USA v SPAIN - International Friendly coming to the US!

Fabulous news today, the Spanish National team will be coming to the East Coast of the US to play a friendly agains the US Men's National team. They will be playing June 4th in Foxboro, Massachusetts near Boston, at Gilette Stadium, the home of the New England Revolution.

Who knows if all the stars will be attending? No word yet on when tickets go on sale. We at Forza Futbol will keep you up-to-date with the latest news via twitter, facebook, our website, and podcast!

This will be a bit of a revenge match for La Furia Roja, as the USMNT broke their winning streak at the Confederation's cup in the summer of 2009 during the semifinals. (15 games wining streak, 35 games without a loss, was put to bed by the US.) Surprisngly, this is the first time that La Roja has played a match in the US against the red, white and blue!

This is a fantastic opportunity to see the World Cup champions in the flesh. The USMNT will be using this game as preparation for the upcoming Gold Cup tournament.

Are you going to the game? How will you be making your trek? Where will you be staying? We want to hear from you!

Update: One member of Forza Futbol will be going to Boston! Elisa! I have booked my flights, hotel, and car for a quick weekend of La Furia Roja love and USA spunk! Contact me! Let's meet up! Twitter: @eu_forzafutbol, facebook: medelliae (elisa forza futbol uranga), email: forza.futbol@yahoo.com!

NEWS FLASH Update: 4.14.2011 Club Seleccion TV and US Soccer are reporting that the game time will be at 4:30pm or 16:30pm EST, to ensure that it airs in Spain at a reasonable hour aka 22:30pm or 10:30pm CET (!!). Tickets are going on sale to the general public on Wednesday April 20th at 7am via ticketmaster. Tickets start at $40.00. The match will be televised on Univision and ESPN. Let's get this party started!!

UPDATE Apr.29.2011: Spain will play Venezuela on June 1st per the latest news from the RFEF. More details to come. Rumor has it that it will be in Maracaibo. 4 days AFTER the Champions League Final on May 28th. Sigh. Lots of travel for La Roja. Once again the RFEF plans to parade the team around as much as possible, regardless of the distance and travel. Oh well, part and parcel of being World Champions.

UPDATE MAY.20.2011: Both Spain and USA will have training sessions open to the public on Friday June 3rd. Prices start at $20. Check out US Soccer website for more details.

UPDATE May 25.2011: Spain announced their roster for the USA and Venezuela friendlies. Jesus Navas and Cesc Fabregas were not called due to injury. Carles Puyol and Xavi Hernandez were given a break as well. All in all a calvalcade of stars! Welcome to new boy Manu de Moral recently transferred to Sevilla, ex Getafe. Welcome back to Alvaro Negredo (Sevilla), Andoni Iraola (Athletic Bilbao) and Bruno Soriano (Villarreal) as well as the usual suspects aka World Champions!

US Men's Team Confederations Cup Recap

Listen to a OGN Minute+5 pod as Hannah discusses with me the Confederation Cups final from an undisclosed location. OGN

If you wish to download the Minute+5 pod and listen later,
right click and save on --- Download Pod

Italy Failed To Impress

Aside from their first match against the USA Italy the current World Champions failed to impress at the Confederations Cup. There has been much said in the past week that Italy were just there to get used to South Africa these games didn't mean anything. While that is all well and good as an excuse it shouldn't be stood for. The press here in Italy have been calling for squad changes. Cannavaro was wonderful during the 2006 World Cup but his best days seem to be behind him. Chiellini looked lost and Dossena was unlucky. Inter's young defender Davide Santon was brought but barely used. If Lippi wasn't going to use him he should have let him go to the U-21's which are going on in Sweden where he would have featured.

Camoranesi looked alright though at 32 he sometime looks closer to 36. Camoranesi has been one of the better players for the Azzurri but he is getting older and slower. Daniele De Rossi wasn't bad though I was expecting more out of him during the Brazil match. He is a player that needs to pick up his game more while playing for the Azzurri. Pirlo had a nice first match against the USA but after that seemed to fall off.

After starting the first match against the USA Gilardino didn't feature much. Instead Luca Toni was given the green light and did nothing with it. Luca Toni hasn't been thrilling anyone lately while he has been playing for the Azzurri and Gilardino had a better season then Toni as well. Iaquinta missed some wonderful opportunities during the Egypt match though he was stopped in a large part by the Egyptian goalkeeper. Iaquinta was a bright spot for me for Italy. Rossi didn't have a bad tournament but in the matches against Egypt and Brazil got pushed off the ball too easily.

