How eight Confederations Cup qualifiers fared at the two-week dress rehearsal for the 2010 World Cup which ended this morning with Brazil defeating the United States 3-2 in the final.
BRAZIL (P5 W5 D0 L0 F14 A5) After claiming a record third title a team boasting skill, steel and spirit will hope the curse of Confederations Cup winners does not return to haunt them in the World Cup next year. Brazil won the 1997 edition only to fail badly against France in the World Cup a year later and after swamping Argentina in the 1995 final, they fell to the French in the 2006 World Cup quarter-finals.
UNITED STATES (P5 W2 D0 L3 F8 A9) Runners-up and in many respects the team of the tournament after coming back from the dead to survive the group phase before stunning Spain in the semi-finals with clinical finishing and superb defending. Entered final group match against Egypt with no points and 1-6 goal difference, but squeezed through via three-goal victory in one of only two matches where a far-from-dirty team did not have a player sent off.
SPAIN (P5 W4 D0 L1 F11 A4) The title favourites had to settle for third place after their feared strike force of Fernando Torres and David Villa for once failed to wreak havoc and the United States triumphed 2-0 in freezing Bloemfontein. They won a world record 14 internationals on the trot and equalled the 35-match unbeaten run set by Brazil 13 years ago, but the sloppy defending that gifted the Americans their second goal will worry coach Vicente del Bosque.
SOUTH AFRICA (P5 W1 D1 L3 F4 A6) The 2010 World Cup hosts did better than record suggests, holding Brazil for 88 minutes in the semi-finals and losing the third place play-off against Spain after leading with three minutes to go. But coach Joel Santana has problems, notably a defence that gives away too many soft goals and a strike force that relies too heavily on isolated Bernard Parker in an over-cautious system.
ITALY (P3 W1 D0 L2 F3 A5) World champions were the biggest disappointment with a 4-3 friendly win over lowly New Zealand a sign of things to come as the joy of a come-from-behind victory over the USA diluted as they slumped to shock loss against Egypt. A team renowned for its defensive strength then suffered the humiliation of conceding three goals within nine minutes against Brazil and coach Marcello Lippi has more problems than his no-crisis public stance suggests with a quite evidently ageing side failing to ward off the advancing years.
IRAQ (P3 W0 D2 L1 F0 A1) Started by thwarting South Africa in a drab 0-0 draw and restricted Spain to a solitary goal only to be let down by their strikers in another goalless draw against New Zealand. Veteran Serb coach Bora Milutinovic did well to build an organised and disciplined team at short notice and goalkeeper Mohammed Kassid was among the best on display, but the Iraqis had little to offer going forward.
EGYPT (P3 W1 D0 L2 F4 A7) Managed to lift cloud of heavy pre-tournament loss to Algeria in World Cup qualifier by taking Brazil to wire and stunning Italy only to crumble against the United States with a semi-final spot beckoning. Easily the most erratic of the eight contenders, the 'Pharaohs' looked superb at times and awful at others with some of the defending against the Americans embarrassing.
NEW ZEALAND (P3 W0 D1 L2 F0 A7) The confidence generated by leading Italy three times in a pre-tournament Pretoria friendly quickly evaporated as they conceded four goals within 24 minutes of the kick-off against Spain. Lucky to get off with 2-0 loss to dominant South Africa, the "All Whites" recovered to hold Iraq goalless and celebrated first point in three appearances at "festival of champions".
AFP selects its team of the tournament:
TIM HOWARD (Goalkeeper - United States/Everton) The consistent Howard gets the nod for his match-winning display that helped the United States stun Spain 2-0 and put his team in the final, and a tenacious performance in their crushing 3-2 loss to Brazil in the decider.
MAICON (Defender - Brazil/Inter Milan) The lightning quick Maicon has made Brazil's No.2 shirt his own and reinforced his reputation with his speedy runs down the right and accurate crossing into the box.
LUCIO (Defender - Brazil/Bayern Munich) Renowned for his intelligent reading of the game and dribbling of the ball out of defence, he was a rock at the heart of the Brazilian defence and scored the goal that won them the title.
JAY DEMERIT (Defender - United States/Watford) Not a glamorous choice, but the sturdy Watford centre-back was the epitone of consistency in the American back four.
GERARD PIQUE (Defender - Spain/Barcelona) Still only 22, Pique has started to establish himself in the Spain side and showed he has an impressive aerial game and fine positional sense.
STEVEN PIENAAR (Midfield - South Africa/Everton) The experienced Everton star earns his place as the backbone of a South African team who exceeded expectations with their run to the semi-finals and agonising extra-time loss to Spain in the play-off.
XAVI (Midfield - Spain/Barcelona) Barcelona's industrious midfielder was his usual effective self, with his penetrating balls and hard work a vital cog in Vicente del Bosque's record-breaking team.
KAKA (Midfield - Brazil/Real Madrid) The unassuming Kaka lived up to his status as one of the finest players in the world with some gliding runs that caused havoc for Brazil's opponents, capped by two goals and a man-of-the-match performance in the final.
LANDON DONOVAN (Midfield - USA/LA Galaxy) The LA Galaxy man played all five matches for Bob Bradley's United States, scoring two goals, with his wide experience crucial to helping his side keep their feet on the ground in their run to the final.
FERNANDO TORRES (Striker - Spain/Liverpool) A hat-trick in Spain's opening game against New Zealand got his tournament off to a flyer and while he failed to add to his tally, the Liverpool forward's vision and hard work assure him of a place.
LUIS FABIANO (Striker - Brazil/Sevilla) The Sevilla striker scored five goals, including a brace in the final, and was an ever present threat to the opposition defence, reinforcing his growing reputation as a deadly hitman.
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