Whose?

While many football fans are left in boredom owing to the club break which will be till sometime in August, the confederations cup gives us something to chew in the interim. It offers us the best of football from the best football nations, hence, the nickname, festival of champions. True its name; it is a tournament comprising the seven continental champions and the coming world cup host – this time, Brazil. So you could see it as a dress rehearsal for the world cup. This does not in any way take the shine off the tournament as nations scramble to win it. This year is not different as 2014 world cup host, Brazil host the champions across six cities. Since its inception 21 years ago, there have been five winners in eight tournaments. They are Argentina in 1992, Denmark in 1995, Brazil in 1997, Mexico in 1999, France in 2001, France in 2003, and Brazil in 2005 as well as 2009.

This time, Nigeria, Spain, Italy, Tahiti, Uruguay and Japan would be aiming to clinch the title for the first time while Mexico and host-nation, Brazil would be seeking their second and fourth respectively. Each of these eight nations has lots of questions to answer on the football pitch if they are to realize their dream. In group A, we have Brazil, Italy, Mexico and Japan and in group B, Nigeria, Spain, Uruguay and Tahiti. Now let’s do an exposition on each of them.

Brazil National team

Brazil

They qualified automatically as host nation. The Selecao are seeking their fourth and a record third consecutive having won it in 1997, 2005 and 2009. However, there are mountains to climb. The green and gold team (their jersey colour) are not in their best of eras. Someone said “the team leaves more questions unanswered than answered.” Their all time low FIFA ranking position, 22 summarizes it all. Their skillful, free-flowing, fast paced style of play seems to be past tense as they now struggle to play effective football rather than their trademark mesmerizing football.  With the return of their 2002 world cup winning coach, Luiz Filipe Scolari, with whom they have enjoyed much success (18 wins, 5 draws, 5 losses and +39 goal difference in 28 games), their ship is beginning to get steadied. Being the host of the forthcoming world cup, they qualified automatically and thus, have to play lots of friendly matches to warm their legs. The results have however been average save the 3-0 against France whom they beat for the first time in 21 years. This should do their confidence some good. The highly expectant home fans will be looking up to the likes of Barcelona new signing, Neymar, and Paris Saint-Germain’s stalwart, Thiago Silva to deliver the trophy.

Verdict

Obviously, this is not the Brazil we used to know. They are missing players in the mode of in-form Kaka, Ronaldinho in their midfield and the legendary Ronaldo Delima in attack. However, if they are to make a good statement with this tournament, they’d need Thiago Silva to turn out golden performances. For a win? Big Fil will have to unveil lots of magic from where I do not know.

Japan national team

Japan

The Blue Samurai as they are fondly called are the first nation, after the host to qualify for the world cup. They qualified for this tournament as 2011 Asian champions. They currently occupy 32^nd position in FIFA ranking. Under Italian coach Alberto Zaccheroni, they’ve managed 5 wins, 2 draws, 6 losses and -1 goal difference in 13 games. They team thrive on a quick, intricate passing game in a 4-2-3-1 formation. They will need the likes of F.C Tokyo’s Hideto Takahashi, Manchester United’s Shinji Kagawa and CSKA Moscow’s Keisuke Honda to be at their best if they are to make a mark in this tournament.

Verdict

Blue Samurai? Are we talking Taekwondo here? I don’t think so. They’ve hardly made any impression of note in the world stage and if this will be the first, coach Alberto Zaccheroni will have to show us what we never knew. For his information, we know he’s Italain and we know catennacio but we can’t see any Fabio Cannavaro or Paolo Maldini in his defence line.

Mexico national team

Mexico

The El Tri coached by Jose Manuel de la Torre are a handful for any opposition anyday, anytime. They are 17^th on FIFA ranking. The CONACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) champions are gunning for their second championship having won it in 1999. They do not particularly parade big names but rely greatly on teamwork. Their world cup qualification is hanging on a thread as they currently sit third behind USA and Costa Rica. However, they’ve proved very hard to beat as they are unbeaten in 13 games and lost only 3 in 37 games. They will need the likes of ever reliable Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez (Chicharito), Real Sociedad’s Carlos Vela, and RCD Mallorca Giovani dos Santos to shoot their nation to triumph.

Verdict

Considering the precarious position the find themselves in the CONACAF world cup qualification table, coach Jose Manuel de la Torre would need to heat his side up and conjure the magic reminiscent to that of their Olympic team last summer if they are to make it out of the group stage. Win? Even they do not think so.

Italian national team

Italy

The Azzuri only qualified as 2012 runners up of European championship since Spain qualified as 2010 world champion. Notwithstanding, the 2006 world cup winners would want to have a shot at the only trophy that is missing in their cabinet. The four times world champions are 8^th in FIFA ranking.  Coach Casare Prandelli has effectively mixed experience with youth as the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo and Andrea Barzagli are over thirty while Stephan El Sharaawy and Mario Balotelli are in their early twenties. They currently lead their world cup qualification table to show for it. Furthermore, going into this tournament, Italy has lost only one in twenty two competitive matches under their current manager. They will need 99capped Andrea Pirlo to replicate his 2012 form as well as Mario Balotelli to keep his head calm to increase their chances of success.