Though I don't think that Italy are in a crisis as some papers in Italy have said I do think they need some new ideas. They need to bring in some youngsters. Why wasn't Del Piero on the squad? Pirlo's free kicks were pathetic. I'd like to see Amauri called up for a qualifier as well as Pazzini. Acquafresca and Giovinco are on the brink of the Azzurri I have a feeling Giovinco might not get called up soon enough due to his size. One player that should not enter the squad is Balotelli who is a hot head and can not even control himself at U-21 level and was lucky to get away with only a one game ban after his red card against Sweden. Cigarini needs to be put into the middle next to De Rossi.

Though these changes are nice coming out of my mouth I doubt many changes will happen by the next year and the World Cup. The players that Lippi constantly calls up are his favorites and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Pirlo, Cannavaro, Toni and Gattuso are all four years older than when they won the World Cup and their game has fallen with their age, it is time for an injection of youth.

Who would you like to see added to the squad and who would you leave out?

US Soccer: The Rockets Red Glare

Another tournament comes through, a promising squad flatters to deceive and the supporters again wonder how such a major world power, so confident, excelling in so much, continues to flounder as an also-ran in the grand scheme of things in world football. It's a conspiracy, Fifa and UEFA jealousies, a web of Italian mob money, or South American strong-arm tactics, and if this were a World Cup year I'd probably be talking about England, but actually I'm talking about a sorrier state of affairs: my adoptive country, the United States.

Now I'm well aware of the most improbable scoreline the other day that dumped Italy out of the tournament and qualified the red, white and blue for a chance to get run through by Spain. Bob Bradley changed the setup, switched to a 4-4-2, motivated a less than emotional side and defeated the grand power of Egypt. Granted Egypt are African champions and they did run through the early part of the Cup with style and aplomb but they were missing their best player, actually three top players, but the reaction has been out of sorts. It's "the dawning of a new age, the grand entrance of a new world power, a rocket at the bow of the Fifa sailboat!" Blah, blah, blah.

I hate to break it to my American brethren, but the United States is still a second rate soccer super-power. One miracle on grass does not change the status-quo. It's a minor league set-up we have here; a system that ignores the best athletes in U.S. soccer because they don't qualify ethnically and socially for the soccer factories that feed U.S. Soccer. We have leadership that care more about maintaining their own influence over the sport than growing it in the places where it is already a dominant sport: the inner city. We care more about soccer Moms and suburban AYSO leagues that teach the sport as a safe-and-sane alternative to the rigors and competitiveness of other American sports. Bollocks. Soccer is the real sport of the people. Inclusive. A measure of diversity rather than exclusivity.

The problem is that we don't have a collective soccer identity. Are we about directness like the English or about ball-control like our neighbours the Central and South Americans. Do we train our players in the correct manner? Practically every other country has a youth team set-up tied to their National League. We on the other hand have a disjointed pyramid of player development; private soccer schools, clubs, colleges and private individuals feeding our professional league and our National Team. We have amateurish coaches learning their trade in a system that is millions of miles and millennia away from the pressurized ovens of World Soccer management. We have an FA that kowtows to Major League Baseball schedules, American Football stadia, and instead chooses to directly compete with regional sports like hockey, tennis, and golf.

The sport deserves better than this. It deserves a better supporter than this here. Be happy that we reached the semis of the Conferederations Cup. Mexico have won it in 1999, so why can't we? But don't take your eye off the ball. Keep the pressure on Sunil Gulati to reform US Soccer. Don't let the glare of the red rockets fade.

Italy: A Necessary Revolution

One of the truest definitions of insanity, as Albert Einstein once said, is doing something over and over again and expecting different results. While I won't call Marcello Lippi insane, one wonders though when he sees his squad struggle to get out of its group at the Confederation's Cup, then bowing out to a top side like Brazil, and then offers defensively that no major changes for next year's World Cup are in order. "The best team I could choose was the one standing on the field tonight. If I do have any regrets it is that this was not the correct image of this team for the world to see. I know our performance was disappointing and we have to go home, but it was not the real Italy tonight." Is he really seeing what we all are?


