BRAZIL AND SPAIN go head to head in tomorrow night’s Confederations Cup final in what promises to be an enthralling conclusion to a memorable tournament. Neymar’s emergence as the tournament’s stand-out player, Del Boque and Scolari’s tactical battle plus how Spain will cope with Brazil’s lightening counter-attack are just some of the reasons to get excited about the decider.
A fitting finale to an entertaining tournament
Be honest, this is the match-up you wanted to see above all others despite Italy and Uruguay pushing Spain and Brazil in the latter stages. The 2013 Confederations Cup has proven a huge success — in a football and non-political sense — because each of the competing countries has taken the tournament seriously.
As a precursor for next year’s World Cup finals, the number of quality matches, stand-out individual displays and emphasis on attacking football bodes well for next summer.
Having the host nation going up against the current World Champions in the decider is a welcome bonus for an under-fire FIFA but should also prove a fitting end to a thoroughly entertaining fortnight’s football. More of the same on Sunday night please.
Neymar
The stage is set for Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior to solidify his status as Brazil’s answer to soon-to-be-club-teammate Lionel Messi and the Confederations Cup standout player on Sunday night. The Brazilian playmaker has been a revelation at this summer’s tournament scoring some outrageous goals (remember ‘that’ volley against Japan) but also shipping plenty of criticism for his theatrical reactions to some robust challenges.
Whatever your view, Neymar carries the hopes of an entire nation on his young shoulders into battle against the Spanish and seeing how the 21-year old copes against a World and European Champions’ winning defence is going to be fascinating.
Del Bosque and Scolari’s tactical battle
Brazil have settled on a 4-2-3-1 formation at this summer’s Confederations Cup with Phil Scolari utilising the talents of holding midfielders Paulinho and Luiz Gustavo to good effect. The solidity provided by that midfield duo has allowed the front three of Neymar, Oscar and Hulk the freedom to switch positions and counter-attack from deep whilst also providing an additional defensive shield in front of central defenders David Luiz and Thiago Silva. How well Paulinho and Luiz Gustavo cope with Spain’s famed midfield setup will be crucial to Brazil’s chances of success.
Vicente Del Bosque’s 4-3-3 formation has served Spain well in recent tournaments so “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” would appear apt advice ahead of Sunday’s showdown with the tournament hosts. Xavi, Busquets and Iniesta are certain starters in the centre of the park but Fernando Torres’ poor showing in the semi-final win over Italy could open the door for either David Villa or Roberto Soldado to come in and lead the attack. Whoever plays up front, Spain’s attacking trio will have to counter-act Brazil’s attacking full backs, Marcelo and Dani Alves, by pressing as high up the pitch as possible and squeezing the space occupied by the flying defenders / wide midfielders.
Will Spanish tiredness be a factor?
Spain looked absolutely out on their feet at the conclusion of Thursday night’s penalty shoot-out win over Italy. The intense heat and humidity, their opponents in the final gaining an extra day’s rest allied with the extra-time exertions needed to see off Italy suggests its advantage Brazil.
The reigning World Champions have been on the road a long time since winning the 2008 European Championships and will need to call on every sinew of their reserves to withstand a raucous home crowd and Brazilian side desperate to lift a trophy at the expense of such a star studded side ahead of hosting next summers’ World Cup finals.
Ger McCarthy is an Irish-based freelance sports journalist and published author. A regular contributor to Irish daily national the Irish Examiner, he also pens weekly columns for both the Evening Echo & Southern Star newspapers. Has written extensively for the Setanta Sports, NewsTalk, and Shoot! Football magazine web sites and is a regular member of Back Page Football’s Hold The Back Page football podcast.His first book ‘Off Centre Circle’ about a lifetime spent toiling in the amateur football leagues of Ireland received critical acclaim.
