Posted on Monday, 29th June 2009 by Jon Daisy
There are only four more matches to go before the Confederations Cup draws to a close in South Africa on Sunday. After a hectic week of group stage football, the four semi finalists have been decided. Spain, the USA, South Africa and Brazil will be the teams trying to reach the final this weekend.
While the host country’s fans will definitely hope that their team can win the trophy, they have more realistic ambitions. South Africa will dare to dream and are now targeting a place in the finals. The odds of that happening will be low, but the players will give their all.
What prevents them from getting ahead of themselves is the team that stands in their way of the final. Brazil will be the biggest obstacle for the South Africans in recent memory. And what an obstacle they will be after destroying every team they faced in Group B.
No one will dare to wager that South Africa has a chance against Brazil. The latter team are on a roll and results have turned in their favour for a couple of months now. Dunga has started to see results from his work with the players and every individual appears to be committed without any hint of disharmony.
The United States are the weakest team amongst the four semi finalists. In fact, many attribute their appearance in the last four as something based on luck. There was indeed a hint of good fortune in the way they achieved the improbable against all odds.
Another miracle will definitely be necessary if the Americans hope to get past Spain. Spain have swept aside every team before them with considerable ease in the past year since winning the European Championship. If not for the resurgence of Brazil, they would be grabbing all the headlines instead.
It could be set in stone that the two eventual finalists would be Spain and Brazil. On a different planet altogether in terms of skill and ability, their meeting would also have consequences on several historic records, one of which could be Spain achieving the longest unbeaten run in international football.
Football fans will not mind what the outcome will be as long as they are gifted with a spectacular final featuring the two. They are confident that the two teams will put on a great display of attacking and exciting football. In the end, football will be the winner and all will leave for home with smiles on their faces.
Tags: brazil, confederations cup 2009, fitness, football, international football, leisure, recreation, soccer, south africa, spain, sports, travel, USA, world cup 2010
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