Let's go back three years. Italy had just won the World Cup, their fourth in their history, the players had gone off on holiday and Marcello Lippi took off on a wine tour of Tuscany. All I could think of, instead of enjoying the winning moment for a squad that I had followed since I was a kid, not to mention the hundred duckets I won off them in an office pool, was what now for these players? You follow, you project, and you wonder how the act can continue in four years considering how old these players were and how poorly they played overall in Germany. South Africa was a ways away sure, but who would have thought that so little would have changed since that final in Berlin.

Compare the two squads. In Goal, Gigi Buffon is still the number 1 and at 32 no longer the unquestioned number one keeper in the world but there is no true #2. Marco Amelia is hanging in there but after 3 years should he be more than a perennial #3. In defence, Fabio Grosso, Fabio Cannavaro, and Gianluca Zambrotta were still playing and only Giorgio Chiellini was having an impact on a geriatric backline. In midfield, Gattuso still snarls around but with a little less bite, Pirlo directs traffic with a few yards of pace less than he had (what little he had to begin with) and Mauro Camoranesi still can't remember the Italian national anthem, but is it now more from a looming, aged dementia or is it really that he still bleeds albiceleste and not azzurri beneath that shirt? The remarkable part is that at 25 Daniele DeRossi is still at the prime of his international career. It speaks to how quickly the young Romanista came into his own 4 years ago. Up front, the nursing home is full effect: Luca Toni and Vincenzo Iaquinta are still involved, but until recently even Alessandro Del Piero, and one-legged Francesco Totti were still in Lippi's plans. Up front, only 26 year old Alberto Gilardino is an energetic holdover from the World Cup squad. In short the team has needed a major overhaul for years. The critics, and I was one of them, rightly lambasted Roberto Donadoni for his tactics but the one thing you couldn't fault him was on his selection. The ex-Milan midfielder took pretty much anyone with an Italian passport and could still kick a ball. Lippi's selections however have been as hardened as the arteries of his starting 11. A necessary revolution is needed.

Gigi Buffon may not be the best anymore, but he's certainly still the best in Italy. Davide Santon needs time on the wing. Giorgio Chiellini is set at one centerback but is Fabio Cannavaro still an option at 35? Gamberini might not be a Baresi or a Maldini but he's been a quality centerback for Fiorentina. Fabiano Santacroce can even help out the back and Marco Motta can play on the wing opposite of Santon. In the midfield, I'd rather see three quality players there who are great two way players like Daniele DeRossi, Riccardo Montolivo and if he can fix the injury problems Alberto Aquilani, rather than specialists like Gattuso. If you want to fix the problems in defence, alleviate them by strengthening the midfield. Hold possession, regain it when you lose it and attack. If you must get a rottweiler in the middle I'd choose Angelo Palombo; a younger version of Rino. Up front, Italy are old, slow and one dimensional. Lacking a fantasista, they haven't been able to link their midfield and their attack so including Antonio Cassano here would be ideal. Short of that, then I'd settle for Sebastian Giovinco. His passing is extraordinary, he's lightning quick, and while most would look down on his size and lack of physical presence, I'd give up a little of that for a bit of transcendent skill. Up front, without question, Giuseppe Rossi needs to be in the mix with his U21 partner Gianpaolo Pazzini. Add Robert Aquafresca, Antonio DiNatale, Alberto Gilardino, Fabio Quagliarella, in fact there are so many younger strikers plying there trade in Italy that you don't have to be a genius to put combinations of them together to find the right mix. In fact, with such a heady mix of great, young Italian attacking talent, it is Lippi's greatest failure not to have developed them more.

It may not be a time to panic, Italy were close enough then to give Spain a run for their money, and some veterans must stay on to give some semblance of continuity for the World Champions, but Italy cannot take this loss lightly. They have 11 months.

Italy 0 v 3 Brazil

"Una goleada" is what the announcers called it. A less than stellar Azzurri were found out by a solid if unspectacular Brazil squad yesterday in the Confereations Cup. The first, a garbage goal threaded through three gawking Italian defenders to an opportunistic Luis Fabiano, put the selecao ahead. The second highlighted the first major weakness of the Italian squad, where Brazil flooded the Italian midfield, pressured their attack there, and released to Kaka and Robinho at pace. A few quick exchanges between them and Luis Fabiano, trailing into the area, received an uncontested pass to slot it past an overmatched Buffon. The last goal, Andrea Dossena's boneheaded own-goal, highlighted the other major weakness for the Azzurri. The defence.

