After the conclusion of the 2012/2013 leagues season and the UEFA Champions League attention will now be shifted to the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup which begins today in Brazil. Hosts, Brazil will slug it out with Japan in what promises to be a spectacular opening game. The competition will also test the stage for next year’s 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The championship held every year before the World Cup, is one of FIFA’s biggest tournament for senior national teams. This year’s edition is the most lucrative following an increment in prize money compared to four years ago when the competition was held in South Africa. The participating teams in this edition, including African champions-Super Eagles of Nigeria would pocket a minimum of $1.7m as appearance fees. World soccer ruling body (FIFA) has put on the table the sum of $20 million in total prize money to be shared among the eight teams featuring in the competition with the winner to smile to the bank with the sum of $4.1m. The losing finalist will take home $3.6m while the third and fourth placed teams will rake $3m and $2.5m respectively. The Super Eagles basking in the euphoria of their victories over Kenya and Namibia respectively in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers arrived in Brazil yesterday for the big party. The success of the Nigerian team in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, where Coach Stephen keshi combined home and foreign based boys surprised bookmakers when they emerged champions. The quest ensured Super Eagles qualify for their first-ever FIFA Confederations Cup. Keshi has made nine changes in the squad that won the 2013 African Cup of Nations in February in continuation of his policy of promoting inexperienced youngsters. The list released by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) last week, had four uncapped players and five who made their first international appearance in the recent friendly game against Mexico. Those dropped from the Nations Cup winning squad are Captain Joseph Yobo, Ikechukwu Uche, Gabriel Reuben, Obiora Nwankwo, Nosa Igiebor, Ejike Uzoenyi and Juwon Oshaniwa. The duo of Emmanuel Emenike and Victor Moses who played crucial roles in Nigeria’s emergence as African champions were left out of the squad owing to injuries, while Obafemi Martins who made a return to the team in March in a World Cup qualifier in Calabar against Kenya was overlooked. Keshi’s romance with some inexperienced and home- based players at the expense of foreign professionals earlier elicited criticisms but since winning the continental championship he has silenced his critics. At the AFCON finals in South Africa one of the home based players, Sunday Mba, proved all naysayers wrong by scoring Super Eagles’ match-winner against pre-tournament favourites Côte d’Ivoire in the quarter- finals and against Burkina Faso in the final. The breakthrough seemed to ring the bell for a young generation of talents as more young stars have been dragged into the team. John Obi Mikel who established himself as the most influential player in Super Eagles is expected to provide the necessary impetuses for the upcoming players in the team. Nigeria opens confrontation against a Tahiti side dominated by amateur players before taking on South American champions, Uruguay and Spain (World and European champions). The reigning world and European champions finished third in their previous Confederations Cup appearance in 2009 and Del Bosque has said the competition will be taken seriously this time round. “There are four world champions but also three other teams that deserve a lot of respect: Japan, the Olympic champions Mexico and Nigeria, who won the African Cup of Nations,” Del Bosque said. “There is also Tahiti, which is a little bit of an unknown entity for us.” As expected, Barcelona and Real Madrid have provided the bulk of the squad with 13 of the 26 players named by Del Bosque. The 62-year-old coach has recalled striker Fernando Torres after the 29-year-old scored an impressive 23 goals for Chelsea in 2012-13 while Bayern Munich midfielder Javi Martinez also returns. Both players were overlooked for Spain`s World Cup qualifiers against France and Finland in March. For hosts, Brazil, aware of the enormous responsibilities and expectation of home fans, they had intensive preparations prior to the tournament. The five-time world champions played top grade A friendly matches against South American arch rival, Argentina, France, Netherlands, England, and Italy. The team has also gone through enough rejuvenation since the return of Luiz Felipe Scolari as coach. Barcelona new capture superstar, Neymar, Chelsea of England midfielder Oscar Lucas, and Daniel Alves are expected to carry on their shoulders the hopes of Brazilians for a successful outing. The Confederations Cup will give Brazil a major boost in its quest to win next year’s World Cup since it will offer the first hint about the country’s stand in preparations for the main event in 2014. Brazil won the last two Confederations Cup titles — in 2005 and 2009. And while expectations will be predictably high for this month’s tournament, it won’t be anywhere near the pressure the team will face in 12 months, when Brazil will try to avoid losing a second World Cup on home soil. “Yes, it is a lot of responsibility, but a dream come true,” Brazil striker Neymar said. “You don’t have to think that wearing the yellow shirt is a heavy burden. The team faces Japan in the opening match today. The new impressive Japan side announced their arrival at the international arena during the last FIFA World Cup held in South Africa under Coach Takeshi Okada. The team didn’t stop there but continued its progress under Italian Alberto Zaccheroni, who took over after their campaign in South Africa 2010. A series of impressive friendly wins, including a 1-0 defeat of Argentina was followed by their all-conquering performance during January’s AFC Asian Cup, where they piped Australian in the final to claim their fourth continental title. Japan’s game has long been marked by their creative play and they will give Brazil a run for their money in today’s opening game.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 09:06:18 +0000
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