2009 FIFA Confederations Cup Preview

The 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup takes place in South Africa this month in preparation for next year’s FIFA World Cup. The competition has now settled as a precursor to the world’s biggest tournament and takes place every four years, always played the year before.

Each of the six regional champions join World Cup winners Italy and hosts South Africa for the eight-team tournament which runs from Sunday 14 June to Sunday 28 June.

The competitions format splits the teams into two round-robin groups of four from which the top two advance to the semi-finals and then the final.

In its original incarnation the tournament was organised by and hosted in Saudi Arabiaunder the guise of the King Fahd Cup. However, FIFA took over the organisation of the competition in 1997, renaming it the FIFA Confederations Cup. It was played every two years up until 2005 when it was decided to switch to a four year format.

Group A

Iraq

FIFA World Ranking:  77

Qualification:  2007 AFC Asian Cup Winner.

Confederations Cup Record:  First time participants.

Recent Form: Didn’t make the final round of World Cup Qualifying after finishing third behind Australia and Qatar in the third round of qualifying. Without a victory in the last year but drew 1-1 with Poland in a warm-up game last week.

Key Players:  Hawar Mulla Mohammed is currently the only squad member plying his trade in Europe, for Anorthosis Famagusta in Cyprus. Captain and forward Younis Mahmoud has a great strike rate at international level with 28 goals in 69 appearances.

New Zealand

FIFA World Ranking:  82

Qualification:   2008 OFC Nations Cup Winner.

Confederations Cup Record:  Appeared once previously in 2003 but lost all three group games.

Recent Form: Breezed through the Oceania World Cup Qualifying section, winning five straight games before losing to Fiji with the group already won. Awaiting a play-off against Asia’s fifth-placed team for a place in South African next year. Drew 0-0 with Botswana and lost 4-3 to Italy in recent warm-up matches.

Key Players:  Captain and best-known player Ryan Nelson was forced to withdraw from the squad through injury. The All Whites will most likely look to Celtic’s Chris Killen for firepower.

South Africa

FIFA World Ranking:  72

Qualification:  2010 FIFA World Cup Host.

Confederations Cup Record:  Second participation, only previous entry in 1997 (as 1996 ACON Winners) when they finished bottom of their qualifying group with only one point.

Recent Form: Participated in Round Two of African World Cup Qualifying as it doubles as qualifying for the 2010 African Nations Cup but only won two of six games, losing twice to Nigeria. Joel Santana’s side beat Poland 1-0 in their most recent friendly.

Key Players:  Everton’s Steven Pienaar finished the season superbly and will look to provide the guile in midfield for the hosts. Captain Aaron Mokoena, now of Portsmouth, will provide much needed experience for Bafana Bafana as the only squad member with more than 50 caps.

Spain

FIFA World Ranking:  1

Qualification:  UEFA Euro 2008 Winner.

Confederations Cup History:  First time participants.

Recent Form: The European Champions boast a one-hundred percent record in qualifying for the World Cup with six wins out of six, including back-to-back wins over Turkey most recently.

Thumped Azerbaijan 6-0 in a friendly this week and have not lost since November 2006 when they went down to Romania in a friendly, their unbeaten streak now stands at over thirty games.

Key Players:  Where to start? Xavi will again look to dominate the midfield whilst Fernando Torres and David Villa are arguably the most feared strike partnership in Europe. Andres Iniesta was forced to withdraw from the tournament via injury so his place may go to either Xabi Alonso or Cesc Fabregas.

Group B

Brazil

FIFA World Ranking:  5

Qualification:  2007 Copa America Winner.

Confederations Cup History:  This will be Brazil’s sixth participation, all since conversion to a FIFA competition. Brazil are the current champions having won in 2005, crushing arch rivals Argentina 4-1 in the final. This was A Seleção’s second title having also won in 1997.

Recent Form: The five time World Cup winners now lead the South American World Cup Qualifying section after a less than convincing start. Beat long-time leaders Paraguay 2-1 in Recife last night. Beat Italy 2-0 in a friendly in February played in London.

Key Players:  Dunga has named a mixed squad with European-based superstars along with a sprinkling of domestic based talent in the making.

Captain Lúcio and Gilberto Silva will give the side an experienced spine whilst Robinho and new Real Madrid signing Kaka will provide the fireworks upfront as they go for back-to-back titles. Nilmar could be one to look out for if given enough game time.

Egypt

FIFA World Ranking:  40

Qualification:  2008 African Cup of Nations Winner.

Confederations Cup History:  Appeared once previously in 1999 but finished bottom of their group.

Recent Form: Currently lying bottom of Group C in the final section of African qualifying with only one point from their first two games as they bid to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1990.

Key Players:  Mohamed Aboutrika is the Pharoahs’ star man, having scored the winner in the 2008 African Nations Cup Final and was runner-up for the African Footballer of the Year award in 2008. Captain Ahmed Hassan will have more experience than anyone else at the tournament, the 34-year old having won 153 caps for his country.

Italy

FIFA World Ranking:  4

Qualification:  2006 FIFA World Cup Winner.

Confederations Cup History:  First time participants.

Recent Form: Currently unbeaten and one point clear of the Republic of Ireland with a game in hand in the race to 2010 in Group Eight. Wobbled to a 4-3 friendly win over New Zealand last night and recently lost 2-0 to Brazil in a friendly at Arsenal’s Emirates stadium.

Key Players:  Marcello Lippi has named a strong squad with twelve players retained from the World Cup winning squad three years ago. Milan’s Andrea Pirlo will pull the strings in the middle of the park. Fabio Cannarvaro will again captain the side whilst Inter’s young defender Davide Santon has been included at only 18 years of age.

United States

FIFA World Ranking:  14

Qualification:  2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup Winner.

Confederations Cup History:  Fourth participation, have twice finished third in 1992 and 1999 as their best placed finish.

Recent Form: Bob Bradley’s side currently sit second in CONCACAF’s final qualifying group behind Costa Rica who they lost to 3-1 last week. Drew 1-1 with Italy in the 2006 FIFA World Cup in an ill-tempered match which saw three red cards.

Key Players:  Only five MLS-based players were chosen by Bob Bradley in an overseas dominated selection. Landon Donovan will do his best to represent the MLS whilst Fulham’s Clint Dempsey will be a dangerman arriving late from midfield.