Now that we've had a quick look, let's delve a little deeper. On paper, these are the world champions, but Italy have not been "Italy" since just after Lippi left for his Roman Holiday in July of 2006. Here were the keys for that World Cup squad. In attack: Luca Toni is just not the same player. A late bloomer at Palermo and Fiorentina, he didn't start making his mark in Italy until well into his 20's. He was 29 when the Azzurri won the World Cup. He got his big contract to Bayern Munich that year but even that now has soured. 32 years of age is not old for a forward, and Toni's game is less reliant on pace than it is grit and determination, but age doesn't just take away speed and acceleration, it also takes away coordination and skill on the ball as well. He's not finishing because his body is just not firing like it used to. Also, Vincenzo Iaquinta was a key sub in 2006 but whereas he had a defined place in a Udinese squad then, he gets few quality minutes in a Juve team overstocked with big forward. Gilardino? He's a specialist in need of a provider.

In short, their attack is toothless, but in midfield the dropoff has been even worse. Francesco Totti received loads of criticism for his inability to define himself in big games, but his contribution to Italy 2006 was crucial. His passing and ball control allowed other midfielders to specialize in key roles. With his retirement, there is no one yet who has defined the number 10 role for the new Azzurri. Giuseppe Rossi is too young, as is Montolivo, and the ideal candidate is serving a life sentence from the National squad because Lippi questions his dedication. Antonio Cassano may be a lot of things, l'enfant terrible is a good word for him, a destabilizing force is another, but Italy are not in the position to be all that picky with their squad positions. Simone Pepe and Angelo Palombo aren't ready for prime time, and unfortunetaly Lippi continues to trust an aging core Pirlo, Gattuso and Camoranesi to win the ball and begin the attack. Daniele DeRossi is young and able but he is wasted in one of the least capable Italian midfield's on record.

As for the defence? There has been a generational turn in their vaunted defending. Where are the Maldini's and Baresi's? Chiellini is top drawer quality, but Fabio Cannavaro, Gianluca Zambrotta, and Fabio Grosso have lost it. Andrea Dossena, Alessandro Gamberini, and Nicola Legrottaglie never had it and the new jewel in the armor Davide Santon of Inter Milan is still a ways away from the big time.

The Azzurri are stuck. World Cup holders, they (like their 1982 brethren) won't defend it. Roberto Donadoni was clueless, a victim of the Lippi shadow, but even the rehired Lippi is under that same spell. The one saving grace is that the Azzurrini are very good, they play well together and may be forced into the senior squad sooner rather than later.

United States 1 - 3 Italy

Giuseppe Rossi got the first in the 58th minute followed by Daniele De Rossi in the 72nd. Giuseppe Rossi got his second in injury time.

Confederations Cup: Italy

The Italian squad for the Confederations Cup has been announced. Italy are in Group B where they will be facing Brazil, USA and Egypt.

How they got here: 2006 FIFA World Cup Champions

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Marco Amelia (Palermo), Morgan De Sanctis (Galatasaray, Turkey)

Defenders: Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Gianluca Zambrotta (AC Milan), Andrea Dossena (Liverpool, England), Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentina), Fabio Grosso (Lyon, France), Nicola Legrottaglie (Juventus), Davide Santon (Inter Milan).

Midfielders: Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Simone Pepe (Udinese), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria).

Forwards: Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese), Luca Toni (Bayern Munich, Germany), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal).

Giuseppe Rossi scored his first Azzurri goal in a recent friendly with Northern Ireland and has been looking very dangerous in matches. Can Lippi bring back the magic he had in the World Cup three years ago? I think he can only if the Italians get off to a good start.

New Zealand 0 - 5 Spain

Fernando Torres is a goal machine with three goals in the first 17 minutes. Cesc Fabregas scored the fourth goal and David Villa scored the fifth.

Confederations Cup: Spain

The Spanish squad for the Confederations Cup has been announced. Spain are in Group A where they will be facing South Africa, Iraq and New Zealand.

