Confederations Cup 2013: Brazil Win Big, Mexico Prepare for Italy

Brazil opened the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup with an emphatic win over Japan in Brasilia, and on Sunday, the tournament will open two more fronts when Mexico and Italy clash in Rio de Janeiro and Recife welcomes Spain and Uruguay.

Brazil 3-0 Japan (3’ Neymar; 48’ Paulinho; 90+3’ Jo)

It took just three minutes for Neymar to kick off the tournament in style, smashing the ball into the back of the net from just outside the 18-yard box after Fred had chested down Marcelo’s accurate cross.

Paulinho also benefited from a full-back’s delivery when he controlled a lofted Dani Alves’ ball and beat Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima from in close, and in the dying moments, Oscar’s perfectly weighted ball found substitute striker Jo for the final tally of an impressive 3-0 win.

CSKA Moscow playmaker Keisuke Honda had Japan’s best chances, and most of them came before the break. The Asian champions had settled well following Neymar’s opener and routinely found openings on the counterattack, but Paulinho’s goal shortly after the restart seemed to take the wind out of their sails as Brazil coasted to the three points.

Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari’s words, per Goal.com

"My feeling is that we’re finding the best lineup. Lttle by little, with backup options that help us a lot when they come onto the pitch. We’ll only get better with time. ... The team spirit, the dynamics of this group of players, must also be highlighted."

Player of the day

Neymar. He scored one, had a hand in another—laying the ball off to Dani Alves ahead of Paulinho’s strike—and generally showed the passion and energy one would expect from a big player on the big occasion.

Looking ahead

Mexico manager Jose Manuel de la Torre is feeling the heat after a disappointing start to the fourth round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying and for Sunday’s match against Italy could be tempted to bench sputtering striker Aldo de Nigris in favour of Giovani dos Santos.

Italy, meanwhile, will be able to call on the services of Mario Balotelli despite the AC Milan forward’s red card picked up against the Czech Republic. Stephan El Shaarawy, who has a muscle strain, is the only injury doubt among both squads.

Projected Mexico XI: Corona; Maza, Rodriguez, Moreno, Salcido; Torrado, Zavala; Barrera, dos Santos, Guardado; Hernandez

Projected Italy XI: Buffon; Abate, Barzagli, Chiellini, De Sciglio; De Rossi, Pirlo, Marchisio; Montolivo, Giaccherini; Balotelli

In Recife, Spain manager Vicente del Bosque has several decisions to make ahead of Sunday’s match against Copa America winners Uruguay, most notably who should start in goal—either Iker Casillas or Victor Valdes—and whether to deploy Fernando Torres up top as the lone striker or use Cesc Fabregas as the “false 9.”

Uruguay boss Oscar Tabarez will have Luis Suarez available after the Liverpool striker missed a recent World Cup qualifier through suspension. Neither manager has a major injury worry leading up to kickoff.

Projected Spain XI: Casillas; Arbeloa, Pique, Ramos, Alba; Xavi, Busquets, Xabi Alonso; Pedro, Torres, Iniesta

Projected Uruguay XI: Muslera; Lugano, Godin, Coates; M. Pereira, Perez, Gargano, A. Pereira; Forlan; Cavani, Suarez

Noteworthy

A pre-match protest near Brasilia’s Estadio Nacional saw eight people arrested and 21 injured in the run-up to Saturday’s Confederations Cup opener between Brazil and Japan. According to Tales Azzoni of The Associated Press (via Yahoo!), demonstrators were protesting what they see as the high cost—both financial and social—of hosting a World Cup.

Per Gabriel Elizondo of Al Jazeera English:

African champions Nigeria flew to Brazil Saturday, following a row over player bonuses that threatened to prevent them from contesting the Confederations Cup. But after missing a scheduled flight from their Namibia training base, the players were able to agree on a new deal with the Nigeria Football Federation, allowing them to participate in the tournament.

With his goal against Japan, Neymar moved into a tie with legendary striker Leonidas for 20th on the country’s all-time goalscoring ledger. The 21-year-old now has enough international goals to match his age—three of which have come this calendar year.