Confederations Cup Preview

Brazil comes into this tournament on a roll, winning their last three matches in convincing fashion. They are the defending champions of the tournament; however are not the favorites to win this time around. European champions Spain, who have a 30+ win streak right now, are the favorites for this time and for 2010 as well. A match-up against the Spanish would give Brazil an indicator of whether or not they will be a legitimate threat next year. Unfortunately we will not get to see Alex in defense. I think he could have been a difference maker against the Fernando Torres-David Villa combo.

I am really hoping that Dunga treats some of these matches as an opportunity to give some other players a chance, especially in the US and Egypt match ups. I think Ramires and Pato need to get a serious look. They could add an additional spark to the side, and give them some more pace, which will be desperately needed against the Spanish.

Brazil just needs to finish second to advance to the knock out stage of this competition. If they finish in that position, they would likely play Spain immediately in the semis. With Italy, the US, and Egypt in our group Brazil will be tipped to win the group entirely.

My predictions for the semis: Spain 2 – Italy 1, Brazil 3 – Iraq 1

Final Prediction: Spain 1 –Brazil 1, Spain wins on PKs

2009 Confederations Cup Brazil Fixtures
Jun 15th 15:00 UK Brazil v Egypt
Jun 18th 15:00 UK United States v Brazil
Jun 21st 19:30 UK Italy v Brazil

United States
Coach: Bob Bradley, who comes in under pressure due to this side’s lackluster run of form, and peculiar lineup choices.
Key Player: Jozy Altidore
Roster: Num. Name Date of Birth Position Clubs Height
1
Tim HOWARD
06/03/1979 GK Everton (ENG) 187

2
Jonathan BORNSTEIN
07/11/1984 DF Chivas USA (USA) 175
3
Carlos BOCANEGRA
25/05/1979 DF Rennes (FRA) 184
4
Conor CASEY
25/07/1981 FW Mainz 05 (GER) 185
5
Oguchi ONYEWU
13/05/1982 DF Standard Liege (BEL) 192
6
Heath PEARCE
13/08/1984 DF Hansa Rostock (GER) 183
7
DaMarcus BEASLEY
24/05/1982 MF Rangers (SCO) 170
8
Clint DEMPSEY
09/03/1983 MF Fulham (ENG) 185
9
Charlie DAVIES
25/06/1986 FW Hammarby (SWE) 178
10
Landon DONOVAN
04/03/1982 FW Los Angeles Galaxy (USA) 173
11
Marvell WYNNE
08/05/1986 DF Toronto FC (CAN) 175
12
Michael BRADLEY
31/07/1987 MF Borussia Moenchengladbach (GER) 185
13
Ricardo CLARK
10/02/1983 MF Houston Dynamo (USA) 178
14
Danny CALIFF
17/03/1980 DF Midtjylland (DEN) 185
15
Jay DeMERIT
04/12/1979 DF Watford (ENG) 180
16
Sacha KLJESTAN
09/09/1985 MF Chivas USA (USA) 185
17
Jozy ALTIDORE
06/11/1989 FW Villarreal (ESP) 185
18
Brad GUZAN
09/09/1984 GK Aston Villa (ENG) 193
19
Freddy ADU
02/06/1989 MF Monaco (FRA) 172
20
Francisco TORRES
29/10/1987 MF Pachuca (MEX) 168
21
Jonathan SPECTOR
01/03/1986 DF West Ham (ENG) 183
22
Benny FEILHABER
19/01/1985 MF AGF Aarhus (DEN) 175
23
Luis ROBLES
11/05/1984 GK Kaiserslautern (GER) 185