How they got here: 2008 UEFA Euro Champions

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Jose Manuel Reina (Liverpool, England), Diego Lopez (Villarreal)

Defenders: Carles Puyol (FC Barcelona), Raul Albiol (Valencia), Arbeloa (Liverpool, England), Gerard Pique (FC Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Joan Capdevilla (Villarreal)

Midfielders: Sergio Busquets (FC Barcelona), Santiago Cazorla (Villarreal), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal, England), Xabi Alonso (Liverpool, England), David Silva (Valencia), Juan Manuel Mata (Valencia), Xavi, (FC Barcelona), Albert Riera (Liverpool, England)

Forward: Daniel Guiza (Fenerbahce, Turkey), Fernando Llorente (Athletic de Bilbao), David Villa (Valencia), Fernando Torres (Liverpool, England)

Andres Iniesta was originally announced in the squad but had to pull out of the squad due to injury.

Come back tomorrow for more on the Italian squad.

Confederations Cup: USA

The USA squad for the Confederations Cup has been announced. The United States are in Group B where they will be facing Italy, Brazil and Egypt.

How they got here: 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup Champions

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa, England), Tim Howard (Everton, England), Luis Robles (Kaiserslautern, Germany)

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes, France), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Danny Califf (Midtjylland, Denmark), Jay DeMerit (Watford, England), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege, Belgium), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock, Germany), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United, England), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)

Midfielders: Freddy Adu (AS Monaco, France), DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers, Scotland), Michael Bradley (Borussia Monchengladbach, Germany), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus, Denmark), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Jose Francisco Torres (Pachuca, Mexico)

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Villarreal, Spain), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Charlie Davies (Hammarby, Sweden), Clint Dempsey (Fulham, England), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)

The United States are in the tougher of the two groups. I can only see the US going further in the competition if coach Bob Bradley trys some new tactics we have not yet seen. Players such as Adu and Torres need to be given a starting position and Landon Donovan needs to show he is America's best player.

For more on the US squad make sure to check out The Kartik Report and MLS Talk Podcast #87.

Come back tomorrow for more information on the Spanish squad.

Confederations Cup: New Zealand

The New Zealand squad for the Confederations Cup has been announced. New Zealand are in Group A where they will be facing Spain, Iraq and South Africa.

How they got here: 2008 OFC Nations Cup

Goalkeepers: James Bannatyne (Team Wellington), Glen Moss (Melbourne Victory, Australia), Mark Paston (Wellington Phoenix)

Defenders: Andrew Boyens (New York Red Bulls, MLS), Tony Lochhead (Wellington Phoenix), David Mulligan (Wellington Phoenix), Steven Old (Kilmarnock, Scotland), Aaron Scott (Waitakere United), Ben Sigmund (Wellington Phoenix), Ivan Vicelich (Auckland City FC)

Midfielders: Andy Barron (Team Wellington), Leo Bertos (Wellington Phoenix), Tim Brown (Wellington Phoenix), Jeremy Christie (Wellington Phoenix), Simon Elliott (San Jose Earthquakes, MLS), Chris James (Tampere United, Finland), Duncan Oughton (Columbus Crew, MLS)

Forwards: Kris Bright (Panserraikos, Greece), Jeremy Brockie (North Queensland Fury, Australia), Chris Killen (Celtic, Scotland), Shane Smeltz (Gold Coast United, Australia), Jarrod Smith (Seattle Sounders, MLS), Chris Wood (West Bromwich Albion, England)

New Zealand is not known for their football team but more for their rugby. This is the third Confederations Cup the All Whites are taking part of. New Zealand is the current top team in the Oceania Football Confederation although the competition is not that full of top notch competition.

Come back tomorrow for the USA squad.

Confederations Cup: Egypt

The Egyptian squad for the Confederations Cup has been announced. Egypt are in Group B where they will be facing Brazil, Italy and the USA.

How they got here: 2008 Africa Cup of Nations Champions

Goalkeepers: Essam Al Hadari (Sion, Switzerland), Abdul Wahed Al Sayed (El Zamalek), Mohamed Sobhi (Ismaily), Al Hani Soliman (El-Ittihad Alexandria)

Defenders: Hani Said (El Zamalek), Mahmoud Fathallah (El Zamalek), Wael Gomaa (Al-Ahly), Sherif Abdul Fadhil (Ismaily), Ahmed Said (Haras El Hodood), Ahmed Al Muhammadi (ENPPI), Sayed Moawad (Al Ahly), Hazem Emam (El Zamalek), Ahmed Samir Farag (Ismaily)

