Confederations Cup 2013: Biggest Stars Remaining in Tournament Action

The Confederations Cup knockout stage begins on Wednesday with the first semifinal, which features host nation Brazil and Uruguay. The next day, European powerhouse Spain and Italy will battle for the second berth in the championship match.

None of the four teams to reach this point are a surprise. All four possessed the depth necessary to survive the group stage and didn't falter along the way. Now, it comes down to which stars can elevate their form and carry their sides.

It should make for an interesting finish to the World Cup preview. Let's take a closer look at three stars who are off to strong starts in the tournament and will need to keep producing if their team has any chance of capturing the coveted trophy.

Neymar

Neymar is living up to the hype. Heading into the tournament, there was no shortage of doubters with the belief he wasn't the rising star he was being made out to be. He's done everything he could to silence them with a goal in every match of the group stage.

They were key goals, too. He scored within the first 10 minutes against Japan and Mexico, setting the tone for two clean sheet victories. Then against Italy, he scored just moments after Italy tied it early in the second half to give Brazil the momentum back.

His ability to score highlight-reel goals, while also producing terrific scoring chances for his teammates, can't be overlooked any longer. He's the real deal. If he keeps playing at this level, Brazil can capture it's third straight Confederations Cup.

Luis Suarez

Even though his future at Liverpool continues to dominate headlines back in England, Suarez has been able to maintain focus and help Uruguay reach the semifinals. He's scored three goals, including a terrific free kick strike against Spain.

With Suarez, it usually comes down to taking the good with the bad. Luckily for the Celeste, he's been able to avoid the negative spotlight. It's kept all of the attention on his game. And when that's the case, he's one of the best strikers in the world.

Of the four remaining teams, Uruguay is the long shot. If it's going to upset Brazil and then Spain or Italy, Suarez must dominate. It's an extremely difficult task, but he's one player capable of making it happen when at his best.

Fernando Torres

Torres, perhaps more than any other player left in the tournament, relies on confidence. When he's playing well, which has been the case in the Confederations Cup, he can be a major asset. It just hasn't happened enough throughout his club career.

He leads all players with five goals. His impact after coming on as a substitute against Nigeria was tremendous, including the goal that sealed the three points. It shows what he's capable of when he's able to get past the mental hurdles.

Spain features more stars than any other team in the event, so Torres' role remains up in the air heading into the semifinals. That said, as long as he continues to make his presence felt when he does get on the pitch, La Roja have every reason to believe they are the favorites.