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Re: 2013 Confederations Cup
The 2013 Confederations Cup will begin June 15, with eight nations from around the world hoping to lay down a marker ahead of the World Cup next summer.
Brazil will play host to both events, and, while much attention has been on the progress of matters off the pitch, the tournament itself threatens to offer a selection of fascinating storylines ahead of the main event next year.
Hosts Brazil will be expected to mount a strong defence of their 2009 crown, but the likes of world champions Spain and Euro 2012 finalists Italy will present the Selecao with formidable competition.
Without further ado, then, let's take a look at the eight nations set to compete for glory this summer.
Re: 2013 Confederations Cup
This isn't a very significant tourney, but I'm very excited to watch it. Four years ago the US made it to the finals of this Cup after upsetting the number 1 ranked Spain. Spain had just won the European Cup 3 years before that, was considered by many the best team in the world, and went on to win the World Cup a year later. So, it was kind of a big deal for the US. 
The US aren't in this one, but I'm still pumped to watch it. I'm also a big Spain supporter (my parents migrated from there and I still keep in touch with family on that side of the pond). Like I said, not a big tourney, but there are some great teams competing in this thing, and all with something to prove.
For Spain, they are again ranked #1 in the world. After winning the World Cup they went on to win another European Cup. What makes it particularly sweet for Spain fans is that they had been perpetual underachievers for decades before this. Always being one of the strongest sides in tournaments but constantly being eliminated early and in humiliating fashion. Now, there are arguments about if Spain is the new Brazil, and if this generation of Spaniards is better than Pele's Brazilian team. If this Spain team can beat Brazil, in Brazil (the host country of this tourney and next years World Cup), and/or win another World Cup, that debate might be settled.
It's a pretty exciting time to be a Spain fan. I'll be watching this thing with great interest.
Re: 2013 Confederations Cup
Just as I thought we were heading for a summer without any international football. 
Of course, it's more a friendly knockout than it is a proper tournament but it'll be worth it just to watch Neymar. I general I'm looking forward to gauging the quality of the teams. Spain and Brazil along with Germany look to be the favorites for the next cup. Spain might be declining though, and I only mention Brazil because of the home advantage and their history. From what I've heard their team is not very strong these days. Italy is always a contender but the team is very old and having the tournament outside of Europe could mean an early exit for them. Argentina needs Messi to step up.
I think Germany will take it this time around. Great, young team. Many of the players will be fresh European champions and with 18 years since their last cup win it feels overdue (24 years in the WC).
Re: 2013 Confederations Cup
The Brazilian press has been heaping praise upon Spain's "scandalous" performance in the Confederations Cup match against Uruguay. "Nobody plays like Spain", Luiz Augusto Simon said in 'UOL Esporte', comparing Vicente del Bosque's side to "a bullfighter who's in no rush to kill the bull".
"Spain wins when and how it likes. Winning in its own style, without turning its back on something so many people around the world forgot about", he added in obvious reference to the "jogo bonito" (the beautiful game) that has frequently been used to describe the style of football played by the five-times World Cup winners.
In the same paper, Analyst Luiz Ceará was left amazed by the display put on by Andrés Iniesta and company in Recife: "Spain took ownership of the ball and swept Uruguay aside 2-1, completely controlling the game. Passing, passing, passing. This Spain side is scandalous".
Columnist Antero Greco, from 'O Estado de Sao Paulo', said that the "Celeste" players spent most of the night "watching the ball moving between the feet of the team that has won the last two European Championships and the most recent World Cup".
"As usual, Spain knocked its opponent onto the ropes early and enjoyed continuous possession with a tiki-taka passing style", said Greco, who thinks that: "Unless there’s a monumental surprise, which can happen in football, Spain will reach the final".
Re: 2013 Confederations Cup
I'm stoked about that first Spain game, they really dominated Uruguay. Their World Cup win 3 years ago was a little unsatisfying because they avoided the 3 best South American teams during the tourney, so it was nice to see them take Uruguay the way they did here. Hopefully, there won't be any upsets, and we'll get to see a Spain v Brazil final.