Midfielders: Ahmed Fathi (Al Ahly), Mohamed Shawki (Middlesbrough, England), Hosni Abd Rabu (Al Ahli Dubai, United Arab Emirates), Ahmed Khairy (Ismaily), Mohamed Soliman (Ismaily), Abdul Aziz Tawfiq (ENPPI), Ahmed Hassan (Al Ahly), Mohamed Aboutrika (Al Ahly)

Forwards: Ahmed Eid (Haras El Hodood), Mohamed Zidan (Boroussia Dortmund, Germany), Mohamed Abougreisha (Ismaily), Ahmed Abdul Ghani (Haras El Hodood), Ahmed Raouf (ENPPI), Ihab Al Masri (Arab Contractors), Amr Zaki (Wigan Athletic, England)

Come back tomorrow for the New Zealand squad.

Confederations Cup: Iraq

The Iraqi squad for the Confederations Cup has been announced. Iraq are in Group A where they will be facing Spain, South Africa and New Zealand.

How they got here: 2007 AFC Asian Cup Champions

Goalkeepers: Mohammed Kasid (Al-Zawraa), Nour Sabri (Talaba), Uday Talib (Duhok)

Defenders: Basim Abbas (Talaba), Muayad Khalid (Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya), Aws Ibrahim (Al-Zawraa), Samal Saeed (Arbil), Farid Majeed (Talaba), Essam Yassin (Amana), Dara Mohammed (Sulimaniya), Salam Shaker (Al-Khor, Qatar), Ali Hussein Rahema (Al-Wakra, Qatar), Mohammed Ali Karim (Al-Jazeera, UAE)

Midfielders: Ahmed Ayad (Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya), Hussein Abdul-Wahid (Arbil), Mohanad Nassir (Duhok), Safwan Abdul-Ghani (Duhok), Hulgard Mulla Mohammed (Sulimaniya), Mahdi Karim (Al-Khor, Qatar), Samar Saeed (Al-Ahly Tripoli, Libya), Salih Sadir (Al-Ahed, Lebanon), Qusai Munir (Nadi Qatar, Qatar), Nashat Akram (Al-Gharrafa, Qatar), Karrar Jassim (Al-Wakra, Qatar) Hawar Mulla Mohammed (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus), Abdul-Wahab Abu Al-Hail (Sepahan Isfahan, Iran)

Forwards: Loay Salah (Arbil), Ali Salah (Al-Wahda, UAE), Emad Mohammed (Sepahan Isfahan, Iran), Alaa Abdul-Zahra (Al-Khor, Qatar), Younis Mahmoud (Al-Gharrafa, Qatar)



Come back tomorrow for the Egyptian squad.

Confederations Cup: Brazil

The Brazilian squad for the Confederations Cup has been announced. Brazil are in Group B where they will be facing Italy, USA and Egypt.

How they got here: 2007 Copa América Champions

Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan, Italy), Gomes (Tottenham Hotspur, England), Victor (Gremio)

Defenders: Maicon (Inter Milan, Italy), Daniel Alves (FC Barcelona, Spain), Kleber (Internacional), Andre Santos (Corinthians), Juan (AS Roma, Italy), Lucio (Bayern Munich, Germany), Luisao (Benfica, Portugal)

Midfielders: Kleberson (Flamengo), Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos, Greece), Josue (Wolfsburg, Germany), Ramires (Cruzeiro), Elano (Manchester City, England), Felipe Melo (Fiorentina, Italy), Julio Baptista (AS Roma, Italy), Kaka (AC Milan, Italy)

Forwards: Alexandre Pato (AC Milan, Italy), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla, Spain), Nilmar (Internacional), Robinho (Manchester City, England)

Ronaldo and Ronaldinho were not named in the squad. Alex (Chelsea), Maicon (F.C. Internazionale Milano) and Anderson (Manchester United) were named in the squad but had to drop out due to injury.

I'm looking forward to seeing Pato and Dani Alves play a big part in this tournament they both can really shine. Brazil are playing in the toughest of the two groups going up against the World Champions Italy, the Africian Champions Egypt and hopefully the USA can give Brazil a proformance like they did against Argentina last year.

Come back tomorrow for the Iraqi squad.

Confederations Cup: South Africa

The South African squad for the Confederations Cup has been announced. South Africa are in Group A where they will be facing Spain, Iraq and New Zealand.

