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Key players for Confederations Cup final rivals Brazil and Spain, who face off on Sunday at Rio’s Maracana Stadium:
BRAZIL
Neymar
The 21-year-old must shoulder the burden of being long lauded as the ‘new Pele’ since he burst on to the scene with the maestro’s old club Santos.
Came into the tournament having earned himself a big-money move to Barcelona yet also on the back of a nine-game goalscoring drought.
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But the goals have flowed once more – a superlative strike just three minutes into the first match again Japan, a neat volley against Mexico and a fine free kick that helped see off Italy have underscored his reputation. Though he drew a blank in the semi-final against Uruguay, he nonetheless created the goals for Fred and Paulinho.
The Barcelona-bound star was accused of being a diver by Uruguay skipper Diego Lugano before the match – but in the main Neymar has stayed on his feet – to devastating effect.
Fred
Spain have enjoyed success in experimenting without a central striker in recent seasons, not least at Euro 2012. But Brazil have in Fred a traditional number nine who may not have the honed adroitness of a Ronaldo but has still weighed in with three goals, following up a run of five in six internationals before the event. The 29-year-old gives the Selecao muscular presence in the danger zone and the brawn that adds an effective physical layer to the jogo bonito as practised by the likes of Neymar. A man coach Luiz Felipe Scolari describes as a true friend he can rely on. Makes space which allows Neymar more room to flourish – and the Fluminense man can also create, chesting down for Neymar’s opener against Japan.
Julio Cesar
Relegation from the English Premier League with Queens Park Rangers may not have comprised the ideal way to prepare for a major international tournament but Julio Cesar is the man the hosts have largely to thank for inching past Uruguay. His penalty save from Diego Forlan calmed fraying nerves and the former Inter Milan shot-stopper had already managed to infuse the back four with confidence following clean sheets against the Japanese and Mexicans, even if Italy twice breached his defences.
SPAIN
Iker Casillas
Former Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho may not be his biggest fan but Spain coach Vicente del Bosque knows where solidity starts in his team and they don’t come more solid than a goalkeeper who has won everything in the game – save a Confederations Cup title to date.
Voted onto the UEFA team of the year for six straight seasons he is now on the brink of reaching the 150-cap mark – every second game he has kept a clean sheet – and last year became the first player to hit the reach 100 international wins mark.
Casillas says he is over being benched by Mourinho.
“It hasn’t been easy, but now I’ve turned the corner, I’m a different Iker Casillas,” he said last week.
What has not changed is opposing teams’ inability to get past him – ask Italy.
Andres Iniesta
Along with Xavi the fulcrum of the effervescent keep-ball machine that is Spain’s midfield. The 29-year-old continues to patrol with metronome-like efficiency, launching attacking raids and darting into the danger zone to wreak havoc in opposing defences, creating space out of nothing.
Will be confronted by Brazilian rival Luiz Gustavo, whose job it will be to put a spoke in Spain’s rhythmic wheel. If the latter succeeds Brazil may just get on top. The 2010 World Cup goalscoring hero lets his feet do the talking. But coaches eulogise him, with Spain boss del Bosque lauding him as “the complete footballer.” Alex Ferguson was likewise smitten. “Iniesta is the danger; he’s fantastic,” said the former Manchester United boss whose team were twice undone in Champions League finals by Iniesta’s Barcelona.
Jordi Alba
Spain’s midfield is what makes the world champions tick but Barcelona defender Alba has the biggest job of all Sunday: Marking Neymar.
Plenty of pace and stamina and an attacking threat along the left flank, Alba has already proved he can be effective at the other end of the pitch with his goals against Nigeria – he also hit the target in the Euro 2012 final romp over Italy. But for all their fondness for attacking play from all quarters of the park, Spain will be relying above all on the 24-year-old Barcelona defender, who has also guested for Catalonia, to keep his future team mate out of the game.
