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Brazil players stand together during the Brazil Training Session at the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013 at Estadio Nacional on June 14, 2013 in Brasilia, Brazil. (Getty Images)
The dress rehearsal that is the Confederations Cup 2013 begins today as Brazil awaits a successful sporting spectacle with bated breath. The football crazy nation has been preparing for the World Cup ever since their bid to host the 2014 World Cup was accepted and the Confederations Cup brings them a step closer to their dream.
However, their dreams are not restricted to hosting a successful event but extend much beyond. The Selecao have appointed Luiz Felipe Scolari to repeat the feat they achieved in 2002 and the Confederations Cup will be a great platform to give experience to their extremely youthful squad. The players need to get used to the big occasion especially because this will be Brazil’s first competitive match in 23 months.
They will have an able opposition in front of them. Japan are the first team to have qualified for the 2014 World Cup and their current line-up is perhaps their best ever. Japan will remember their memorable performance at the 2001 Confederations Cup where they finished as runners up. In fact, Japan did meet Brazil in a group game in that competition and mustered a goalless draw. Given that Japan have never defeated Brazil in their nine previous attempts, a result like that might not be a huge disappointment for the Blue Samurai’s today.
Japan, though, do have a few stars up their uniform. They defeated Brazil’s arch rivals Argentina and the Les Blues, France, last October. They come into this game having ended a run of three matches without a victory against Iraq. On the other hand, Brazil have not shown the meteoric rise under Luiz Felipe Scolari that many had expected. He has tried to tinker with the team finally seeming to strike upon a combination in their last fixture against France, which they won rather convincingly.
Japan have invested a lot of confidence in Italian manager Alberto Zaccheroni, who has praised his team to the skies and announced that they are out to change the path of history. He said, “In Europe where I come from, a lot of people think the world never changes. I don’t.” Japan will set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Japan are an attacking team but it remains to be seen if they will be able to open up a side like Brazil. They certainly have the personnel to do so in Manchester United‘s Shinji Kagawa, who will look to get into scoring positions for the Blue Samurai’s. They will expect a lot from their hero of the 2010 World Cup, Keisuke Honda. He remains the fountainhead of creativity in the Japanese side.
Captain Makoto Hasebe will provide stability to the team in his role as the defensive midfielder, picking up loose balls and linking defence with attack. Shinji Okazaki might spring up a surprise with his pace and goal-scoring abilities. He enters this competition in superb form with 5 goals in the last six appearances. Brazil certainly can’t afford to this Asian team lightly.
Brazil’s style of play is well known to the world. They will combine the flavour, the fluidity that is the trademark of Brazilian football with the traditional no-nonsense approach of Scolari. All the talk ahead of the match has been focused on Neymar but Fred who will work just ahead of him has been in good scoring form and will be a challenge for the Japanese defense.
Oscar has bloomed in the midfield when many doubted his abilities to become the playmaker Brazil need. Scolari was criticised heavily for substituting him during the match against England and that proves the trust that he has gained from the Selecao fans. His performance will be critical for the fortunes of this Brazil side at the Confederations Cup. Paulinho has impressed one and all in his role as the defensive midfielder in the side. He will allow the forwards that freedom they need to create chances upfront.
The match will be a mouth-watering contest and an appropriate start to the competition as the two teams have already qualified for the World cup event. A head-start in this game will virtually secure a place in the semi-finals for Brazil whereas a draw will do well for Japan’s fortunes. Big cup events offer a lot of upsets and they do make for a great watch for the neutral but given the huge support that will be present at the Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha and the emotions at stake, one dare not speak its name.
Probable line-ups:
Brazil (4-2-3-1): Julio Cesar; Alves, David Luiz, Thiago Silva, Marcelo; Paulinho, Luiz Gustavo; Hulk, Oscar, Neymar; Fred
Japan (4-2-3-1): Kawashima; Uchida, Yoshida, Konno, Nagatomo; Endo, Hasebe; Okazaki, Honda, Kagawa; Maeda