Egypt
Coach: Hassan Shehata.
Key Player: Mohamed Aboutrika
Nr. Name Date of Birth Position Clubs Height
1
Essam EL HADARY
15/01/1973 GK Sion (SUI) 188
2
Mahmoud FATHALLA
13/02/1982 DF Zamalek (EGY) 173
3
Ahmed AL MUHAMADI
09/09/1987 MF Enppi (EGY) 178
4
Ahmed SAID
13/03/1984 DF Haras El Hedood (EGY) 186
5
Ahmed KHAIRY
01/10/1987 DF Ismaily (EGY) 178
6
Hani SAID
22/04/1980 DF Zamalek (EGY) 180
7
AHMED FATHI
10/11/1984 MF Al Ahly (EGY) 175
8
Hosni ABD RABBOU
01/11/1984 MF Al Ahli (UAE) 172
9
Mohamed ZIDAN
11/12/1981 FW Borussia Dortmund (GER) 176
10
AHMED EID
15/05/1980 MF Haras El Hedood (EGY) 183
11
Mohamed SHAWKY
05/10/1981 MF Middlesbrough (ENG) 181
12
Mohamed HOMOS
01/01/1979 MF Ismaily (EGY) 182
13
Abdelaziz TAWFIK
24/05/1986 MF Enppi (EGY) 172
14
Sayed MOAWAD
25/05/1979 MF Al Ahly (EGY) 169
15
Ahmed FARAG
20/05/1986 DF Ismaily (EGY) 184
16
WAHID
03/06/1977 GK Zamalek (EGY) 182
17
AHMED HASSAN
02/05/1975 DF Al Ahly (EGY) 175
18
Ahmed ABDELGHANI
01/12/1981 DF Haras El Hedood (EGY) 183
19
Mohamed ABOUGRISHA
04/08/1981 FW Ismaily (EGY) 183
20
Wael GOMAA
03/08/1975 FW Al Ahly (EGY) 184
21
Ahmed RAOUF
15/09/1982 FW Enppi (EGY) 176
22
Mohamed ABOUTRIKA
07/11/1978 FW Al Ahly (EGY) 181
23
Mohamed SOBHI
30/08/1981 GK Ismaily (EGY) 176

Italy
Coach: Marcelo Lippi, quietly rebuilding this side from their disappointing performance in the Euros
Key Player: Giuseppe Rossi
Nr. Name Date of Birth Position Clubs Height
1
Gianluigi BUFFON
28/01/1978 GK Juventus (ITA) 190
2
Davide SANTON
02/01/1991 DF Inter (ITA) 187
3
Fabio GROSSO
28/11/1977 DF Lyon (FRA) 190
4
Giorgio CHIELLINI
14/08/1984 DF Juventus (ITA) 192
5
Fabio CANNAVARO
13/09/1973 DF Real Madrid (ESP) 175
6
Nicola LEGROTTAGLIE
20/10/1976 DF Juventus (ITA) 185
7
Simone PEPE
30/08/1983 FW Udinese (ITA) 179
8
Gennaro GATTUSO
09/01/1978 MF AC Milan (ITA) 177
9
Luca TONI
26/05/1977 FW Bayern Munich (GER) 194
10
Daniele DE ROSSI
24/07/1983 MF AS Rome (ITA) 182
11
Alberto GILARDINO
05/07/1982 FW Fiorentina (ITA) 184
12
Morgan DE SANCTIS
26/03/1977 GK Galatasaray (TUR) 190
13
Alessandro GAMBERINI
27/08/1981 DF Fiorentina (ITA) 185
14
Marco AMELIA
02/04/1982 GK Palermo (ITA) 190
15
Vincenzo IAQUINTA
21/11/1979 FW Juventus (ITA) 186
16
Mauro CAMORANESI
04/10/1976 MF Juventus (ITA) 174
17
Giuseppe ROSSI
01/02/1987 FW Villarreal (ESP) 178
18
Angelo PALOMBO
25/09/1981 MF Sampdoria (ITA) 177
19
Gianluca ZAMBROTTA
19/02/1977 DF AC Milan (ITA) 181
20
Riccardo MONTOLIVO
18/01/1985 MF Fiorentina (ITA) 181
21
Andrea PIRLO
19/05/1979 MF AC Milan (ITA) 177
22
Andrea DOSSENA
11/09/1981 DF Liverpool (ENG) 180
23
Fabio QUAGLIARELLA
31/01/1983 FW Udinese (ITA) 180