I was very disappointed with Mexico, not because they lost, but because they didn't play very well. I'm not exactly rooting for Mexico here, I'm a US fan and Mexico is their biggest rivals and all. But I think a strong Mexican side is good for all of CONCACAF, so I hope they do well.
Re: 2013 Confederations Cup
RECIFE, BRAZIL -- Two months ago, in a relaxed chat with the press after a Champions League match, Sergio Ramos started to go on about the long, grueling season. "Most of us will have played 70 matches when all is said and done; it's crazy." "Will you skip the Confed Cup then?" asked a journalist. "What? No way. We HAVE to win that [expletive]," he answered laughing.
With that comment, Ramos summarised the very feeling that the rest of the Spanish squad now constantly voices about the increasingly prestigious FIFA tournament: This is no Brazilian vacation, and just like they showed on Sunday in their debut versus Uruguay, they are determined to win the title, tired or not.
Each player finds his own motivation. A sizeable part of the team clearly remembers their unexpected defeat against the United States in the semifinal match of the 2009 edition and indeed wants to win the title this time, as is the case with Ramos himself. His dismal display in that match still works as a driver to get things right now: "No assists to the opposition this time," he jokingly said on Saturday night when reminded of the play that led to the U.S.'s second goal. Fourteen players who made the squad four years ago in South Africa and finished in third position are also present in Brazil, and want to get that monkey off their backs. "We blew it last time and don't want that to happen again," said Andres Iniesta after his impressive performance on Sunday.
For others, especially for the two unanimous leaders of this dressing room, memories of that match only fuel a bigger motivation to win this title: The clock is ticking, and there's not much time left for them to win more silverware at the international level.
"It now takes my body three full days to recover after each 90-minute match," confessed the 33-year-old Xavi Hernandez last week. Since his 15-season senior career started in 1998, he's played almost 700 matches at the top level, muscular injuries becoming more and more frequent as games and kilometres mounted. "We want to win this thing, it's the only title left for this generation," he said right before the tournament started.
His reasons resonate strongly with his partner and friend Iker Casillas, both of them having maintained a deep bond even when the Classico tensions between Real Madrid and Barcelona went beyond their usual astronomical heights a couple of seasons ago.
Since the year started, the 32-year-old Casillas has realised how he's only an injury and/or an especially angry coach away from losing his starting spot with both club and country, therefore wants to make the most of the time he's got left. "After what happened this season, I see this tournament under a very different light," he said before the Confederations Cup kicked off. "Five months without a match taught me not to take certain things for granted, and want to win this title even more now."
When the icons from the two biggest clubs in the country show that level of motivation, it is not surprising that the rest simply follow suit.
"We asked every player about coming to play the tournament before making our final list public. All of them want to be here and are eager to participate. No one asked us not to come to have some rest. Our players are tired, yes, but so are the other teams'." said coach Vicente Del Bosque when he announced the final list.
Indeed, only the injured Xabi Alonso is missing from the core team, although probably the most convincing factor unmentioned by the Marquis of Del Bosque is the impressive array of talent this generation possesses.
Competition to get a place in the final 23-man squad was so high that no one felt they could afford to rest this one out. On Sunday, players such as Fernando Torres, David Villa, David Silva and Jesus Navas did not play a single minute, while Juan Mata, Santi Cazorla and Javi Martinez managed to run around for less than half an hour. They all want to take advantage of every chance to improve their chances of a call-up for the 2014 World Cup, and if they think of complaining about lack of playing time, they only have to remember that Isco, Thiago Alcantara, Michu or Iago Aspas would gladly give up their holidays just to sit on Spain's bench.
"Our motivation to play and win this tournament is intact. This is high-level competition, with every single champion present, and we want to live up to what is expected from us as world champions," said Del Bosque in the tournament's first news conference. After an impressive opening performance and one step closer to the semifinals, it indeed looks as though the Spaniards have come to Brazil determined to win, and to do it in convincing fashion.
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