Confederations Cup 2013 Final: What to Expect in Thrilling Match

The final match of the 2013 Confederations Cup will feature two exciting teams in Brazil and Spain, and there will be a number of things to expect when these two go at it on Sunday.

The Selecao came out of group play relatively unscathed, with Neymar stealing the show thanks to a few goals.  After that, the Brazilians were able to handle Uruguay, 2-1, thanks to a late goal by Paulinho in the 86th minute.

La Roja hasn’t lost either, but their path has been a bit different. 

Spain simply dominated in group play, including a 10-0 win over Tahiti and a 3-0 win over Nigeria.  The semi-final match against Italy, however, was a different story.  The two went scoreless prior to the shootout, then 13 of 14 shots were made in the shootout before Spain pulled out the win.

The stage is set, and there are some things to expect once the match begins.

Goals Are Going to Be Scored

The scoreless match between Spain and Italy had a thrilling ending, but there’s no way that happens again on Sunday.

These two squads feature some of the best attackers in the world.  Brazil has the young superstar in Neymar along with Fred, Jo and Paulinho, while Spain has the incredible Fernando Torres along with David Villa, Juan Mata and David Silva.

In eight total matches, these two teams have combined for 24 goals, so it’s safe to say that there’s going to be some scoring going on.

Spain’s Fate Will Lie With the Midfielders

In a game that features scorers on both sides, possession is going to be key, and Spain will need to rely on their terrific midfield to maintain possession and keep Brazil from scoring.

The duo of Xavi and Andres Iniesta should be able to hold onto possession for the most part.  The two are excellent passers who are the somewhat unspoken heroes behind some of the great goals from tournament play.   

If these two have an off day, Spain will be in trouble.  La Roja can’t let the attackers for Brazil get any extra opportunities, because one or two are likely to go through.

Neymar Will Shine Under Spotlight

After recently signing a huge deal with Barcelona, all eyes have been on Neymar during this tournament.  So far, he hasn’t disappointed, putting up three goals through four matches.

At 21 years old, Neymar is quickly becoming a household name around the world.  His 54 goals while with Santos and 23 career goals with the Brazil national team have proved that he’s a natural scorer who has a chance to go down as one of the better strikers to play the game.

With the home crowd behind him, it’s hard to not see Neymar putting in another goal and giving fans a show.  He will get a few opportunities, and he will make the most of them.