New Zealand
Coach: Ricki Herbert.
Key Player: Shane Smeltz
Squad:
1
Mark PASTON
13/12/1976 GK Wellington Phoenix (NZL) 195
2
Aaron SCOTT
18/07/1986 DF Waitakere Utd. (NZL) 178
3
Tony LOCHHEAD
12/01/1982 DF Wellington Phoenix (NZL) 183
4
Duncan OUGHTON
14/06/1977 MF Columbus Crew (USA) 175
5
Ben SIGMUND
03/02/1981 DF Wellington Phoenix (NZL) 187
6
Ivan VICELICH
03/09/1976 DF Auckland City (NZL) 190
7
Simon ELLIOTT
10/06/1974 MF San Jose Earthquakes (USA) 180
8
Tim BROWN
06/03/1981 MF Wellington Phoenix (NZL) 185
9
Shane SMELTZ
29/09/1981 FW Gold Coast United (AUS) 184
10
Chris KILLEN
08/10/1981 FW Celtic (SCO) 188
11
Leo BERTOS
20/12/1981 MF Wellington Phoenix (NZL) 177
12
Glen MOSS
19/01/1983 GK Melbourne Victory (AUS) 188
13
Andy BARRON
24/12/1980 MF Petone (NZL) 178
14
Jeremy CHRISTIE
22/05/1983 MF Wellington Phoenix (NZL) 180
15
Jeremy BROCKIE
07/10/1987 FW North Queensland Fury (AUS) 182
16
Chris JAMES
04/07/1987 MF Tampere Utd. (FIN) 182
17
Dave MULLIGAN
24/03/1982 DF Wellington Phoenix (NZL) 173
18
Andy BOYENS
18/09/1983 DF New York Red Bulls (USA) 192
19
Steven OLD
17/02/1986 DF Kilmarnock (SCO) 191
20
Chris WOOD
07/12/1991 FW West Bromwich Albion (ENG) 191
21
Kris BRIGHT
05/09/1986 FW Panserraikos (GRE) 188
22
Jarrod SMITH
20/06/1984 FW Seattle Sounders (USA) 185
23
James BANNATYNE
30/06/1975 GK Petone (NZL) 195

They will not be rocking this party.

South Africa
Coach: Joel Santana, the former Fla coach is now trying to get the host nation some respectability.
Key Player: Steven Pienaar
Nr. Name Date of Birth Position Clubs Height
1
Rowen FERNANDEZ
28/02/1978 GK Arminia Bielefeld (GER) 187
2
Siboniso GAXA
06/04/1984 DF Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) 178
3
Tsepo MASILELA
05/05/1985 DF Maccabi Haifa (ISR) 174
4
Aaron MOKOENA
25/11/1980 DF Blackburn Rovers (ENG) 183
5
Benson MHLONGO
09/11/1980 MF Orlando Pirates (RSA) 182
6
MacBeth SIBAYA
25/11/1977 MF Rubin Kazan (RUS) 176
7
Lance DAVIDS
11/04/1985 MF SuperSport Utd. (RSA) 171
8
Siphiwe TSHABALALA
25/09/1984 MF Kaizer Chiefs (RSA) 170
9
Katlego MPHELA
29/11/1984 FW Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) 180
10
Steven PIENAAR
17/03/1982 MF Everton (ENG) 173
11
Elrio VAN HEERDEN
11/07/1983 MF Club Brugge (BEL) 168
12
Teko MODISE
22/12/1982 MF Orlando Pirates (RSA) 172
13
Kagisho DIKGACOI
24/11/1984 MF Golden Arrows (RSA) 180
14
Matthew BOOTH
14/03/1977 DF Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) 198
15
Innocent MDLEDLE
11/12/1985 DF Orlando Pirates (RSA) 178
16
Itumeleng KHUNE
20/06/1987 GK Kaizer Chiefs (RSA) 180
17
Bernard PARKER
16/03/1986 FW Crvena Zvezda (SRB) 172
18
Thembinkosi FANTENI
02/02/1984 FW Maccabi Haifa (ISR) 177
19
Bryce MOON
06/04/1986 DF Panathinaikos (GRE) 173
20
Bongani KHUMALO
06/01/1987 DF SuperSport Utd. (RSA) 184
21
Katlego MASHEGO
18/05/1982 FW Orlando Pirates (RSA) 173
22
Brian BALOYI
16/03/1974 GK Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) 186
23
Morgan GOULD
23/03/1983 DF SuperSport Utd. (RSA) 184

