This cup has no weight at all. The winner does not qualify for any other cups. Most of the time, contestants do not qualify for the following world cup, as it was the case for Egypt and Iraq in '09, Tunisia and Greece in '05. This year's contestant, Tahiti, is out of the qualification run for next year's world cup.
So why do we still have this cup? Simple. It's summer and there are no major cups being played. But I like to think that FIFA loves us so much, that they want to give us a little taste of what's coming next year, and it just so happens that they can judge the infrastructure, stadiums and organization of the host country at a smaller scale to see if they can handle the big kahuna for the world cup.
Blatter has been breathing down Brazil's neck ever since the first reports of delays came about 2 years ago. It's frustrating, since Russia, selected to host the 2018 World Cup, is making headway by leaps and bounds, which is a slap in the face considering they are building 10 new stadiums; as opposed to Brazil's 1 new stadium.
Either way, the world is waiting comfortably for tomorrow to kick off the World Cup dress rehearsal.
This is a break down of the 8 teams, and since this cup doesn't have enough importance, I will focus on their following 12 months and how they will prepare for Brazil 2014.
Brazil
The hosts have a lot to prove. Felipão's boys must find a significant victory to help them see lifting the world cup in their home country as a possibility. Having qualified automatically to next year's world cup as host, Brazil is missing out on the most difficult continental zone to qualify, having to play world champions Argentina and Uruguay, perennial qualifying dark horses Paraguay and Chile, newfound solid contesters Colombia and Ecuador, a surprising challenge in Peru and Venezuela and playing in Bolivia's high altitude which makes a 1-0 defeat an accomplishment. This qualification process always makes Brazil a solid contender to win each World Cup, but with 2 world cup quarter final exits in a row, and a young team that hasn't really collated together, Brazil has a lot of ground to cover to become favorites even in home soil. They are working very hard to avoid a repeat from 1950 when they last hosted the world cup, the famous "Maracanaço", where the defeat on a final on home soil by Uruguay was so hard to bear, the organizers forgot to give Uruguay their World Cup trophy, and Brazil redesigned their jersey to the now iconic yellow and green.
The eyes of the world are on this young team composed of a young but solid skeleton of Thiago Silva, Dani Alves, Neymar, Hulk and Oscar. We will see if these relatively unknown team has what it takes to at least come together as a team, to prepare strongly to fight for a 6th World Cup trophy.
Spain
Again, this team has nothing else to prove. If they win, they add another trophy to their case, if they lose, I really doubt anyone will cry about it.
Italy
This unrecognizable Italian side has the likes of young AND attack oriented players, slightly seen in last year's Euro. Ironically, Italy's biggest weakness last tournament was their defense, playing with 3 left footed left backs in their back line, which was exploited cruelly by Spain in the 4-0 rout in the Euro finals. But despite their problems in the back line, Italy has shown a paradigm shift from defense into an all out attack. Spearheaded by Mario Balotelli, the Italian attack has the likes of Giovinco and El Shaarawy, who have been superb on and off the ball for Juventus and Milan respectively. Backed up in the midfield by Montolivo, Diamanti, De Rossi, Marchisio and Mr. Class Andrea Pirlo. The back line looks uncertain with Milan wingers Abate and De Sciglio, and Chiellini and Maggio standing in front of one of the best men to ever guard a goal, Gianluigi Buffon. Prandelli most likely will use a 3-man all-Juventini defense.
Brazil-Italy to close their group is a mouthwatering match up, as the 2 national sides with the most world cups, 5 and 4, respectively will clash in what is aways known as a true FIFA classic.
Mexico
Having dipped in recent form, Mexico sits now in an embarrassing 3rd place in CONCACAF qualifier. Despite having won a gold medal in soccer at the olympics last summer, Mexico really needs to use these next 3 weeks (if they make it to the finals) to finish tweaking their final pieces to make the final sprint in what's left of the qualifiers. Being blessed by the football gods geographically, Mexico will qualify once again for the world cup despite their poor form, and this tournament will allow their team to gel together even if for a week.
Uruguay
As I called it about a year ago, Uruguay was going to turn their South American qualifiers against Venezuela. Being a shadow of the team that won Copa America in 2011 in spectacular fashion, beating hosts Argentina in one of the most exciting matches of the cup in the quarterfinal, Uruguay have failed to impress this qualifier lurking during most of the qualifiers just outside of the qualifying zone. With Colombia and Ecuador finding top form at home and away, and Argentina dominating in Brazil's absence from qualifiers, there just isn't enough room at the top, forcing Uruguay, Chile, Venezuela and Peru to fight for the 4th and 5th spots, their last chances to qualify for Brazil next summer. Uruguay sits now in that spot, and they found it just in time since they have this mini tournament to set the final pieces of their team in place before qualifiers resume in september. This team looks menacing on paper, and if they manage to find their form, they can become contenders, even to
repeat the 1950 Maracanaço.
Tahiti
The islanders will be playing to try to add some relevance to their continental zone. In the last edition, New Zealand was thrashed by Spain, but having qualified for South Africa 2010, and tying World Cup holders Italy, they earned some fans in their quick 3 matches. Tahiti is already out of the race to qualify for Brazil next summer, and sadly I don't see another outcome for them other than 3 and out and a very sad negative goal difference.
Japan
Probably the most exciting team coming out of Asia right now, Japan looks promising to play entertaining football this and next summer, becoming the first nation to qualify for Brazil 2014. They are looking very strong in qualifiers and even with the recent addition of a strong Australian side to their continental zone, Japan is still looking dominant with the likes of Kagawa, Honda, Endo and Okazaki representing the blue samurais. They were drawn with Brazil and Italy in the same group, which means that making it out of the group a difficult but very possible feat. Even if they don't make it out of the group stage, Japan will be in true asian discipline preparing for next year to make a run past the quarter finals, where they seem to be stopped in their tracks constantly even when they hosted the tournament in 2002. I think this will be the revelation team that can beat the "obvious" contenders in any intercontinental tournament, or at least make them earn their victories with blood and sweat.
Nigeria
It's a shame that politics keep looming over the talent of almost every African team, this time, the Super Eagles almost forfeiting the Confederations Cup due to unpaid bonuses after winning qualifying matches last week. This problem was similar to what Togo had to go through in the first World Cup in African soil 3 years ago. Qualifying in probably the most punishing continental zone in the world, Nigeria is sitting nervously at the top of their group, where one mistake can cost participating in the greatest chance these players have to showcase their talent. Led by Chelsea star Obi Mikel, this side has a strong, physical team, backed up by an amazing goal keeper that denied Lionel Messi time and time again during their group match in South Africa. Matched up against Uruguay and Spain in their group, it will make for some very interesting matches to find who will make it out of the group stage, but more importantly, Nigeria must secure their ticket to the next qualifying stage and book their spot for Brazil next summer.
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