Tops and Flop of the Confederations Cup

A brilliant finish to what was a brilliant tournament! 

It was a competition filled with mixed emotions, from the joys of the victorious Brazilians to the heartfelt gratitude majority of fans witnessed as Tahiti courageously attempted to forge their way, albeit unsuccessfully, through the knockout rounds.

Despite recent set-backs, the Italians showed resilience as they made their way through to the semi-finals. Fellow group members Japan proved they are a quality side, contrary to popular belief, and that they have the ability to push the best teams in the world to their limits. 

So, to put it simply, it was one massive spectacle.

Nevertheless, with the tournament now over, and most of us football fans waiting excitedly for the commencement of next summer's "greatest show on earth," let us take the time to reflect on the moments that defined the tournament as we bring to you the Tops and Flops of the latest installment of the Confederations Cup. 

Best Player of the Tournament...

You can never get over saying his name can you? (pardon the pun)

The Player of the Tournament this time around goes to the one and only...NEYMAR! 

He poor form coming into the tournament was well publicised. After setting alight South America since his debut for Santos back in 2009, he has become a massive hit and has threatened to be mentioned in the same breath as Lionel Messi and the legends before such as Pele. However, last season proved to be dismal, and the 21-year-old failed to produce the same promising flare that he did on so many occasions before. 

Naturally, his €57 million transfer to Barcelona raised not only questions but also doubts as to his capabilities when playing against well-organised European defences. To put it simply, he has his critics.

However, his goalscoring exploits in the group stages, scoring in each of Brazil's group games and his goal in the final to put the Cup out of Spain's grasp proved his quality.

He is a star; the future of football. 

Goal of the Tournament

No surprises here whatsoever...

Neymar's strike against Japan in Fortaleza within the first three minutes of play takes out Goal of the Tournament.

Again, when you take into account his form going into the match and the pressure placed on his fragile shoulders, it certainly proves what a special player he is.

And what about the technique and the timing, his ability to lash out at that is phenomenal!

It was a massive goal for him personally, and it set up what was a brilliant tournament.

And I guess you could boldly deduce that those new Nike "Hypervenom" boots really do work...

Match of the Tournament

Italy 4-3 Japan

My word, you don't see many high goalscoring matches where the tactics are played out to perfection. Forget 7-5 thrillers, this is the kind of football you want to see!

Both teams played well and provided a thriller of a match. Playmaker Shinji Kagawa justified his transfer from Dortmund to United, and his partnership with Keisuke Honda proved fruitful as the duo tormented Italy's defence. Italy also had their moments...

And Japan finally announced themselves on the world stage and showed that they have the ability to match the best teams in Europe. They are definitely a force to be reckoned with!

Best Coach

This current Brazil side cannot boast of being the most talented Selecao outfit. In fact far from it when you compare them to Pele's World Cup-winning side or even Ronaldo's 2002 Brazilian side. 

Yet there is no denying that Luiz Felipe Scolari has done a great job in transforming a side previously in disarray. Unsuccessful Copa America and Olympic bids told the tale of the dire state of Brazilian football, that despite individual flare, they were rubbish when they collaborated as a team. 

However since replacing Mano Menezes, who was seemingly clueless, Scolari has transformed a team of champions into a champion team of champions. 

He won the World Cup in 2002—he knows how to win, and there's seemingly nothing stopping him! 

Flop of the Tournament

The Flop of the Tournament, sadly, goes to Xavi.

Dominating the teams since his debut for Barcelona back in 2000, Xavi has been at the apex of world football ever since, his technique and mastery of the pass has proved second to none, and he is arguably one of the best central midfielders to have graced the football pitch. 

However, his performance throughout this year's tournament has been below par. He has lacked steam and although he probably completed the most passes, he has lacked inspiration.

Slow and seemingly unable to cope with the pace of the game, he looks to have passed the twilight of his career, and his performances are probably a signal that this is the end of what has been an illustrious career. 

Moment of the Tournament

Well, it wasn't really one specific moment, but rather the party-/celebratory-like atmosphere created by the fans. 

Despite the on-going riots that were held in order to protest against the growing costs of playing hosts to the World Cup, the atmosphere within each stadium showed that football indeed has the ability to unite a nation.

What impressed me the most was the support the fans threw behind Tahiti, easily the tournament's worst team. Their ovations were a mark of respect and truly a moment to savour, a stark contrast to the pictures each and every one of us saw as we tuned in to our respective nightly news bulletins. 

Also, the passion the fans had when their very own national anthem was sounded was memorable. Again it showed unity amongst Brazilians during a time of great unrest. Forca Brasil! 

If you would like to express your views/ add moments you thought were worthy of mentioning, don't hesitate to contact me via Twitter: @CrowzarY

And you can also join in on the conversation by posting in the comments section below!