Confederations Cup 2013: Biggest Questions Surrounding International Tournament

The 2013 Confederations Cup is underway as host Brazil tries to defend its crown as the 2009 Confederations Cup champion. 

The Brazilians once again look strong. A Selecao has already notched two shutout wins against Japan and Mexico to take a commanding lead in Group A. 

However, they aren't the only team looking to pick up a big win on the international stage. The tournament boasts some of the best nations in the world, including current world No. 1 Spain. With the World Cup set to take place in Brazil in 2014, this is a tournament that everyone involved wants to win. 

Here are the biggest questions yet to be answered in Brazil.

Will Mexico Get Back on Track?

It's been a long summer for El Tri.  

First there was the fourth round of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying where El Tri quickly went from group favorite of the final six teams to barely staying alive. Despite being ranked higher than anyone else in the group of six, they rank third with one win and five draws. 

The Confederations Cup hasn't been much better either. El Tri dropped its first match against Italy and was subsequently blanked by Brazil 2-0. 

The most concerning thing has been the offensive output. Aside from Javier Hernandez, no one on the Mexican side has emerged as a scoring threat. They've scored just two goals in five games and appear to be headed toward another disappointing performance. 

Can Spain End Brazil's Winning Streak?

Brazil has traditionally dominated the Confederations Cup. They've won more than any other country with three titles and have won the last two. 

However, winning this one will be difficult. While Brazil certainly looks to be in good shape with two dominant wins secured, Italy presents a real threat in group play as the No. 8 team in the world while Spain looms as a possibility in the finals. 

The Spanish are the No. 1 team in the world and appear ready to defend that distinction in Brazil. They have yet to lose a match all year and have already scored a win over Uruguay to open up play. 

Even if Brazil can get past Italy and advance to the finals, winning their third consecutive cup will be a daunting task. 

Which Star Will Emerge on the Big Stage?

Neymar has already stepped up for the Brazilians with a two-goal performance against Mexico. But is the 21-year-old primed to be the man of the entire tournament?

That's yet to be seen and there's still plenty of competition for the distinction. 

Mario Balotelli has already notched a goal for the Italian side. As WhoScored.com tweeted out, he sees plenty of opportunities to score for the Italians. 

Nigeria's Nnamdi Oduamadi also registered three goals for Nigeria in its 6-1 win over Tahiti. While he may not be a long-term contender to be the tournament's most outstanding player, it shows that there's plenty of individual performances that have yet to take place.