Confederations Cup 2013: Complete Viewing Guide to This Week's Semifinal Matches

We're down to four at the 2013 Confederations Cup, as Sunday's group finales set the field that will vie for international supremacy this week in Brazil.

Victories for host country Brazil and Spain gifted them the Group A and Group B championships, respectively. They also have the ability to avoid one another until a possible finals matchup—perhaps the more important factor.

Both countries have been nothing short of excellent, living up to their billing as two of the most powerful teams in the world.

That's not to discount Uruguay and Italy, the two countries battling to stop a match that seemed preordained to some when the draw was made. Uruguay defeated Tahiti 8-0 on Sunday to cinch a spot in the semifinals. The team recovered from a loss in the opening match against Spain to win the next two.

Led by tantalizing young forwards in Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez, the Uruguayans present an interesting matchup for the high-flying Brazilians. There will be goals scored, possibly plenty of them. 

Italy walked into its matchup Saturday against Brazil with a chance to take the group, but could ultimately not keep the host off the board. Defense has been a struggle for the Italians during this Confederations Cup, and they'll have to fix that in training before taking on a Spain team that's looked like a juggernaut thus far. 

With that in mind, let's take a look at both matchups and note where and when you can watch both matches. 

Brazil vs. Uruguay

When: Wednesday, June 26 at 3 p.m. ET

Where: Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Watch: ESPN

Stream: WatchESPN

Much like how all good things come to an end, Brazil's clean-sheet streak was bound to see its demise at some point in the Confederations Cup.

Emanuele Giaccherini's goal in the 51st minute for Italy on Saturday helped put a slight scare into the event's host country for a bit, but that was all it was—a slight scare.

Brazil, thanks to the late-match brilliance of Fred, pulled out a 4-2 victory over Italy that gave them the Group A crown and continued what has been an impressive showing thus far. The Brazilians have a 9-2 goal differential in their two matches thus far, finding a great combination of goaltending, defense and striking.

Even in giving up two goals to Italy, Brazil's defense was solid throughout. They gave up only three shots on goal, held Italy to only 41 percent possession—a killer against Brazil—and generally kept a solid wall built around Julio Cesar, who was not in his finest form.

Marcelo and Thiago Silva both had excellent matches, and a repeat performance from them will be vital against Uruguay's microwave-quick attack.

One of the most underrated national teams in the world, Uruguay have been in very good form throughout this tournament. They gave Spain easily their best run in group play, a 2-1 contests the Spaniards absolutely dominated at the midfield.

Had Uruguay been able get possession of the ball—easier said than done against Spain, which held the ball for 75 percent of the match—it might have been a different story.

But over their last two matches, Uruguay have done an excellent job of finding rhythm with their attack. Diego Forlan's game-winner pushed them over Nigeria, while Abel Hernandez's four goals played a role in Uruguay's relaxing 8-0 beatdown of an overmatched Tahiti team.

While it's impossible to take anything away from the Tahiti contest from a tactical standpoint, the confidence gained from such a win could help players find their form.

And Uruguay's attack will probably have to be in its best form to have a chance against Brazil. Neymar has three goals in as many games, and he's so relentlessly pounded his way into the box that it's hard to see a scenario in which he doesn't make it four straight.

Brazil have been excellent in this tournament, especially for a side that has barely played FIFA-sanctioned soccer over these past couple of years.

Something says it will be a task too difficult for the Uruguayans to handle. This will be an excellent match, one that might come down to the wire. But the overall scope of Brazil's prowess will be too great for a Uruguay side still trying to figure out the perfect playing balance. 

Spain vs. Italy

When: Thursday, June 27 at 3 p.m. ET

Where: Castelao in Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil

Watch: ESPN

Stream: WatchESPN

One of the more interesting possible matchups on paper heading into the tournament, Thursday's contest between Spain and Italy may wind up being marred by injury.

Italian superstar Mario Balotelli has been ruled out for not only Thursday's contest but also the entirety of the tournament, per CNN's Tancredi Palmeri: 

You don't even have to be a casual soccer fan to know that's a critical blow for Italy. Balotelli is Italy's best player—period. There can be arguments made about his consistency, but there is little question that Balotelli is a player defenses have to respect every time he's out on the pitch.

Though he only had two of Italy's eight goals through the group stage, it was clear he was playing the best international soccer of his life. He was cutting through defenses, forcing opposing teams to change their plans and allowing Italy to play a style with only one striker.

Having Balotelli be the player who goes down of all of Italy's top stars is a crushing blow, one that dares to suck the intrigue out of this match.

Spain, an impenetrable force of excellence, was going to be favored no matter who was in the starting 11 for Italy. Not even an in-his-prime Roberto Baggio would have been able to sway any bookmaker on the planet.

But it will be interesting to see how Italy adjusts—especially because the team felt the only way they would be able to keep this match within their grasp is to score three or four goals. The Italians have struggled both in net and defensively so far in the Confederations Cup.

Gianluigi Buffon has allowed eight goals to go past him in three games. Italy are the only side remaining in the event who have not scored more goals than they've allowed.

In other words, this might wind up getting way uglier than expected. Spain have a 15-1 goal differential in their three contests, and they were arguably stronger against Uruguay and Nigeria than they were in the record-setting 10-0 rout of Tahiti.

In typical fashion, they have controlled the pacing of each match at the midfield, picking their spots and generally leaving opposing teams fangless.

It's frankly been a clinic to watch. Spain have adjusted their attack to each opponent ever so slightly, making one or two maneuvers that only the world's most talented team could pull off—and doing so with ease.

With Sunday's win, Spain set an international unbeaten record at 28 straight matches without a loss. As Italy's defense continues to struggle and Spain's attack continues to dominate, this has the makings of No. 29 being all but in the bag.

Expect Italy to fight because that's what they do, but Spain is the best team in the world and are in fantastic form. Sometimes the odds are too steep even for a team with Italy's heart.

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