Michael Agazzi, Federico Marchetti, and Salvatore Sirigu to back him up.

Defense

Mexico’s defense is decent and organized, but the likes of Carlos Salcido and Hector Moreno will have to go beyond the decent level if they want to keep up with Italy’s Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, and Giorgio Chiellini.  Italy’s defense may not be as strong as it was in 2006, but it’s still pretty solid.

Midfield

Italy’s over-reliance on Andrea Pirlo could prove to be their undoing against Mexico’s Pablo Barrera and Andres Guardado. Otherwise, both teams are evenly matched in the midfield area.

Forward

Javier Hernandez and Aldo de Nigris might be able to halt Mexico’s offensive struggles for this crucial match. On the other hand, the combined efforts of “Super Mario” Balotelli, Stephen El Shaarawy, Alberto Gilardino, and Sebastian Giovinco could overwhelm them.

Overall

If Mexico is unable to overcome its offensive weaknesses despite having Hernandez and de Nigris on board, it can at least concentrate on building up its defense against the debatably superior team that is Italy.

Prediction: Draw or Italy Win

Photo Credit: Celso Flores

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