Confederations Cup 2013 Schedule: Fixtures for Semifinals and Finals

The semifinals matchups for the Confederations Cup are just two group-stage matches from being determined. Fortunately for fans, those two matches should provide plenty of excitement.

Brazil and Italy traversed Group A with little resistance in notching a semifinals berth in two matches. In Group B, however, the table is wide open. Only Tahiti has been officially eliminated from the tournament, and even they have something to play for.

Tahiti was expected to potentially be shut out in the Confederations Cup, but it notched a goal against Nigeria and enter its final matchup with Uruguay with pride on the line. After a devastating 10-0 blowout at the hands of Spain, the Tahitian side can save face with a good performance against Uruguay, potentially foiling their opponents’ chances of making a semifinals appearance.

While Tahiti has nothing to lose, pressure will be on both Nigeria and Brazil as they square off in the final match of group play. Nigeria needs to out-duel Uruguay and defeat Spain in the contest, and Spain simply needs a point to advance. That point, however, won’t be easy to come by.

Let’s take a look at fixtures and results for the group stage, as well as the tentative fixtures for the semifinals, finals and consolation rounds. We’ll also take a look at the Group A winner and break down their path through the group stage ahead of the semifinals.

Group Stage

Date	Match	Result
June 15	Brazil vs. Japan	3-0
June 16	Mexico vs. Italy	1-2
June 16	Spain vs. Uruguay	2-1
June 17	Tahiti vs. Nigeria	1-6
June 19	Brazil vs. Mexico	2-0
June 19	Italy vs. Japan	4-3
June 20	Spain vs. Tahiti	10-0
June 20	Nigeria vs. Uruguay	1-2
June 22	Italy vs. Brazil	2-4
June 22	Japan vs. Mexico	1-2
June 23	Nigeria vs. Spain	TBD
June 23	Tahiti vs. Uruguay	TBD

Semifinals

June 26 (3 p.m. EDT)	Brazil vs. TBD
June 27 (3 p.m. EDT)	Italy vs. TBD

Finals and Consolation

Championship: June 30 (12 p.m. EDT)	TBD    vs.   TBD
June 30 (6 p.m. EDT)	TBD    vs.   TBD

*Results and fixtures can also be found at FIFA.com.

Brazil

With semifinals matchups soon to be determined, Brazil will have a pretty good idea of what to expect by the end of Sunday. But regardless of their opponent, the Brazilian side can’t go wrong playing as they did in the group stage.

Brazil posted a clean sheet in each of its first two matches, first dismantling Japan 3-0 in the opening action, followed by a 2-0 victory over a struggling Mexican side.

In its final match of the stage, Brazil faced its toughest challenge in a stout Italian team with a lot to prove. While Brazil didn’t keep its third clean sheet, it did hand its fellow semifinalist a 4-2 defeat that will set the tone for how Brazil fares in the next round.

With a tremendous attack that rarely allowed its opponents to maintain possession for extended spells, Brazil applied plenty of pressure in the group stage. While Spain and Uruguay both boast tremendous attacks, Brazil has been the most consistent team at both ends of the pitch in the tournament.

As long as Brazil sticks to its guns and continues playing a balanced, aggressive brand of football, its Group B opponent will be in for another difficult test in pursuit of a finals berth.