Goalkeepers: Brian Baloyi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Rowen Fernandez (Armenia Bielefeld)

Defenders: Matthew Booth (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Morgan Gould (SuperSport United), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa), Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn Rovers), Bryce Moon (Panathinaikos), Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport United)

Midfielders: Lance Davids (Djurgardens), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Golden Arrows), Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Steven Pienaar (Everton), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs), Benson Mhlongo (Orlando Pirates), Elrio van Heerden (Club Brugge), Innocent Mdledle (Orlando Pirates)

Strikers: Bernard Parker (Red Star Belgrade), Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thembinkosi Fanteni (Maccabi Haifa), Katlego Mashego (Orlando Pirates)

Come back tomorrow for the Brazil squad.

Updated! Confederations Cup: Azzurri

Confederations Cup squad:

Goalkeepers: Marco Amelia (Palermo), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Galatasaray)

Defenders: Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Nicola Legrottaglie (Juventus), Andrea Dossena (Liverpool), Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentina), Fabio Grosso (Lyon), Davide Santon (Inter), Gianluca Zambrotta (Milan)

Midfielders: Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Gennaro Gattuso (Milan), Andrea Pirlo (Milan), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria)

Strikers: Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Simone Pepe (Udinese), Fabio Quagliarella (Napoli), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal), Luca Toni (Bayern Munich)

There are two groups for the Confederations Cup.

Group A: South Africa, Iraq, New Zealand and Spain

Group B: USA, Italy, Brail and Egypt

There are two groups for the Confederations Cup.

Group A: South Africa, Iraq, New Zealand and Spain

Group B: USA, Italy, Brail and Egypt

Schedule of matches:

06/14: South Africa - Iraq (Johannesburg)

06/14: New Zealand - Spain (Rustenburg)

06/15: Brazil - Egypt (Mangaung/ Bloemfontein)

06/15: USA - Italy (Tshwane/Pretoria)

06/17: Spain - Iraq (Mangaung/ Bloemfontein)

06/17: South Africa - New Zealand (Rustenburg)

06/18: USA - Brazil (Tshwane/Pretoria)

06/18: Egypt - Italy (Johannesburg)

06/20: Iraq - New Zealand (Johannesburg)

06/20: Spain - South Africa (Mangaung/ Bloemfontein)

06/21: Italy - Brazil (Tshwane/Pretoria)

06/21: Egypt - USA (Rustenburg)

06/14: South Africa - Iraq (Johannesburg)

06/14: New Zealand - Spain (Rustenburg)

06/15: Brazil - Egypt (Mangaung/ Bloemfontein)

06/15: USA - Italy (Tshwane/Pretoria)

06/17: Spain - Iraq (Mangaung/ Bloemfontein)

06/17: South Africa - New Zealand (Rustenburg)

06/18: USA - Brazil (Tshwane/Pretoria)

06/18: Egypt - Italy (Johannesburg)

06/20: Iraq - New Zealand (Johannesburg)

06/20: Spain - South Africa (Mangaung/ Bloemfontein)

06/21: Italy - Brazil (Tshwane/Pretoria)

06/21: Egypt - USA (Rustenburg)

Confederations Cup: La Selección

Del Bosque has named his squad for the Confederations Cup.

Goalkeepers: Casillas (Real Madrid), Reina (Liverpool), Diego López (Villarreal)

Defenders: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Arbeloa (Liverpool), Puyol (Barcelona), Marchena (Valencia), Albiol (Valencia), Piqué (Barcelona), Capdevila (Villarreal)

Midfielders: Busquets (Barcelona), Cesc (Arsenal), Xabi Alonso (Liverpool), Cazorla (Villarreal), Iniesta (Barcelona), Xavi (Barcelona), Mata (Valencia), Riera (Liverpool), Silva (Valencia)

Forwards: Villa (Valencia), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), Fernando Llorente (Athletic), Güiza (Fenerbahçe)


There are two groups for the Confederations Cup.
Group A: South Africa, Iraq, New Zealand and Spain
Group B: USA, Italy, Brail and Egypt

There are two groups for the Confederations Cup.
Group A: South Africa, Iraq, New Zealand and Spain
Group B: USA, Italy, Brail and Egypt

Schedule of matches:
06/14: South Africa - Iraq (Johannesburg)
06/14: New Zealand - Spain (Rustenburg)

06/15: Brazil - Egypt (Mangaung/ Bloemfontein)
06/15: USA - Italy (Tshwane/Pretoria)

