What: FIFA Confederations Cup Semi-final
Who: Brazil vs Uruguay 
When: Wednesday 26th June, 2013, at 20:00 UK Time
Where: Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Neymar Inspired Brazil Gather Momentum

After such a sluggish start to his second spell as Brazil coach suddenly Luiz Felipe Scolari is building momentum with his team. A 3-0 friendly victory against France has been followed by three successive wins in the Confederations Cup, easily coming through a difficult looking group against Italy, Japan and Mexico.

No one has been more impressive for the Selecao than Neymar. The newly-signed Barcelona forward has finally shown that he can find space and thrive at international level, replicating the form he has only ever shown for Santos previously. Most impressive is that he is finally using his array of skills and tricks for the team, rather than looking to shine as an individual – and his assist for Jo against Mexico symbolised that perfectly.

But Brazil, for all of the goals they have scored, have not been entirely convincing. They still do not control games the way Spain do, lacking the precision and creativity in central midfield, instead relying on width from Dani Alves and Marcelo to create space. And they were similarly exuberant as they sailed through last year’s Olympic Games in London before losing in the final to Mexico. A meeting with Uruguay, the team who imprinted a permanent psychological mark on Brazilian football by beating them in the final group match of the 1950 World Cup to snatch the trophy from their grasp, should be a real test of this team’s mentality.

Uruguay Battle On After Trouncing Tahiti

Little will have been learnt by Oscar Washington Tabarez in the 8-0 thrashing of everyone’s favourite underdogs Tahiti on Sunday. Abel Hernandez scored four times as some of the key figures in Tabarez’s side were given a rest, and even Diego Perez managed to bag his second goal in 85 international games. As well as Hernandez, Nicolas Lodeiro will be pushing for a spot in the team against Brazil after netting against Tahiti.

Uruguay are still struggling to play as a cohesive unit and the heady days of their Copa America triumph in 2011 seem a long time ago. But having got through to the semi-finals Uruguay now meet their neighbours and rivals Brazil, and know that a win could be the ideal way to reboot their bid to qualify for next year’s World Cup.

For all their problems there remains a steely core to Uruguay. Captain Diego Lugano epitomised that as he headed home the opening goal of an attritional affair against Nigeria. Before they came to Brazil the Uruguayans earned a crucial 1-0 win at Venezuela, a result which ensured they kept their World Cup hopes alive. And it may have been two years ago, but Uruguay deflated Argentina hopes on home soil in the last Copa America too. This is a team with a track record of picking up vital yet unlikely results – will they do so again?
 

Recent form

Brazil:
Brazil 3-0 Japan (15/06; Confederations Cup)
Brazil 2-0 Mexico (19/06; Confederations Cup)
Brazil 4-2 Italy (22/06; Confederations Cup)

Uruguay:
Spain 2-1 Uruguay (16/06; Confederations Cup)
Nigeria 1-2 Uruguay (20/06; Confederations Cup)
Uruguay 8-0 Tahiti (23/06; Confederations Cup)

Key absences

Brazil: David Luiz

Uruguay: Andres Scotti

Players to watch

Brazil – Oscar: Neymar continues to wow the crowds but it is the quiet brilliance of Oscar which is most important to this Brazil side. The closest thing they have to a traditional playmaker of the sort Brazil seemed to stop playing with 30 years ago, Oscar’s constant running, movement and technical brilliance make him a constant menace. His skill honed by a year of playing in the competitive and frenetic Premier League, Oscar is really reaping the benefits and even after a marathon campaign with his club side Chelsea he is shining.

Uruguay – Luis Suarez: In a game Uruguay are likely to play on the back foot they will need to counter attack effectively and Suarez is the key man for that role. Edinson Cavani has failed to replicate his Napoli form when having to run from deep to join attacks, Diego Forlan is ageing but Suarez is the one of the Uruguayan trident who continues to show his big game temperament and an ability to thrive both on the front or back foot. His skill and fiercely competitive nature will be vital and he will be the best forward the Brazilians have faced so far. And who better to play the role of pantomime villain in Brazil’s backyard than the Liverpool man?

Match Prediction

Brazil have started every match so far at a blistering pace, catching Japan off guard with a third minute opener. Mexico could not keep up for the first 15 minutes of their game and Italy were camped in their own area for the opening moments of the third group game.

Whereas those three teams are inherently attacking, Uruguay are more comfortable reacting and playing on the counter attack. The Uruguayans have also faced a Spanish onslaught already at this competition and so will know what to expect and be well prepared for it. Tabarez will know better than most how to stifle and frustrate Brazil, although his side have been far from cohesive so far in this tournament.

Tabarez is also wily enough to know that Brazil’s threat comes from out wide and he will look to block the flanks and wait for the home team to pass through Uruguay. Brazil’s weakness is in trying to do exactly that and play through a packed midfield. They can also be caught on the break due to their rampaging full-backs. In Suarez and Cavani, this is arguably the best attack Brazil will have faced in the competition and the Uruguayans could just cause another major shock to the Brazilian system. Brazil 2-2 Uruguay; (Uruguay win on penalties).

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