Iraq
COACH: Bora Milutinovic.
Key Player: Nashat Akram
Nr. Name Date of Birth Position Clubs Height
1
NOOR SABRI
01/01/1984 GK Al Talaba (IRQ) 183
2
MOHAMMED ALI KAREEM
25/06/1986 DF Al Jazeira (UAE) 170
3
BASEM ABBAS
01/07/1982 DF Al Talaba (IRQ) 165
4
FAREED MAJEED
10/04/1986 DF Al Talaba (IRQ) 185
5
NASHAT AKRAM
12/09/1984 MF Al Gharafa (QAT) 182
6
SALIH SADIR
21/08/1981 MF Al Ahed (LIB) 170
7
EMAD MOHAMMED
24/07/1982 FW Sepahan (IRN) 175
8
LUAY SALAH
07/02/1982 FW Arbil (IRQ) 178
9
ABDUL WAHHAB ABU AL HAIL
16/01/1979 MF Sepahan (IRN) 183
10
YOUNIS MAHMOUD
02/03/1983 FW Al Gharafa (QAT) 185
11
HAWAR MULLA MOHAMMED
01/06/1981 MF Anorthosis Famagusta (CYP) 170
12
MOHAMMED KASSID
10/12/1986 GK Al Zawraa (IRQ) 173
13
KARRAR JASIM
11/06/1987 MF Al Wakra (QAT) 179
14
SALAM SHAKER
31/07/1986 DF Al Khor (QAT) 177
15
ALI HUSSEIN REHEMA
08/08/1985 DF Al Wakra (QAT) 180
16
DARA MOHAMMED
16/07/1987 DF Sulaymaniyah (IRQ) 182
17
ALAA ABDUL ZAHRA
22/12/1985 FW Al Khor (QAT) 180
18
MAHDI KAREEM
10/12/1983 MF Al Khor (QAT) 175
19
ISAM YASEEN
11/03/1987 DF Al Amana (IRQ) 180
20
SAMER SAEED
01/07/1987 MF Al Ahly (LBY) 170
21
ODAY TALIB
06/11/1981 GK Duhok (IRQ) 186
22
MUAYAD KHALID
03/09/1987 DF Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 179
23
HALKARD MULLA MOHAMMED
01/07/1988 MF Sulaymaniyah (IRQ) 170

Spain
Coach: Vicente Del Bosque.
Key Player: Xavi Hernandez
Nr. Name Date of Birth Position Clubs Height
1
Iker CASILLAS
20/05/1981 GK Real Madrid (ESP) 184
2
Raul ALBIOL
04/09/1985 DF Valencia (ESP) 187
3
Gerard PIQUE
02/02/1987 DF Barcelona (ESP) 193
4
Carlos MARCHENA
31/07/1979 DF Valencia (ESP) 182
5
Carlos PUYOL
13/04/1978 DF Barcelona (ESP) 178
6
Pablo HERNANDEZ
11/04/1985 MF Valencia (ESP) 173
7
David VILLA
03/12/1981 FW Valencia (ESP) 175
8
XAVI
25/01/1980 MF Barcelona (ESP) 170
9
Fernando TORRES
20/03/1984 FW Liverpool (ENG) 181
10
Cesc FABREGAS
04/05/1987 MF Arsenal (ENG) 175
11
Juan CAPDEVILA
03/02/1978 DF Villarreal (ESP) 182
12
Sergi BUSQUETS
16/07/1988 MF Barcelona (ESP) 189
13
Diego LOPEZ
03/11/1981 GK Villarreal (ESP) 196
14
XABI ALONSO
25/11/1981 MF Liverpool (ENG) 183
15
SERGIO RAMOS
30/03/1986 DF Real Madrid (ESP) 183
16
Fernando LLORENTE
26/02/1985 FW Athletic Bilbao (ESP) 194
17
Daniel GUIZA
17/08/1980 FW Fenerbahce (TUR) 182
18
Albert RIERA
15/04/1982 MF Liverpool (ENG) 188
19
Alvaro ARBELOA
17/01/1983 DF Liverpool (ENG) 184
20
Santi CAZORLA
13/12/1984 MF Villarreal (ESP) 169
21
DAVID SILVA
08/01/1986 MF Valencia (ESP) 177
22
Juan Manuel MATA
28/04/1988 MF Valencia (ESP) 174
23
Pepe REINA
31/08/1982 GK Liverpool (ENG) 187