Verdict

But this isn’t 2009, what are they doing here? Oh Spain ………… Like Yomi Kazeem said rightly said, they have vital players on the wrong side of 30. Well, if Cesare Prandelli can keep Super Mario in football mood only, they stand a good chance. Also the Italians will need Andrea Pirlo to forget about last summer’s final against Spain and Buffon needs to put the just concluded UCL quarter final against Bayern Munich past him.

Nigerian national team

Nigeria

Nigeria alongside Denmark is the only unbeaten team in this tournament. Surprise? In their only adventure in 1995, the Super Eagles won 1, drew 2 and lost to Mexico on penalties in the semi finals. So who says they are underdogs? One thing that will count for them is the fact that they are the latest team to qualify for the competition after winning the African Cup of Nations earlier this year in February. By implication, a bulk of the team is still together without necessary becoming older. The African champions are 31^st on FIFA ranking list but first in their current round of world cup qualification. Under Coach Stephen Keshi, they are unbeaten in 17 games. They are resilient as evident in their late goals in each of their 5 round of world cup qualifiers. The team play is based on power and team work. Players like Chelsea’s Mikel Obi, Sunshine’s Godfrey Oboabona and Israeli based Goal keeper Vincent Enyeama will lead the troop in flying the nation’s flag higher than other’s.

Verdict

With key players like Victor Moses, Emmanuel Emenike and recently, Ogenyi Onazi out through injury, Stephen Keshi now have the negative selection headache. The players themselves will have to put their wage bonus controversy which made the team arrive last aside to better their first outing.

Spanish national team

Spain

If there is any favourite in this tournament, it definitely has to be the La Furia Roja who is under the tutelage of Vicente Del Bosque. They are deservedly number one in FIFA ranking and in fact, they qualified for this tournament by being 2010 world champion and 2012 European champions (They merely gave Italy the slot to represent Europe). That’s to tell you of how devastating they are. Need I say that they are topping their world cup qualification table and are on the verge of qualification? No doubt, the once upon a time underachievers would relish putting this trophy in the bag and there’s no better time than in this “their period”. They parade household names like Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, both of Barcelona as well as Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas of Real Madrid.

Verdict

The Spaniards have wowed the world with their matchless display visibly since 2008. In fact, no team has successfully neutralized their tiki-taka by hook or by crook. However, they are yet to conquer the world with a ‘false 9’ formation. With Vicente del Bosque set to overlook Valencia’s Roberto Soldado and Sevilla’s Alvaro Negredo who scored 24 and 25 league goals respectively as well as Chelsea’s Fernando Torres who is gradually finding his feet, for a false a false 9, it remains to be seen how it will work. The manager is in a dilemma whether to stick with team captain Casillas over his contemporaries who had more caps for their club sides or not may have negative effect on the team. Midfield marshal, Xabi Alonso is ruled out of the tournament through injury. Also, they have a very ugly goal conversion rate. All these coupled with the fact that an average team goes through a cycle of about four years of good form, the end of the dominance of the team might be in the corner. Having said that, I’d advise you to keep your cards open because they’ve shown us why they are world number one times without number, after all, if you don’t have the ball, you can do nothing. Ask magician Andrea Pirlo.

Tahiti national team

Tahiti

In contrast to the Spanish national team, the Tahiti national team, nicknamed Team Fenua is the underdog in this competition. You have to agree with me on this, if not, mention the first letter of any player in the team. Coached by Eddy Etaeta, they qualified as 2012 champions of Oceaniato. They are the third team from Oceania to make it to the confederations cup. Wait for this: they are 138 in the FIFA ranking, their best being 111 in August 2002. What a national team! World cup qualification? They’re out.

Verdict

What would a team whose only international and invariably, key player is a certain 33 year old Marama Vahirua who plays for Nancy do? Yes they arrived first among the hosted teams but even if they arrived before the host nation Brazil, it won’t make any difference. If 4-0 is a bloody score, then it looks like we are in for a number of bloody score lines. Whose blood? We shall see. Having said that, they’ve got a chance. The fact that they have nothing to lose is their greatest weapon. For yours sincerely and other journalists, we like news and a draw score line involving this side would do just that.

Uruguayan national team

Uruguay

The La Celeste are in the competition courtesy of their 2011 Copa America conquest which was a record 15^th time. Under coach Oscar Tabarez, they have experienced the good, the bad and the ugly, especially now that they are on the verge of missing out on next year’s world cup as they sit fifth on a table they need to end at least fourth. They are currently 19^th in FIFA ranking. The two times world cup winners boast of decent names like Napoli’s Edinson Cavani, Liverpool’s Luis Suarez, both of whom they will depend on to have a good tournament.

Verdict

If you ask me, the La Celeste are here just because they have to. They’re not finding it funny in the qualifying games. Their two top players, Edinson Cavani and controversial Luis Suarez are about the most unsettled players in the globe as they look to change club jerseys. That they are both ‘competing to be signed by Real Madrid worsen it all’. However, if coach Oscar tabarez plays his cards well, they can put all the above aside and form an unselfish partnership that will be too hot for any defense to handle. With Diego Forlan complementing their efforts with his experience and other key players like Walter Gagano and captain Lugano bringing their A-game to the table, they might just start a new page with a good tournament and who knows, the trophy.

After all is said, we await the teams to get it done. Who do you think will win? For me, it’s Tahiti all the way.


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