We’re well and truly underway in Russia, where the Confederations Cup has already entered it’s knockout rounds. Not much was spoken of the tournament before it began, but it’s fair to say that we are well beyond that underwhelming beginning. Not much was expected of the 8 team inter-federation competition, but it has proved us wrong, as we eagerly anticipate the outcome of this fiercely contested tournament. The success of the event is down to a number of factors. Only four teams remain now, and they all want to win it. Things are hotting up, and we can’t wait for the grand final.
Today we look at FIVE reasons why the Confederations Cup has become such a massive hit out of nowhere.
1. No competition to the competition
The summer break between two consecutive seasons in club football has always disheartened football fans since I can remember. Amidst the disappointment, FIFA tournaments have somewhat lifted the mood up a little, as we all get an opportunity to witness our favourite stars in action one more time. Though not much of a buzz surrounded the Confederations Cup this time, it was the only thing to look forward to in the summer, and the fans have responded well. It’s the only thing that’s there to watch, and we aren’t complaining. Signs of a successful event.
2. Much competition in the competition
The Confederations Cup has never been a fair battleground, as some teams are significantly better than the others. However, this year we have witnessed so me inspiring performances from the minnows against the powerhouses of world football, who have simply refused to go down without a fight. Australia were brilliant in their opener against Germany, and a 3-2 defeat was a tad harsh on the kangaroos. They played some liquid football yet again when they faced Chile, and had poor finishing to blame, for they only drew 1-1. They were surprisingly the better team. Also, we saw New Zealand put up a solid fight against Gold Cup winners Mexico, though they ended up losing 2-1. In a nutshell, we’v e seen plenty more than we expected from the comparitively smaller sides, and they deserve much applause for their effort.
3. A new look to the sides
We’ve been watching the likes of Germany, Mexico, Portugal, and Chile every now and then. However, the Confederations Cup has allowed us to see the teams’ depth and their varied abilities. Germany have come to Russia with a fairly inexperienced squad, full of young talent. Kerem Demirbay, Timo Werner, Nick las Sule have impressed us when playing alongside Lars Stindl, Bernd Leno, and Julian Draxler. It looks like a fine balance of maturity and enthusiasm, and Germany’s unbeaten record speaks for itself. Mexico have given us the opportunity to see some very skillful players like Aquino, Dos Santos, and Jimenez co mbine to present us a footballing treat. A new look Portugal eleven has been largely impressive too, with Cristiano Ronaldo leading some of the brightest you ng talents in the world.
4. VAR
The VAR, or, the Video Assisted Refereeing has come into play in this year’s Confederations Cup, and it has been a success so far. It has helped the referees take correct decisions, and has certainly added to the fairness of the sport. The tournament has given FIFA a massive platform to test the VAR and it hasn’t disapponited, with the fans calling for large – scale inclusion of the VAR to rule out refereeing errors. It was a necessity for the technology to be tested on such a big scale, and we have the Confederations Cup to thank for that. Now perhaps, we will finally see it used in club football too.
5. Cristiano Ronaldo
Yes, who else but the man himself? At the end of the day, the viewers are here to watch the very best, and there is no one better than Cristiano himself. Fresh from winning the Champions League and the La Liga, Ronaldo looks hungry for more silverware, as he attempts to lead his Portugal side to back to back titles, having won the Euro Cup last year. Ronaldo will get ample support from his young teammates, some of whom are already world stars. Bernardo Silva, Andre Silva, Andre Gomes, Renato Sanches, Raphael Guerreiro, Cedric Soares, William Carvalho… the list goes on. On top of that, Portugal have seasoned veterans like Rui Patricio, Pepe, Bruno Alves, Adrien Silva, and Ricardo Quaresma in their ranks too. It’s a very strong side, and Ronaldo will be fancying his chances of winning the tournament, and all but securing a fifth Balon d’Or.