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Uruguay and Italy failed to make the finals of the Confederations Cup but they ran it pretty close. They were facing sides that were perhaps superior on paper, but they did more than good to put up a fight. They will be heading into the 3rd place match without much ambition as it is not a particularly lucrative award, but Cesare Prandelli and Oscar Tabarez will get another chance to assess the balance of their sides.
Uruguay did not have a particularly good tournament till their semi-finals clash against Brazil where they broke down Brazil’s flair with tactical football. They slowed down the tempo of the game and tried to catch them on the flanks. If not for Diego Forlan’s penalty miss, they could have been preparing for a rematch against world champions Spain. The tournament brought some personal milestones for Forlan but he would be regretting that all-important tame kick of the ball. Oscar Tabarez might give striker Hernandez a go in this game which should be a good contest if both teams are up for it.
Italy on the other hand will be demoralized and drained after their unfortunate loss to Spain in the semi-finals. They were perhaps the better team in the first 90 minutes of play but all that is mere consolation now. They could not hold their nerve when it mattered the most and football can be a cruel game at times. There were a number of positives for them however. They were not given a lot of chance ahead of that match, given their prior performances in the tournament and the critical injuries they suffered ahead of the clash, but they took it to the last kick of the ball. They can hold their head high and will be favorites to take that third place if it’s contested in a competitive spirit.
Here is a list of five players to watch out for in the game:
5. Diego Forlan
The veteran has had a bitter-sweet tournament. He celebrated his 100th appearance with a stunning goal against Nigeria, silencing his critics who thought his career for the national side was over. He looked the player who could turn around Uruguay’s lacklustre performance against Spain and he did. However, the game proved to be a great leveler as he missed a penalty during the course of the game that could have made a huge difference. It remains to be seen what becomes of his future with Uruguay and if he plays a part in the next World Cup. This game will be an opportunity to mend a part of his reputation.
4. Andrea Pirlo
Pirlo sat out of the game against Brazil with an injury but came back strong against Spain. He was not flashy but he did not make an erratic pass in the game. That has always been his great quality; he rarely puts in a frustrating performance for his team. He had a lot of ambition coming into the tournament to play the final at the Maracana and would be disappointed. But trust him to be the professional he is, he will fight for whatever is up for grabs.
3. Luis Suarez
The Liverpool striker has been the center of controversy in recent days with reports coming in about his having agreed a personal deal with Real Madrid. His performances at the Confederations Cup have been average, except a sensational dead ball effort against Spain. He spurned a number of chances against Brazil but, more significantly, his passing has been erratic. Some viewed the tournament to be a platform where big clubs would virtually audition Cavani and Suarez, and if that was the case, Cavani took the upper hand with a goal against Brazil. Can Suarez put up a show against Italy? Will he get a chance to?
2. Daniele de Rossi
He was superb once again against Brazil. The player from Roma performed in different capacities during the match. He was leading Italy’s offense for most part of the first half but was pushed back to perform defensive duties after an injury to Barzagli. He did that job with great intensity and is proving a great asset for Prandelli in this tournament. He did receive yet another yellow card though (he was suspended for the game against Brazil after picking up two yellow cards previously), but that can happen given it was an extended match. He will be Italy’s key player against Uruguay.
1. Edinson Cavani
The player had a quiet tournament until the match against Brazil where he showcased his ability. His initial goal was a fortunate one but he seemed to grow in confidence after that and threatened continuously thereafter. He gave Marcelo a pretty hard time. Cavani is reportedly a subject of a bidding war between Manchester City and Chelsea and there might be more than a single benefit he can derive out of this game. He is once again likely to start as a part of the three pronged forward line.