06/17: Spain - Iraq (Mangaung/ Bloemfontein)
06/17: South Africa - New Zealand (Rustenburg)

06/18: USA - Brazil (Tshwane/Pretoria)
06/18: Egypt - Italy (Johannesburg)

06/20: Iraq - New Zealand (Johannesburg)
06/20: Spain - South Africa (Mangaung/ Bloemfontein)

06/21: Italy - Brazil (Tshwane/Pretoria)
06/21: Egypt - USA (Rustenburg)
06/14: South Africa - Iraq (Johannesburg)
06/14: New Zealand - Spain (Rustenburg)

06/15: Brazil - Egypt (Mangaung/ Bloemfontein)
06/15: USA - Italy (Tshwane/Pretoria)

06/17: Spain - Iraq (Mangaung/ Bloemfontein)
06/17: South Africa - New Zealand (Rustenburg)

06/18: USA - Brazil (Tshwane/Pretoria)
06/18: Egypt - Italy (Johannesburg)

06/20: Iraq - New Zealand (Johannesburg)
06/20: Spain - South Africa (Mangaung/ Bloemfontein)

06/21: Italy - Brazil (Tshwane/Pretoria)
06/21: Egypt - USA (Rustenburg)

Confederations Cup: Azzurri

Lippi has named part of his Confederations Cup squad and he will add player to the final squad after the friendly against Northern Ireland.

Confederations Cup confirmed players:

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Amelia (Palermo)
Defenders: Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Chiellini (Juventus), Zambrotta (Milan)
Midfielders: Camoranesi (Juventus), De Rossi (Roma), Pepe (Udinese), Pirlo (Milan)
Strikers: Gilardino (Fiorentina), Iaquinta (Juventus), Quagliarella (Udinese), Toni (Bayern Monaco)

Squad to play against Northern Ireland:

Goalkeepers: Morgan De Sanctis (Galatasaray), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari).
Defenders: Mattia Cassani (Palermo), Andrea Dossena (Liverpool), Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentina), Fabio Grosso (Lyon), Andrea Esposito (Lecce), Nicola Legrottaglie (Juventus), Davide Santon (Inter).
Midfielders: Marco Biagianti (Catania), Matteo Brighi (Roma), Gaetano D'Agostino (Udinese), Daniele Galloppa (Siena), Gennaro Gattuso (Milan), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria).
Forwards: Pasquale Foggia (Lazio), Giuseppe Mascara (Catania), Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria), Sergio Pellissier (Chievo), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal).

The new Italy kit for the Confederations Cup is a throwback look.





There are two groups for the Confederations Cup.
Group A: South Africa, Iraq, New Zealand and Spain
Group B: USA, Italy, Brail and Egypt

There are two groups for the Confederations Cup.
Group A: South Africa, Iraq, New Zealand and Spain
Group B: USA, Italy, Brail and Egypt

Schedule of matches:
06/14: South Africa - Iraq (Johannesburg)
06/14: New Zealand - Spain (Rustenburg)

06/15: Brazil - Egypt (Mangaung/ Bloemfontein)
06/15: USA - Italy (Tshwane/Pretoria)

06/17: Spain - Iraq (Mangaung/ Bloemfontein)
06/17: South Africa - New Zealand (Rustenburg)

06/18: USA - Brazil (Tshwane/Pretoria)
06/18: Egypt - Italy (Johannesburg)

06/20: Iraq - New Zealand (Johannesburg)
06/20: Spain - South Africa (Mangaung/ Bloemfontein)

06/21: Italy - Brazil (Tshwane/Pretoria)
06/21: Egypt - USA (Rustenburg)
06/14: South Africa - Iraq (Johannesburg)
06/14: New Zealand - Spain (Rustenburg)

06/15: Brazil - Egypt (Mangaung/ Bloemfontein)
06/15: USA - Italy (Tshwane/Pretoria)

06/17: Spain - Iraq (Mangaung/ Bloemfontein)
06/17: South Africa - New Zealand (Rustenburg)

06/18: USA - Brazil (Tshwane/Pretoria)
06/18: Egypt - Italy (Johannesburg)

06/20: Iraq - New Zealand (Johannesburg)
06/20: Spain - South Africa (Mangaung/ Bloemfontein)

06/21: Italy - Brazil (Tshwane/Pretoria)
06/21: Egypt - USA (Rustenburg)