Confederations Cup Group B preview

The World Cup warm-up event the Confederations Cup starts this weekend with critics still questioning the tournaments existence.

Some see event as an end of season waste of time especially when you consider the majority of sides at the tournament have rescheduled important World-Cup qualifiers to be here.

Despite the complaints, the 2009 tournament was an excellent event which saw numerous shocks and some amazing matches.

After looking at the first group yesterday, here is a preview of Group B, where there are two clear favourites to progress.

The sides (odds of winning whole tournament next to name)

Spain – 7/4 with William Hill

Three successive major tournament victories is an incredible return for the golden Spanish generation and unsurprisingly they are on the favourites to win here.

Vincente Del Bosque, who has masterminded two of the three tournament triumphs, hasn’t sprung my shocks in his squad selection. Apart from the obvious qualities, the Spanish squad is also vastly experienced, with no less than 11 of the 23 already owning over 50 caps for their nation.

Of all the sides at the Confederations Cup Spain are certainly the best and they will want to make up for their 2009 semi-final shock defeat to the USA.

The only worry I hold for Spain is in the centre forward department and they could struggle for goals. 

Fernando Torres and David Villa aren’t the same strikers they once were, meaning Valencia’s Roberto Soldado could feature more.

Gambling Tip: Back Spain to win the whole thing.

Uruguay – 11/1 with Bet Way

Despite struggling in South American World Cup qualification, their team is still an excellent one and it was only two years ago they won the Copa America.

Their 1-0 away win over Venezuela on Tuesday night has got them back into the play-off spot and was also great preparation for this tournament.

The duo of Suarez and Cavani have 45 international goals between them

In Edison Cavani and Luis Suarez they easily have the best centre forward partnership at the competition and should have no problems scoring goals.

Gambling Tip: Back them to at least make the semi-finals.

Tahiti – 5000/1 with Sky Bet

I’d be lying if I said I knew a lot about Tahiti. I don’t.

All but one of their players plying their trade in their domestic league and they won the 2012 Oceania Nations Cup to make this tournament.  

It’s hard to see the Oceania minnows claiming even a point from their three games; however it will be a great experience for the squad. 

Gambling Tip: There is a reason they have odds of 5000/1 to win the whole thing! Bottom of the group; expect a lot of goals to be conceded.

Nigeria – 40/1 with Bet Way

Nigerian coach Stephen Keshi appears to have one eye on the 2014 World Cup after picking a rather inexperienced squad for the Confederations Cup.

Nigeria beat Burkina Faso 1-0 in the African Cup of Nations final to be here

In comparison to Spain’s total of 11 players with over 50 national caps, Nigeria only have one and that’s the goalkeeper. Incredibly 12 of the 23 players selected haven’t even reached double figures in caps.

Victor Moses and Emmanuel Emineke haven’t been selected and without these two it’s hard to see the African Cup of Nations champions getting out of the group.

Gambling tip: They should beat Tahiti, but that’ll be it. 

Group A Confederations Cup preview

The World Cup warm-up event the Confederations Cup starts this weekend with critics still questioning the tournaments existence.

Some see event as an end of season waste of time especially when you consider the majority of sides at the tournament have rescheduled important World-Cup qualifiers to be here.

Despite the complaints, the 2009 tournament was an excellent event which saw numerous shocks and some amazing matches.

Brazil came from two goals down to beat the US in the 09 final

Of the groups, the first one is the hardest to call. If you are unsure who’ll progress from the group here is a few gambling tips including a shock semi-finalists pick.

The sides

Brazil

Brazil have only won twice this calendar year, failing to overcome England on a couple of occasions, means they hardly go into the tournament in the best of form.

Despite their questionable form, the bookies never overlook Brazil and the hosts are favourites to win the Confederations Cup for a third consecutive year.

Luis Felipe Scolari has selected a young squad, excluding previous Ballon D’Or winners in the form of Ronaldinho and Kaka. The former Chelsea manager clearly has more than one eye on next year’s World Cup as he looks to bled some of those tipped to excel come 2014.

Gambling tips: Back Brazil to make the final.

Japan

Japan became the first nation to qualify for the World Cup following a 1-1 draw at home to Australia last week.

They have taken a technically sound squad with them to Brazil, which includes no less than eight players from the Bundesliga. Their key players in the form of Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda have both been selected and their hopes of getting out of a daunting group could rest on these two creative players.

If Kagawa can fire then Japan shock a few at the tournament

Japan can be found as long as 50/1 to win the tournament which is surprisingly long. I don’t they Alberto Zaccheroni’s side have a decent chance of getting out of the group, which at  odds of 8/1 has real value.

Gambling tips: If Japan can get four points from Mexico and Italy I think they’ll get out of the group. Semi-finalists.

Mexico

Mexico have not had the best of times lately and their place at the 2014 World Cup is far from assured.

The majority of the 23 selected for the tournament are home-based players and they’ve struggled to score goals of late, despite Javier Hernandez’s best efforts. Valencia’s Andres Guardado is their best player and he’ll have to be excellent to give them a chance.

I think they are the worse of the four sides in the group and I’m baffled as to why they are as short as 12/1 to win the whole thing.

Gambling tip: Don’t expect them to qualify from the group. 

Italy

Italy were embarrassed in a warm-up friendly with Haiti as the minnows came from behind to earn an amazing 2-2 draw.

While the majority of the infamous Italian old guard has gone, the class of Juventus duo Andrea Pirlo and Gianluigi Buffon remain. Their lack of a real world-class striker has caused them problems for some time and it’s evident at this tournament. Although Mario Balotelli has all the ingredients to be exactly what Italy requires, their back-ups aren’t good enough.

Their game against Japan will be the big one for me and if they fail to win they may have to get something against Brazil.

Gambling tip: I feel they will narrowly be edged out of qualification and finish third.